Bonsai Feeding Schedule: Monthly Plan for Miniature Giants

Bonsai thrive on rhythm. This bonsai feeding schedule gives you a month-by-month plan you can follow today. When you feed on a steady schedule, you help your tree build strong roots, push healthy growth, and store energy for stress and seasonal change. 

In this guide, we share a practical, month-by-month bonsai feeding schedule that is simple, accurate, and easy to customize so you can care for your miniature giants with confidence.

How To Use This Monthly Bonsai Feeding Schedule

We designed this plan for the most common bonsai species grown in containers, both indoors and outdoors. You can apply it to juniper, pine, ficus, maple, elm, jade, and many others. 

Your climate matters, your species matters, and your soil matters, so you will see adjustment notes in each section. When in doubt, start light, observe your tree, and move gradually.

Tools And Supplies We Trust

Good feeding works best with the right tools and a supportive soil mix.

Bonsai Pruning Shears Or Butterfly Scissors

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Trim soft shoots and weak growth to keep energy balanced (clean cuts, fast healing).

Coco Coir Fiber

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Holds even moisture without waterlogging (helps in heat and wind).

Peat Moss

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Add gentle acidity and water retention (steadier hydration).

Bonsai Soil Premium All Purpose Blend

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Build a breathable root zone with akadama, pumice, and lava rock (tune drainage with extra lava).

Liquid Bonsai Fertilizer With A 3-1-2 Ratio

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Deliver fast nutrients during active growth (easy to dose for indoor trees).

Leaves And Soul Bonsai Fertilizer Pellets, 18-6-8 Slow Release

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Provide slow, steady feeding for seedlings and mature plants (low maintenance, great for outdoor benches).

Soil And Watering That Support Feeding

Fertilizer only helps when roots can breathe. Our Bonsai Soil Premium All Purpose Blend gives reliable structure because akadama holds nutrients, pumice adds porosity, and lava rock keeps the mix open. 

Aim for a slightly acidic root zone, pH about 6.0 to 6.5 for most species, and do a deep plain-water flush once each month to clear salts. You can tune drainage with more lava rock in wet seasons or humid zones. For trees that dry out too fast, blend in a little coco coir fiber or peat moss to smooth moisture between waterings. 

Water deeply before and after feeding so nutrients move into the root zone without pooling. For a quick check on overfeeding, watch for leaf-tip burn or unusually soft, very dark growth, then reduce strength or increase intervals.

Core Fertilizer Strategy That Works

Plants need nitrogen for foliage and shoots, phosphorus for roots and flowers, and potassium for strength and stress tolerance. Our base plan uses two forms of fertilizer so you can match growth speed and your schedule.

• Liquid 3-1-2: dilute according to label, usually 1 to 2 teaspoons per gallon of water, then water the soil until moisture flows from the drainage holes. This suits spring through late summer when growth is steady. Indoors, you can use lower doses more often.

• 18-6-8 Pellets: place evenly across the surface after you water thoroughly, then top with a thin layer of soil. Pellets release nutrients for weeks, which keeps levels steady and reduces the risk of burn when you have a hot spell or a busy month.

Always feed on moist soil, never on bone-dry media. Reduce strength for young trees, recent transplants, species that burn easily, and trees under stress from heat, cold, or pests.

Monthly Plan At A Glance

Let us walk month-by-month. Adjust one month earlier in warm coastal areas, and one month later in cold inland areas. Tropical indoor species such as ficus follow the indoor notes all year.

January

Most outdoor temperate trees are dormant. Do not feed frozen or fully dormant trees. For indoor tropicals, give a very mild liquid 3-1-2 once this month after a thorough watering. If growth is stalled due to low light, skip feeding and focus on light and humidity. Clean and sharpen your bonsai pruning shears or butterfly scissors now so you are ready for spring growth.

February

Dormancy continues outdoors. Indoors, give one light 3-1-2 feed if you see active tips or small new leaves. Flush the pot with plain water once this month to prevent salt buildup. Check soil structure, and refresh the top half inch with our Bonsai Soil Premium All Purpose Blend if the surface has compacted.

March

Buds swell on deciduous trees and sap rises. Start the season with half-strength liquid 3-1-2 every two weeks for outdoor trees that are waking up. Place a small amount of 18-6-8 pellets on established outdoor trees if nights stay above 7°C. Keep recently repotted trees on plain water for three to four weeks. Indoors, use half-strength liquid 3-1-2 every three weeks.

April

Growth accelerates. Move to half to three-quarter strength liquid 3-1-2 every two weeks. Add 18-6-8 pellets to outdoor pots for stable background nutrition. For fast-drying pots, top-dress with a thin blend that includes coco coir fiber or peat moss to buffer moisture, then water well.

May

Shoots lengthen quickly. Maintain a steady rhythm. Liquid 3-1-2 at three-quarter strength every two weeks, plus pellets maintained as labeled. Pinch back soft growth with pruning shears to keep internodes short and to direct energy. Watch for chlorosis. If new leaves look pale while veins stay green, check pH and consider a light iron supplement.

June

Peak growth for many species. Keep liquid 3-1-2 at three-quarter strength every two to three weeks, and refresh 18-6-8 pellets if they have broken down. In hot spells, water more often, then feed the day after a deep watering. For pines and junipers, drop the nitrogen slightly by reducing liquid strength. Conifers prefer steady but modest feeding.

July

Heat management is key. Do not feed on extremely hot afternoons. Water in the morning, then feed in the evening when temperatures cool. Indoor trees may slow in air conditioning. Cut back to half-strength liquid if growth pauses. Use pruning shears to remove weak, shaded shoots that steal energy.

August

Late summer push. Continue half to three-quarter strength liquid 3-1-2 every two to three weeks for deciduous trees. Keep pellets in place for consistency. Flush each pot with plain water once this month to reduce salts. If your mix dries too fast, blend a small portion of coco coir fiber or peat moss into the top layer to stabilize moisture for the remainder of the season.

September

Time to taper. Reduce liquid 3-1-2 to half-strength every three weeks for outdoor deciduous trees so wood can harden. Maintain light feeding on tropical indoor bonsai at half-strength every three to four weeks. This is a good month to fine-tune drainage by adding a little extra lava rock to the surface of very wet pots.

October

Most temperate trees slow sharply. Give a final light feed early in the month if leaves are still active, then stop as color arrives. Indoor species can continue with half-strength liquid every four weeks. Remove any remaining pellets from outdoor pots before sustained cold. Clean tools and store fertilizer in a dry, sealed container.

November

Dormancy sets in for outdoor temperate trees. Do not feed. For indoor bonsai under grow lights, maintain very light liquid 3-1-2 every four to six weeks if you see fresh growth. Keep the root zone airy. Refresh the top layer with our Bonsai Soil Premium All Purpose Blend if it has crusted.

December

Let outdoor trees rest. For indoor tropicals that are still pushing new leaves, a single light feed this month is enough. Focus on light, airflow, and clean cuts with sharp pruning shears when you remove yellowed leaves.

Special Situations And Adjustments

1. After Repotting: wait three to four weeks before feeding so new roots can heal. Start with one-quarter to half-strength liquid 3-1-2, then step up gradually. You can place a very small number of 18-6-8 pellets at week five for established trees.

2. After Heavy Pruning: use pruning shears to remove soft shoots, then delay feeding for one week to reduce stress. Resume at half-strength liquid for the next two feedings.

3. Flowering And Fruiting Trees: during bud set and bloom, keep nitrogen moderate. Use half-strength liquid and rely more on pellets for a balanced release. After fruit set, return to your normal schedule.

4. Conifers And Pines: feed less nitrogen overall. Use pellets as the base, with light liquid feeds spaced out to every three to four weeks in peak season.

5. Tropical Indoor Trees: with steady light and warmth, ficus and similar species can stay on a gentle monthly liquid plan all year. Flush pots with plain water every six to eight weeks to prevent salt buildup.

How To Read Your Tree And Fine-Tune

A schedule is a starting point. Your bonsai will tell you what it wants.

• Signs You Can Increase Feeding: strong color, firm shoots, and quick recovery after trimming. Add a touch more liquid strength or shorten the interval by a week.

• Signs To Ease Off: soft, lush, elongated shoots, very dark green leaves that feel thin, or tip burn at the leaf edges. Increase time between feeds or reduce strength by a quarter.

• Water First, Feed Second: always water thoroughly before you fertilize. This prevents root burn and helps nutrients travel evenly.

• Soil Matters: akadama holds nutrients, pumice and lava rock provide airflow. If your climate is hot and dry, blend in a little coco coir fiber or peat moss so the root zone stays stable between waterings.

Final Thoughts

Your bonsai feeding schedule is a living plan. Start with this monthly guide, watch your tree, and tune as you learn. Keep sharp bonsai pruning shears ready for post-feeding touch-ups, build a reliable root zone with our Bonsai Soil Premium All Purpose Blend, and adjust moisture with coco coir fiber or peat moss when needed. 

Use a liquid bonsai fertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio during active growth, then maintain steady nutrition with Leaves And Soul Bonsai Fertilizer Pellets in 18-6-8. With a consistent plan and small adjustments through the year, your miniature giants will reward you with dense growth, fine ramification, and a healthy root system that stands strong through every season.

Bonsai Feeding FAQ

How Often Should I Fertilize Bonsai In Winter?
For outdoor temperate trees, do not feed during dormancy. For indoor tropicals, use a very light liquid 3-1-2 every four to six weeks only if you see fresh growth. If growth stalls, skip feeding and improve light and humidity.

Is A 3-1-2 Fertilizer Good For Ficus Bonsai?
Yes. Ficus responds well to a balanced 3-1-2 during active growth. Start at half strength, then increase slowly when you have strong light and warm temperatures.

How Soon Can I Feed After Repotting?
Wait three to four weeks, then begin at one-quarter to half-strength with liquid feed. Add a small number of 18-6-8 pellets in week five for established trees so the release is steady.

Pellets Vs Liquid For Conifers Like Juniper And Pine?
Use pellets as the base for steady, modest nutrition. Layer in light liquid feeds every three to four weeks in peak season, and keep nitrogen on the lower side to avoid overly soft growth.