Here at Bonsai Direct, we like to help our customers through their bonsai journey so they can successfully grow their trees. We have a lot of frequently asked questions asked therefore we thought it may be useful to have all of our FAQs in one place for you to access whenever you want! We have included some articles and videos put together by bonsai master Lloyd Noall.

How big do bonsai grow?

All bonsai grow differently, at different rates and typically the size is decided by the grower. The largest bonsai can grow up to between 60-80 inches!

How will my order be shipped?

Smaller orders are sent via 1st Class Royal Mail (unless stated otherwise on the product), we do not ship trees with Royal Mail.
Most orders are shipped with DPD, our packaging does have our logo and ‘Fragile this way up’ on all four sides. This is not to spoil the surprise, but we have found in trials that if the couriers appreciate what is in the box, they take considerably more care. You should receive a 1-hour delivery slot by text from the couriers.

How much do bonsai cost?

How long is a piece of string? We have trees ranging from £30 to over £10,000.

I’ve just received my tree, where do i put it?

Place your (indoor) tree in a position that has a good amount of daylight but avoid direct sunlight. You want a room with a stable temperature, no draft but not too near a radiator as this will dry the tree out.

I have had my tree for a few weeks but the leaves are starting to turn yellow and drop off.. What is going on?

Your bonsai is simply reacclimatising to its new location – this is completely normal and nothing to worry about. The old leaves will drop, but in a few weeks, you should see lots of new buds appearing.

How do i water my tree?

Keep the soil just damp at all times and mist the leaves/branches regularly with our bonsai mist or water. Here is a video which may be helpful;
https://www.bonsaidirect.co.uk/bonsai-care-advice/bonsai-care-information/how-do-i-water-my-indoor-bonsai-tree-2/

How do i know if my tree is being under/overwatered?

If your tree has become wobbly in the pot, there is a large amount of chalky residue around the rim of the pot or the leaves have black/brown tips; your tree is most likely being overwatered.
If the soil is coming away from the sides of the pot, the leaves are dry and crispy or the bark is shrivelled; your tree is most likely being underwatered.

My tree is covered in bugs.. What do I do?

Treatment can differ depending on the pest and the infestation, we would recommend sending us an email with a few photos so that we can help you to find the best course of action.

How do i prune my tree?

Using a sharp pair of scissors, please trim back the long straggly shoots. The ‘pads’ of leaves should be neat and well-defined. This will encourage buds to appear further down the branches. Here is a link to our pruning video, which you may find helpful:
https://www.bonsaidirect.co.uk/bonsai-care-advice/bonsai-care-information/how-do-i-prune-my-bonsai-tree-2/

How do i repot my bonsai?

Your bonsai will be absolutely fine in the pot in which it arrives for at least one year. Ideally, you should repot (into a larger pot) or root prune (if going back into the same pot) an indoor bonsai in warmer summer months. All bonsai will need repotting every 1 – 5 years. The exact time depends on the size and type of the tree, and the dimensions of the pot. It is usually very visually obvious when the tree needs repotting, as it begins to look out of proportion in comparison with the pot. If at any point you feel like your bonsai might need repotting, but you’re not sure, feel free to send us a photo so we can advise you. Here is a link to our repotting video, which you may find helpful:
https://www.bonsaidirect.co.uk/contact-us/bonsai-care/how-do-i-repot-my-bonsai/

How do i shape my bonsai?

All trees are different. It depends where the branches are, what direction they’re facing and so on. Here is a link to a shaping video which may help;
https://www.bonsaidirect.co.uk/bonsai-care-advice/wiring-guides/

How long do bonsai live?

With the correct care, bonsai will outlive us all.

Do you have another question? Send us an email and we will be more than happy to help.
For more in-depth knowledge or answers to your question, please check out the care section of our website.

We have just received a message from Simon about the leaf drop on his large Chinese Elm indoor bonsai.
It was delivered a few days ago and some of the old leaves are dropping.
We just wanted to give you all reassurance that this is nothing to be concerned about.
It is perfectly normal for a Chinese Elm to drop the old leaves during the first 3 weeks of delivery. It just re-acclimatises to its new position and is nothing to be concerned about.
Another reason it may drop more leaves in September or October is that the days are getting shorter so it feels a bit autumnal.
It will stabilize and in 4-5 weeks lots of new buds will emerge and then it will get going again.
The Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) does a leaf drop far more dramatically than other varieties (some bonsai, such as the Ficus, barely drop at all). However, it buds back quickly and makes a beautiful bonsai. Please do not let this put you off growing a Chinese Elm, in our opinion the character and beautiful proportions (combined with the ease of care) make it one of the best indoor bonsai varieties.

Do you have any questions about your bonsai? Send us an email with a few photos!

Bonsai Tree Question

Hi. On inspecting the soil in my Bonsai tree pot today (which was rather hard and dry, even with daily watering), I discovered several small stones/pieces of grit. What is the purpose of these stones? I removed some of the bigger ones and turned the surface of the soil over a little, before watering again. My Bonsai is a Podocarpus. Many thanks.

Bonsai Direct says:

February 11, 2013 at 7:16 am (Edit)

Hi Neil,
This is a great question. Bonsai like a free draining soil. The grit is added to the compost to open the soil so that more air can get to the roots.
This encourages the small fibrous feeder roots which all bonsai growers are looking to develop.
The grit also helps prevent the bonsai becoming over-watered , although it does sound as though in your case this is not an issue , it may be getting close to the time that it needs repotting. If the soil is hard and dry i would recommend watering by standing the bonsai in a sink with a few inches of water in it, for about 10 mins. This will re-wet the soil and make it easier for you to water.
I hope this helps
Kind regards
Sarah

Please keep in touch!

An eco-friendly bonsai tree from a small, independent UK business who are conscious about their sustainability and are helping to fight the fight for clean air.

If you are unsure about which bonsai tree is best for you, for your gift, or you have any other queries, please contact us and one of our friendly team will get back to you.

Make sure you sign up for our newsletter  (at the bottom of the page) for priority access to new products and exclusive offers. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest for behind the scenes, tutorials and lots of other care advice!

Need bonsai help? Check this out.

Bonsai care help needed!
Hi there, I recently bought a Chinese elm of you guys. The tree is great and is doing really well. I have one query the tree is expanded a lot over a 3 week period huge shoots have grown now I have done a lot of reading about my tree I have bought various tree books and in each book it explains prune only in early spring to encourage new growth. Now with it getting so out of control do I just leave the tree to its own devices and prune in early spring or do I prune the new shoots:/? I feed the tree on rain water although its indoors. I believe this enhances growth also please can you shine some light on mine and my trees situation
many thanks
Dean

BONSAI DIRECT REPLY:

Hi Dean,

Thank you for your e-mail.
I wondered if you would mind if we used your e-mail on our website because I think other readers may have similar questions.
What you have read is incorrect.
The Chinese Elms grow all year, but faster in the spring.
You need to prune it when it needs it, to keep the shape.
If it is out of control please hard prune it , back to about 4 new leaves.
It will look bare to start with but will encourage new buds very quickly and will promote dense foliage pads rather than long straggly shoots.
Chinese Elms are great and respond really well to pruning.
Rain water is great but I would recommend feeding it once a week with bonsai fertiliser too.
Please bear in mind that if you hard prune your bonsai it will not require as much water initially,

I hope this helps
Kind regards
Sarah

Please keep in touch!

An eco-friendly bonsai tree from a small, independent UK business who are conscious about their sustainability and are helping to fight the fight for clean air.

If you are unsure about which bonsai tree is best for you, for your gift, or you have any other queries, please contact us and one of our friendly team will get back to you.

Make sure you sign up for our newsletter  (at the bottom of the page) for priority access to new products and exclusive offers. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest for behind the scenes, tutorials and lots of other care advice!

We have just received this enquiry from Dave Barden on our Facebook Page and thought readers may find it helpful in identifying early stages of black spot on a bonsai. His tree is a Chinese Elm. Please click on this link if you would like to see the conversation: http://www.facebook.com/BonsaiDirect?sk=messages_inbox&action=read&tid=id.100919306728855

Hi there,
Hope you don’t mind me mailing you, I have a Chinese elm about 8 yrs old, been growing well, pruned nicely etc, this past week / fortnight alot of its leaves are going yellow and dropping off, can you tell me why or give me any advice please. this is quite new to me ive had the tree about 4 months and its been ok up until now.
Thanks
Dave.

Dave has also sent us some photos.

Hi Dave, thanks for the photos. I believe this is one of 2 things.
It is most likely to be the early stages of black spot ( a fungus). The spores are in the air and Chinese Elms are susceptible. It is easily treated, you can buy a fungicide which treats for black spot and spray ASAP and again a week later. I would then use it once a month as a preventive measure. We spray weekly as a precautionary measure.
The only other thing it could be is red spider mite (but I cannot see any signs of very fine webbing or leaves which are hanging off the branches).
Both black spot and red spider mite show the mottling of the leaves as in your photos in the early stages; this is why I am slightly unsure.
I hope this helps,
all the best
Sarah

We have received this great e-mail from 13 year old Jesse. It is a really sensible question and one which comes up quite frequently. What bonsai is best for a beginner?

Hey,
For my 14th birthday this year I would like an indoor bonsai tree and I am allowed one. Even though my birthday is in December I thought I would do some research and I came across this website! It has been really helpful but I am still lost about what “breed” of bonsai I should go for! I don’t really want it to be bare, I like them thick. Also, I quite like the look of the Azalea, what do you think? I am completely new to Bonsai Trees so I need something fairly simple. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Jesse Dunnell 🙂
Age 13, female

Bonsai Direct Reply:

Dear Jesse,
Thank you for your e-mail. Azaleas are outdoor bonsai; they are lovely but are not the easiest for a beginner.

I would recommend the Chinese Elm as a good indoor bonsai for a beginner. If you put the word ‘elm’ into our product search and press go, then our website will show you the different options. The Chinese Elm makes a fantastic bonsai. It has naturally small leaves, it is evergreen if kept indoors and it has great character. It is an easy bonsai to care for so is perfect for beginners. This variety does not flower, but in my opinion is still the best option for a beginner. Chinese Elms grow quite quickly so they are fun to prune and they are not overly fussy about position but do benefit from quite good daylight (but not of direct hot sun).
My daughter is 11 and she has a Chinese Elm and it is doing really well.

The other really lovely thing about the Chinese Elm is the character; they form lovely twisty trunks and are perfectly proportioned. If you have any other questions please ask, Kind regards Sarah

Chinese Elm Description:

The Chinese Elm (Ulmus parviflolia) makes a truly beautiful bonsai with small bright green leaves. The tree has excellent twig structure and has great character throughout, making it the perfect representation of a woodland tree. In our opinion the Chinese Elm is the most perfectly proportioned, easy to care for and adaptable tree and makes a superb bonsai; which can be grown either indoors or outdoors.

Please keep in touch!

An eco-friendly bonsai tree from a small, independent UK business who are conscious about their sustainability and are helping to fight the fight for clean air.

If you are unsure about which bonsai tree is best for you, for your gift, or you have any other queries, please contact us and one of our friendly team will get back to you.

Make sure you sign up for our newsletter  (at the bottom of the page) for priority access to new products and exclusive offers. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest for behind the scenes, tutorials and lots of other care advice!

Pruning a Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree

We have just received this question from Tom Currie about pruning a Chinese Elm bonsai…
Hello. I recently bought a Chinese Elm from you and I must say I was very pleased with what I got. It has adapted well to its new environment and is growing happily. It is growing so well in fact that I now need to give it a bit of a pruning but I’m not exactly sure how to do this. I want to make sure that I make the right snips in the right places. Could you please lend me your knowledge and guide me through this new and enjoyable process?

Bonsai Direct Reply:

Dear Tom,
Thank you for your e-mail. It is lovely to know that your bonsai Chinese Elm is thriving.

Your question is a really good one and we thank you for allowing us to use it on our website because I am sure other bonsai growers will have similar questions.

In answer to your question about pruning the Chinese Elm Bonsai:

The bonsai will have been styled and pruned prior to dispatch so you should notice that the new shoots are a slightly paler green colour.

The leaves grow in pairs either side of the small shoot.

You ideally want to leave one pair of new leaves on each shoot and prune off anything longer than this.

This stops the bonsai getting straggly and out of shape and maintains the shape of the bonsai but also allows it to grow slowly.

When pruning please use a very sharp pair of scissors or a pair of bonsai pruning scissors.

Sharp cuts heal quickly and prevent disease.

If the bonsai gets out of shape, spring and summer are good times to hard prune , the Chinese Elm is great at budding back.

Usually you will notice lots of new buds further back down the branches about 6 , 8 weeks after pruning.

The buds open and form the dense foliage pads that you are looking to maintain.

I hope this helps

Kind regards

Sarah

Please keep in touch!

An eco-friendly bonsai tree from a small, independent UK business who are conscious about their sustainability and are helping to fight the fight for clean air.

If you are unsure about which bonsai tree is best for you, for your gift, or you have any other queries, please contact us and one of our friendly team will get back to you.

Make sure you sign up for our newsletter  (at the bottom of the page) for priority access to new products and exclusive offers. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest for behind the scenes, tutorials and lots of other care advice!

We have been sent a great question about indoor bonsai by Paul Redding this morning:-

Hello, thinking about having one of your premium bonsai trees for my birthday soon. I want to give it as much care as you will have done. Could you recommend any trees that would be suited to shade. I would like it in my living room but as its at the darker side of the house I would be lying in saying its going to see sunlight. Don’t get me wrong, you can sit in there without the light on but there is no area in which any sun light comes through directly.
Hopefully you may have something I can buy?
Kind regards,
Paul.

Bonsai Direct Reply:

By far the best bonsai for your living room would be the Fig /Ficus.
This is an absolutely stunning bonsai with deep green glossy leaves and lovely ariel roots which develop as the bonsai matures.
It is easy to care for and will thrive in shade.
Please see below:

I hope this helps
Kind regards
Sarah

Fig (Ficus retusa)

The fig has dark green glossy leaves and is unusual in that it will tolerate lower light levels. The fig makes a fantastic indoor bonsai and should be protected from the frost. It buds back very quickly after pruning and has an immense amount of character in the truck and aerial root system. A very powerful bonsai, fun and easy to care for. It is also less susceptible to pest attack. Protect from cold (min 10oC).

Please keep in touch!

An eco-friendly bonsai tree from a small, independent UK business. We are conscious about their sustainability and are helping to fight the fight for clean air.

If you are unsure about which bonsai tree is best for you, for your gift, or you have any other queries, please contact us and one of our friendly team will get back to you.

Make sure you sign up for our newsletter  (at the bottom of the page) for priority access to new products and exclusive offers. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest for behind the scenes, tutorials and lots of other care advice!

Arran had a good range of questions about caring for his indoor bonsai, have a read below!

Scroll to the bottom to see some of our wonderful indoor bonsai!

Bonsai Direct says:

Bonsai Direct says:

If you have any questions about your indoor bonsai, comment or send us a message!

Bonsai Direct says:

Bonsai Direct says:July 22, 2012 at 8:30 am

Here is a snapshot of the most popular bonsai in our indoor bonsai range

Please keep in touch!

An eco-friendly bonsai tree from a small, independent UK business. We are conscious about their sustainability and are helping to fight the fight for clean air.

If you are unsure about which bonsai tree is best for you, for your gift, or you have any other queries, please contact us and one of our friendly team will get back to you.

Make sure you sign up for our newsletter  (at the bottom of the page) for priority access to new products and exclusive offers. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest for behind the scenes, tutorials and lots of other care advice!

Should he re-pot his bonsai?

Hey, this may seem like a silly question, but i have just brought my first ever Bonsai tree a Oriental Lacebark Elm (Chinese Elm) and on the roots is some copper wire. Do i need to take this out and re-pot it or leave it?

Also im unsure if the Bonsai will ever need repotting and if so how do i tell when?

Bonsai Direct reply:

Hi Garry,
When we re-pot a bonsai we wire the bonsai into the pot.
This helps prevent the bonsai from rocking in the pot whilst the new roots become established.
We usually leave the wire because it holds the bonsai in the pot during transport and it is now entirely up to you whether you remove this or not. It has now done its job! There is absolutely no harm in leaving it there and it usually helps the bonsai.
All bonsai will need re-potting or root pruning at some stage to prevent the roots from getting pot bound.
I would recommend every other summer. If the bonsai has grown considerably please re-pot into a larger pot (you can also do this sooner if you would like the bonsai to get larger). However, if the bonsai looks fine in its current pot simply root prune slightly every other year and put some fresh bonsai soil around the root ball.

Great question, many thanks.
I hope this helps
kind regards
Sarah

Please keep in touch!

An eco-friendly bonsai tree from a small, independent UK business. We are conscious about their sustainability and are helping to fight the fight for clean air.

If you are unsure about which bonsai tree is best for you, for your gift, or you have any other queries, please contact us and one of our friendly team will get back to you.

Make sure you sign up for our newsletter  (at the bottom of the page) for priority access to new products and exclusive offers. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest for behind the scenes, tutorials and lots of other care advice!

How to care for a bonsai which has dried out.

We have just received this question from Robyn about how to care for her bonsai which has dried out:

I was given a Chinese Elm for Christmas and it has been perfectly healthy, I left it with friends for 2 weeks at the end of April and it dried out a lot, Ive been tying to make up for it but I think if anything, now I have overwatered the poor thing! The leaves that remain (nothing compared to before) are all crispy, but the soil is damp, there are not signs of new buds at the moment, do you think it’s too late for my bonsai?