Mugo Pine Bonsai should be placed outdoors in full sun. A central European species, they are hardy to temperate regions. Full sun is a requirement across the growing season; check the specimen’s health in temperatures below -5 degrees C.

Mugo Pine requires regular watering and even more so during the summer. In the winter period, be sure to keep the soil moist.

Do not feed between mid to late summer. Feed with a general fertiliser every three to four weeks in the spring and autumn. We would recommend the Naruko Slow Release Feed. Be mindful that overfeeding will bring on thickened branches and coarse growth.

Anytime from spring to autumn, you can prune the unwanted branches. Cutting should be done just above the needle clusters. Late spring is the time to pinch out emerging candles. Remove one or two of the strongest candles in a larger cluster. 

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. Mugo Pines are a rare specimen that prefer repotting in the summer, between July and August has proven successful. Do not was the roots. Only remove old and poor draining soil. It is unessecary to prune foliage following root pruning. 

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

Every species is different, so please contact us for free soil-mix advice or to take advantage of our repotting service.