How do I best care for my 11 year old cedar bonsai?

Answer 1

Since it's already established, there isn't much for you to do. Assuming that it is still alive, you've taken care of it fairly well.

Here's a few more tips:

Try pruning it once a year. If you have shaped your tree, encourage the shape that you have gone with.

If you've used copper wire to train branches, ensure that the wire is not binding a branch and that it is guiding it in the direction that you want.

Fertilize twice yearly. Once in early spring and once in the fall.

You should only need to re pot it every 5-7 years. If you've never done so, you should do so now (in spring).

Inspect all the leaves and bark and ensure that there are no bugs, scale, aphids, etc clinging to it. If there are, try a very mild soapy solution (1 tbs dish soap to a 1/2 gallon water) for a week.

Inspect the bark. Make sure that it is sturdy and not loose. In certain parts of the country, cedars (less likely in bonsai, but it still happens) can be affected by a fungus (mold). Inspect it for spots and visit your local nursery for treatment.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Are you sure it is a cedar? Junipers are often called cedars. In either case, it is an outdoor tree and if you are keeping it inside, it will only last about 6 months. Let's be sure before we go any farther with giving you advice. Please email a photo to me at:
[e-mail] and repeat your question. If you don't have a way of emailing a photo, please describe the foliage.
Also, let me know where you live so we can discuss the outdoor procedure if necessary. You may also want to check the Bonsai Care page of my website:
http://www.american-bonsai.com

Answer 3

Here are the three guides to Easy Bonsai Care whether you keep your tree Indoors or Out.
1. SOAK THOROUGHLY 1 - 3 times a week
2. MIST DAILY
3. BRIGHT INDIRECT SUNLIGHT

If you follow these suggestions, your tree will remain healthy. But the time will come when you'll want to prune the new growth, when you'll want to feed the tree. Perhaps a year or so down the road you'll want to know about root pruning or transplanting.

Answer 4

I wish I could tell you I have had 3 and killed everyone of them. Good Luck with yours though.