Japanese Cedar Bonsai Care Guide

Japanese Cedar is ideal to keep outdoors for the duration of the year. Thrives in a bright shaded position across summer. Extensive exposure to the coldest temperatures will turn the foliage brown, though it will regreen in spring. If you want to avoid the turn of colour in the winter, consider moving it to an unheated greenhouse, conservatory or providing insulation for the pot.

During the growing period, the Japanese Cedar demands a lot of water to enable its growth. During the summer, these species need feeding twice a day. Underwatering may cause branch die-back. Light watering across winter to ensure soil moisture, cease watering in frosty weather. 

Japanese Cedar responds well to frequent misting in the summer. 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 and reduce evaporation from the leaves.

Feed every two weeks from spring through to late autumn. At the height of growing season around the turn for summer, consider a fertilizer of high nitrogen content. Come, Autumn, a general fertiliser is the best choice to facilitate shape and growth. 

Pruning your bonsai is important not only to create or maintain an aesthetic style but to also ensure optimal health. Japanese Cedars are among the most demanding bonsai when it comes to grooming. Consistent pruning is necessary to keep the tree looking its most vital. Start at the end of spring and continue across the growing season. New shoot tips can be pinched out across the summer. Unwanted shoots from branches and the trunk can be cut back and removed. 

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.

Japanese Cedar should be repotted every other spring. Akadama soil is advised for the new soil mix. 

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.