December 2025 Bonsai "Growing Tips" Column

Happy Holidays!

Just a quick column this month, with a few seasonal thoughts. I hope you and your families are well, and I will be back with more in the new year!

Watering: Just like last month, our weather is pretty variable in December. Be sure to adjust your watering accordingly. This is not the time of year to just rely on a watering schedule. Check your trees regularly and water when they just start to dry — don’t allow them to completely dry out or stay perpetually soggy. Pines in particular are susceptible to overwatering in winter. Keep an eye out for yellowing needles as that is often a sign of waterlogged soil. Yellowing needles are perhaps more common on pre-bonsai in organic soil; if you notice this, you might consider moving the tree under an overhang during rain, giving it a chance to dry out.

Gifting Bonsai: ‘tis the season of giving and many of us are probably considering sharing our love of bonsai with friends and family. If you do gift a bonsai to someone inexperienced, try to pick a beginner friendly species like ficus, portulacaria, or procumbens juniper, and make sure the recipient can provide appropriate conditions (e.g. don’t gift a juniper to someone without any outdoor space to keep it in the sun).

Repotting Season Approaches: I will start repotting Japanese Black Pine Bonsai in January and junipers in February. With all the holiday hubbub, that will be here sooner than you think! If you haven’t already, start thinking about what trees need repotting in the new year. If water sits on the surface of the pot, and doesn’t readily drain through the soil, it’s probably time for repotting. I repot most bonsai every 3-5 years, so check your records — it has almost always been longer than I think it has.

Living Christmas Trees: After Christmas there are always a bunch of unsold live Christmas trees on super-sale, and many a new hobbyist sees bonsai opportunity. I would advise caution. Most of the species offered in this fashion are either not ideal for bonsai or not ideal for our climate (or both). Stone Pines, Dwarf Spruce, Norfolk Island Pine, etc. will all come with one headache or another. If you’re starting out, your efforts will be better rewarded with more common bonsai species. If you’re a seasoned hobbyist and just want to try something new, have fun!

Another year of bonsai is in the books, and I want to thank the Conejo Valley Bonsai Society, and all of my bonsai friends, students, and clients who have helped to make it a great one. Have a safe and merry holiday season and a very happy new year!