How to raise miniature Bonsai

Miniature bonsai are called Maine bonsai (pronounced mah-nay bone-sigh); they are the delightfully tiny, miniature bonsai—of bonsai! Do you know how to classify your bonsai by its size? Take a look at our Bonsai Size Classification chart.

Just as traditional bonsai artists strive to create graceful lines that mimic those found in nature on their giant full sized relatives, miniature bonsai artists achieve the same grace …only at much, much smaller scale than their bonsai cousins!

These tiny plants are grown with the minimum amount of soil in the smallest bonsai pots (sometimes called accent pots) in which they can live. Needing water several times a day (3+ times) in the warmer months to ensure that their roots stay moist, Maine bonsai requires excellent drainage to prevent root rot.

Excellent drainage is achieved through placing fine netting over the drain hole of the pot – just like you would with larger pots. Next, add a layer of bonsai soil. This granulated soil is great for drainage needs, preventing excess water from stagnating around the roots.

Maine bonsai will benefit from being fertilized with organic fertilizer once a week, and will benefit from being placed on humidity trays layered in tiny pebbles to help the bonsai maintain its moisture.

To train a Maine bonsai, use fine aluminum (or copper) wire very carefully to shape your bonsai. My personal preference is aluminum bonsai wire – it’s easier to work with and more forgiving. Pinch off branches with fingernails or use sharp bonsai shears while they are very young to acquire desired shape. The pruning process takes precision and patience. Leaf Trimmers is a tool often used to prune Maine Bonsai Trees.

You will likely want to repot miniature bonsai annually. The bonsai roots will be lightly trimmed, and the entire plant can go back into the same pot with fresh soil. You will need to pay special attention to them for several weeks, ensuring that they have an abundance of water to remedy their root loss.

With proper care, miniature bonsai trees will thrive, often living through three or more generations of man. Some trees of only 1 ¼ inches tall can live through several decades which is a particular kind of irony when something so fragile and delicate shows such tenacity and determination for life. As such, Maine bonsai are poetry in action and are sure to delight all who encounter their delicate and intriguing presence.