Hackberry Bonsai Care Guide

Place Hackberry in the full sun but be mindful of a hot summer day leaving it dried out. For temperatures below -5 degrees C, frost protection is advised. 

Water your Hackberry bonsai regularly across the growing season the moment the surface of the soil feels dry. Be sure to keep the soil moist across the winter as well. As a tropical species, it can be kept in a dryer than average environment, if doing so, misting will go a long way for the health of your bonsai. This can be achieved by using a mister to spray the leaves, as well as placing a gravel tray under the pot to create a more humid microclimate around the tree.

During the growing season, feed your Hackberry bonsai once every two to three weeks.

Pruning should take place between the spring and the end of the summer. Overlong branches need cutting back and new shoots can be shortened to three or four buds. 

Hackberry bonsai are suitable for an array of styles including cascade and broom. Apply the wires in spring or autumn, be mindful that most shaping can be done through pruning. 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. In early spring, repot your Hackberry bonsai every two to three years.

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.