Bonsai of Malus (Apple)

Bonsai of Malus (Apple)

• Height: 37cm
• Width: 35cm
• Pot: 10x22x22cm

Caring for your apple bonsai

This apple bonsai (Malus) is a deciduous outdoor tree that follows the seasons closely: fresh shoots in spring, delicate blossom and tiny fruit in summer, then a true rest once the leaves fall in autumn. Grown in the warm, dry climate of Southern Italy, Malus rewards plenty of light and a careful hand with the watering can.

Position and light

Keep the tree outdoors in a bright spot with direct morning sun. During the hottest weeks of summer a little shade in the early afternoon protects the leaves from scorching, especially when the wind turns dry. Good airflow keeps the foliage healthy and helps the flowers set into fruit.

Watering

Water only when the surface of the substrate starts to dry, never by the calendar. In high summer an apple bonsai in a shallow pot can ask for water once or even twice a day, while in winter the soil stays damp far longer. The one thing Malus will not forgive is a substrate that stays waterlogged.

Feeding and pruning

Feed regularly from spring to autumn with a balanced organic fertiliser, easing off while the tree is in flower. Through the growing season, pinch new shoots back to one or two leaves to keep the silhouette compact and build fine ramification. Heavier structural pruning is best left to late winter, before the buds begin to move.

Repotting and winter care

Repot every two to three years in early spring, just as the buds swell, using a free-draining mix of akadama, pumice and lapillo. The roots take a careful trim well at that moment. In winter the tree is hardy, but once bare it appreciates shelter from hard frost and cold, drying wind.