The official date of Spring is March 21 - which is the usual date when you start to take your bonsai out of their winter storage and gradually bring them to your display area. But, this year is unusual - like so many that we have in Ohio. There has not been a very long cold spell. But, this weekend has predictions for below-freezing temperatures.

If your bonsai are in leaf and we have a sudden cold snap make sure to protect your trees from frost. Any new growth is very tender. A sudden cold spell will kill the new growth and can damage new root growth. If you do not protect your trees in the event of a cold spell you could lose all of your bonsai. Be careful. Watch the weather forecast. Remember that, once your trees break their dormancy, there is no way to reverse the process.  Start thinking about your yearly fertilization program. After your trees have leafed out apply a soluble fertilizer every two weeks, or, as I prefer, use a liquid fertilizer at half strength every week. Alternate the use of several brand names. Each fertilizer will contain some micro nutrients that the other does not contain. Do not fertilize any plants you plan to repot.

When repotting, I like to use Osmocote, which is a slow release fertilizer, and takes care of the fertilizing requirements for the next two or three months.

Basic watering instructions are simple. Water when the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch. Continue watering the tree until the entire root ball is moist. Don’t water again until the soil surface feels dry again.

Your soil should not be bone dry (complete absence of moisture). The lack of all moisture is unhealthy for any tree even junipers and pines that prefer their soil on the dry side. Moist soil is friable and feels cool to the touch. A moist soil is the safest and most desired condition for most plants. After moist a soil becomes wet which can be tolerated by few trees. If your soil is always wet, check for poor pot drainage, non functioning roots, and review your soil formulation.

-Jim Hagan