Cork Oak Bonsai Care Guide

Place your Cork Oak in a position with full sun at all times. Come winter this species must be protected from freezing, a greenhouse or conservatory space is advised.

Cork Oak must be watered across the growing season with more water given in the summer. Only begin to water when the top layer of the soil is dry. During the winter, be sure to keep the soil moist. 

Feed your Cork Oak bonsai across the growing season. A general fertiliser during the Spring and once again in the late Summer. 

Pruning your bonsai is important not only to create or maintain an aesthetic style but also to ensure optimal health. Prune your Cork Oak any time across the year. During the growing season pinching out should be done to keep the tree’s shape. This specimen responds well to hard pruning. 

Wiring should take place in Spring or Summer. Only wire previous year’s shoots which have hardened. Wires can be left on for a year. 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. The best time to repot your Cork Oak bonsai is in Spring before the buds start swelling. Repotting should be queued by the tree becoming root bound, approximately every 2-3 years. This species is sensitive to disturbance so take extra care when repotting. 

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.