Bonsai trees should be transplanted when the roots in the Bonsai container have grown clumped together in a condition known as root-bound. In the root-bound condition the roots have extended themselves to the point where they are no longer able to take sustenance from the soil. This becomes apparent when the roots are seen growing out the sides of the Bonsai container. We recommend pushing your finger down along the inside of the bonsai container to examine if the roots have reached the sides of the bonsai container. For the majority of Bonsai this occurs every two years.

Repotting the Bonsai and trimming the roots is not a hazardous operation, if done at the right time of the year. And, if one is careful not to take away too much soil from the tree providing it is done just before the new growth begins in the spring.

Procedure for repotting Bonsai:

• Pick a day that is cool, if repotting outdoors.
• The soil should be moderately dry. Carefully take the tree out of the container without disrupting the soil around the roots. The plant's placement back in the pot after you are finished is important so before removing the tree from the container take a good look at it's placement.
• Untangle the roots from the root-ball mass. Using an unsharpened, pointed stick, like chopsticks,or purchase an actual roothook, pick away the soil from the sides and bottom of the root-ball mass. Remove approximately one-third of the root-ball mass being careful not to disrupt the soil from around the trunk of the tree. Carefully trim off the roots that have now been exposed with a sharp pair of root shears, leaving one-inch of roots still extending beyond the root-ball mass. Add a layer of 3/8ths-inch of Bonsai pebbles until it covers the entire bottom of the bonsai container one-inch high. This will be used as the drainage for your tree. Use a good grade of special bonsai potting soil mixture. You need to place enough soil in the bonsai container so that when the tree is replaced within the Bonsai container, the top surface of the Bonsai soil is even with or slightly below the edge of the container. To secure the tree to the pot you should use bonsai wire, around 2mm diameter will suffice, thread this through the holes in the bottom of your bonsai pot.
• Place the bonsai tree back into the bonsai container and locate it where it was prior to its removal from the Bonsai container and fill the sides of the Bonsai container with the special Bonsai soil mixture, securing the wire over the root ball to secure the tree.
• Water the entire surface of the soil.
• Using your hands, pack the bonsai soil firmly into the Bonsai container to ensure that there are no air pockets around the roots.
• After the Bonsai soil has been packed properly, water the bonsai soil with the fertilizer mixture until it is saturated. Mist and water the Bonsai tree soil with the special fertilizer mixture often to ensure that the bonsai tree does not dry out until new roots are formed.