Silver Birch Bonsai Care Guide

Choose an outdoor location with full sun and partial shade from the year’s hottest periods. While they are hardy species, Silver Birch have rots that will tend to rot more easily than other species. A tired specimen may require replanting in the ground every now and then. 

Birch is a particularly thirsty species, and in summer will demand a lot of water. From spring to autumn, they will require daily watering and twice a day for the summertime. During the winter, keep the soil moist. 

Across the growing season use a solid organic feed every month. Otherwise, use a liquid feed once a week. Liquid fertiliser is to be used on moist soil. 

Pruning your bonsai is important not only to create or maintain an aesthetic style but to also ensure optimal health. Each spring cut the Silver Birch bonsai back to the old wood. To encourage fine branching, prune Silver Birch consistently across the spring and summer. Across the growing season, pinch out the tips of new shoots on two or three new leaves. 

Major branches can be wired, though this is not necessary. Wire only those that have slightly hardened. Do not leave the wires on for more than 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. Repot your Silver Birch bonsai every 3-4 years at the start of Spring. 

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.