With a striking bark, beautiful green foliage and a stunning spring flowering, the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus Florida) and the highly desired Japanese Dogwood (Conus Kousa) is stunning material for a Bonsai Project.
(Cornus Florida) is native to North America making them hardy and resilient Bonsai material. The flowers that emerge on more established trees are off-white with four or five rounded petals.
(Cornus Kousa) is native to East Asia in countries like Korea, China and Japan. The flowers on the Japanese Dogwood have more triangular white petals and green leaves that with pruning can be significantly reduced. Being from the region where Bonsai (and Penjing) has been practiced for centuries, the Japanese Dogwood is a very desirable bonsai.
In the fall you can expect these leaves to turn magnificent hues of red and purple.
The ideal time to prune Dogwood Bonsai is actually during the fall/winter. Thinning out branches to make more room for desired growth and pruning back leggy branches.
This also makes the fall/winter the best time to ship these trees. As they can sustain longer periods without watering and light.
Soil (Substrate)
Bonsai soils are usually a mixture of organic potting compost (Pine Bark or Forest Floor), Akadama, pumice, lava rock in varying amounts.
It is important for the soil have good water retention while also draining well, along with very good aeration. The quality of the soil directly affects the health, size and growth of your tree. One of the worst things you can do to your tree is plant it in regular garden soil. Garden soil hardens when it drys and can often lead to a disadvantage when growing a Bonsai.
Soil mixtures can be purchased here, but given their weight and cost of shipping, you can also easily make your own.
Depending on the type of Bonsai you're growing, here are the general formulas for successful mixtures.
Deciduous Tree (Leafy and looses leafs in the fall)
10% Potting Compost
Coniferous Tree (Evergreen like Juniper, Cedar)
If you are not able to check on your Bonsai's moisture levels daily, add more Akadama to the mix.
Given how these soils erode over time, repotting every 2-3 years is required.
Here are some suitable replacements if you cannot find the recommended types of soil.
One of the best and easiest ways to fertilize your Bonsai, is to add a liquid fertilizer mix when water your Bonsai's once a month during the spring/summer. If your Bonsai looses leaves in the winter there is no need to fertilize it then. If you have a coniferous tree, fertilizing the tree once in the beginning of winter and once in the middle of winter should be sufficient.
A little larger than I expected, arrived very quickly and in good shape. She is already getting new leaves. I am very pleased
Arrived quickly, well packaged and healthy. I had a little bit of difficulty finding a good spot for it. For now it likes the living room and away from air vents. New foliage is appearing. I am very happy with my purchase and will definitely purchase more.
I was very happy about it, sadly it lost the leaves but I think with transportation it’s normal isn’t?
I am not able to zoom with you guys on the Wednesday since I’m working til 7:30 every night
Thank you
Hi Ghislaine,
We also hold the zoom calls at 8:30 EST, which is 5:30 PST, so that our west coast customers can join. Feel free to join that session. Our last session for this year will be Dec 29, at 5:30 pm and again at 8:30 pm EST.
Arrived quick, carefully packaged and in good condition. This babe is just as advertised and what I have expected. Just right for trunk wiring and shaping. Thanks!
Arrived quick, well protected, in good condition. Strong and healthy. This babe is just right for trunk wiring and training. Thank you all!
