Choose an outdoor spot that can provide full sun during the summer. Some shade will benefit the tree in the height of summer. During very cold weather periods, a frost-free environment like a shed or greenhouse is advised.

Water your Japanese White Beech as soon as the soil gets dry. Use the top inch of soil as a judge and ensure it doesn’t dry out completely. Be careful not to overwater the tree. During the growing season, these bonsai appreciate being watered at least once a day and sometimes twice.

A younger Japanese White Beech should be fed with mild organic feed high in nitrogen content from spring to the end of the growing season. We would recommend the Naruko Slow Release Feed. This will aid their health and size. For older trees, use a milder organic feed lower in nitrogen content. Only fertilise after the first growth set has hardened.

Pruning your bonsai is important not only to create or maintain an aesthetic style but also to ensure optimal health. Allow the Japanese White Beech’s new shoots to elongate in the spring. Around May, this should allow you to cut shoots back to two or three leaves once around six or eight are present. Allow new growth for six to eight weeks before cutting back once more. Repeat this process throughout the growing season. Japanese White Beech is not suitable for defoliation. Go for leaf-cutting as opposed to defoliation, along with the new shoot trimming in May. 

Wiring Japanese White Beech is best done in late spring or winter, promptly after the leaves have fallen. If wiring in winter, avoid bending branches too aggressively, as this can cause die-back. 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.

The Fagus species is a deciduous tree genus found in temperate climates from North America to Eurasia. Of the two species popular for bonsai, the Common Beech is the other. Comprised of some 10 to 13 species, these large, graceful trees are found in some of the world’s most breathtaking forests.  

Bonsai trees aren’t only magnificent additions to an indoor oasis, they are more than capable of standing out in any garden. Many Bonsai species are incredibly hardy and withstand nature’s colder and damper turns with aplomb, making them worthwhile outdoor plants. We have an extensive library of care guides for outdoor bonsai trees. It’s not about selecting the perfect bonsai, it’s about selecting the perfect bonsai for you.