Brush Cherry Bonsai Care Guide

Brush Cherry like the warmth and sun found in their native habitats. Bush Cherry bonsai appreciate four to six hours of sunlight every day in a warm area. Their leaves are kept vital and colourful through humid and not dry air. Can be grown indoors or outdoors.

If grown outdoors the Brush Cherry must be brought indoors during the winter months to protect it from frosts which will hurt the tree. If in an environment where below-freezing temperatures are expected, this tree should not be left outdoors for a long time. 

The Brush Cherry Tree requires a reasonable amount of water to maintain its moisture and make sure it is not too dry. Water substantially if the soil gets dry, do not water if the soil is wet. Watering should be judged on the environment and season, this species will require watering more in the summer. Consider watering once or twice on the hottest days of the year. Humidity is advisable for Brush Cherry Tree bonsai.

Across the growing season use a liquid feed every two weeks, to ensure the plant’s health. Feeding once a month is sufficient for the winter. 

Pruning your bonsai is important not only to create or maintain an aesthetic style but to also ensure optimal health. Brush Cherry is a fast-growing species that requires pruning frequently. After 6 to 8 leaf pairs have grown trim the new shoots to 1 or 2 pairs. 

Brush Cherry are suitable for wiring in the growing season. Its tender branches scare easily so avoid leaving the wire on for long. We recommend using wires with a thickness that matches the thickness of the branch: if the wire you choose is too thick you will damage the bark. If it is too thin, it won’t be effective.

Repotting your tree is an important way to provide a fresh and suitable soil mix and ensure appropriate root health. Brush Cherry Bonsai should be repotted every other year with moderate root pruning in the Spring. 

Trees that are ready for repotting will require root pruning, a suitable new pot and appropriate soil mix.

When repotting, do not cut back the root mass by a large amount, and choose a well-draining soil mix that has a neutral or slightly higher PH value of 5-6 but not over 7. We tend to use a mixture of different speciality bonsai soils on our trees. Every species is different so please contact us for free soil-mix advice or to take advantage of our repotting service.