How Long Does It Take For a Bonsai Tree to Grow?


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Bonsai trees are beautiful and many people want them to grow faster to reach their optimal size. But just how long does it take for a bonsai tree to grow?

This article will discuss bonsai tree growth and how to make bonsai trees grow faster.

Bonsai Tree Life

If you’re starting out with growing bonsai trees, most people buy their trees at nurseries or inherit them from relatives or friends. It takes about five years for a tree to be stunted and have that bonsai look that bonsai enthusiasts know and love. 

Bonsai trees can live for hundreds of years. Think of it as a head start that puts you a little close to the most rewarding parts. You still have plenty of work left to do.

How Long Does it Take to Grow a Bonsai Tree From Scratch?

Bonsai trees will take 5 to 10 years to mature to shaping size. You must wait until they reach a certain size before you shape them into the form you want. For beginners, this can be a long time to wait before being able to get into and enjoy bonsai tree art. That’s why it can be best to find bonsai that are already mature.  

If you do want to grow a bonsai tree from scratch, look for native plants that are more likely to grow successfully than non-native ones in your area. You should also remember that bonsais need lots of water and fertilizer.

Learn more about How Big a Bonsai Tree Can Grow.

How to Figure Out How Old Your Bonsai Tree Is

The only way to know the age of your bonsai tree plant is to keep track of its age after planting it yourself. There aren’t any other ways to tell if a tree has been around for a while.

Bonsais will look older thatn they actually are because they’re shaped. They’ll also look older if they were grown in an environment where there was less sunlight. The amount of light affects a bonsai tree’s rate of development.

How Long Do Bonsai Trees Live?

Bonsais are hardy plants that can live for centuries. They take a lot of work to grow, but once they’re mature, they can live for hundreds of more years. Most bonsais die within a few months of being planted, though.

Bonsais take years to mature and require patience to grow. You need to know what kind of soil your bonsai tree needs, and if you want to water it regularly.

Bonsais should be taken care of properly. Watering them regularly is important. A bonsai should look healthy and vibrant. It shouldn’t be neglected or over-watered.

Pruning, fertilizing, watering, and caring for a bonsai tree are essential. You should know how to do this if you want to make sure your bonsai tree stays healthy and alive.

How Can I Make My Bonsai Tree Grow Faster?

Bonsais take time to grow, but it eventually becomes very beautiful. Start with a fast-growing species and you’ll get your bonsai much sooner than if you started with a slow-growing species.

Some bonsai tree varieties can grow quickly, but they need to be cared for properly. You should know how much water to give them and what kind of light they need. Choose a species that matches the conditions you have available.

A bonsai tree is an investment, but if you’re willing to put in the time, you’ll reap great rewards.

Tips To Make A Bonsai Tree Grow Faster

Bonsai trees are slow-growing plants, but they require lots of care. You should prepare them by making sure that the surrounding soil is well-draining and free of weeds. Also, make sure that there is enough sunlight and water.

Bonsai trees take years to grow into beautiful plants. Luckily, there are ways to help speed up the growth process.

Here are the top tips on what you need to do to get your bonsai tree growing faster.

Look For Young Trees

Bonsai trees are normal trees that are prunned and trained to stay small. You can choose almost any type of tree to bonsai. Japanese maple, Juniper, pine, and Chinese elm are some of the most popular types of bonsai trees.

A sapling tree should be selected based on its size and shape. Smaller trees are more suitable as they’ll help you shave years off growing a bonsai. The trunk should be narrow and taper towards the top. Branches should be short and wide.

Trees are usually planted in containers because they’re easier to care for than plants that are grown directly in the ground. This means that the roots aren’t as developed, but the tree still needs time to grow before it can be transplanted into the garden. In order to get the most out of your tree, you’ll want to wait until it reaches about three feet tall before transplanting it.

Bonsai trees take time to grow into beautiful plants. A sapling is chosen as the first step. Pruning and wire training are done to make the plant strong and healthy.

Choose Fast-Growing Bonsai Tree Species

Bonsai Tree Species and Varieties

Bonsais are slow growing plants that take a long time to grow. You should choose a fast growing plant species to make your bonsai grow faster. A fast-growing tree can be easier to shape and train.

There are many different kinds of trees. Choose them on how you plan to grow them and what kind of design aesthetics you’re looking for. Think about whether you plant to grow them outdoors or indoors. Some of them bloom flowers, some have leaves all year round. Some of them come in various colors and shapes. 

Take a look at generally faster growing tree species like a maple tree, white pine, jade, Japanese black pine, or Chinese juniper. All of these are known for their fast growth rate.

Read more about the Best Indoor Bonsai Tree Species.

Trees come in many shapes and sizes. You should know what kind of tree you want before purchasing it. Faster growing bonsai trees will usually need extra care and attention. 

Prune and Thin Bonsai Roots

Bonsai trees need to be pruned regularly to make sure they stay healthy. Trimming the roots helps them grow faster. Maintaining a bonsai with a series of small, thin roots will help maintain a healthy life. 

A shallow container means there isn’t much room for roots to grow, so roots can become overgrown. Roots will grow in one place instead of spreading throughout the container. Shallow pots also mean there’s limited water and nutrient storage.

Bonsai roots absorb water and nutrients, so in a shallow pot, plant health and growth will decline quickly because there aren’t enough nutrients and water in the limited soil. Pruning keeps the roots trimmed back to prevent saturation. If the plant slows down or stops growing, it could die.

Roots should be removed and pruned when you seed that plants are growing slowly. Bonsai trees need to be pruned every year. Begin by removing the root ball from its pot.

Use your hands or a gentle tool to remove excess soil. Then begin to trim the roots and keep them thin as thinner roots will absorb nutrients and water more efficiently. 

Bonsai Tree Roots Thinning

After trimming the roots, water generously to allow them to adjust to their new environment without being shocked. 

Bonsai trees need to absorb as much water as possible. Trimming the roots helps them do this. You should trim the roots all over, so they fit into the pot without folding over.

Thicker Trunks Help Bonsai Grow Faster

Thickening the bonsai tree trunk of a bonsai tree is an important step in making a bonsai tree grow faster. It can take many years to make a thickened trunk, up to 5 years or more. 

Thick bonsai trunks help the tree get bigger and stronger. They also help the tree withstand wind and other elements better. The thicker the trunk, the more stable the tree becomes.

The trunks also help move nutrients and water throughout the tree and leaves. Thicker trunks mean less stress on the tree’s roots and a longer, healthier life. 

There are a couple of methods to thicken tree trunks. You can use either trunk splitting or trunk merger techniques to speed up the growing process.

Bonsai trunk splitting involves cutting the trunk in half lengthwise. Allow both sides of the trunk to heal and grow separately by using wires to keep them apart. Trunk splitting takes time and patience. It requires skill and experience to properly split a bonsai tree.  

Trunk merging is similar to trunk splitting but involves joining two or more separate sapling trunks together to form one tree. Trunk mergers are often done by grafting the ends of two different trunks together.  The tree takes a short time to grow into one tree.

Both of these trunk thickening methods will take many years to be successfully completed, but they will eventually speed up the bonsai’s growth time.

Maintain A Balanced Diet

Bonsai trees require lots of nutrients to grow and stay healthy. To make sure they receive the right amount of nutrients, they need regular fertilizer. Regular fertilization helps maintain its small size and prevents them from getting thin, weak branches.

Fertilizer is made up of 3 main ingredients: nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K). Nitrogen helps plants grow new branches and foliage.

Potassium helps plants grow flowers and fruit. P helps plants develop strong roots. Bonsai fertilizers should have an NPK value to help provide the range of nutrients that bonsais need.

Regular fertilization once a week is needed during the growing season for continued plant growth. In the fall and winter months during its dormant season, you can slow the feedings to your bonsai tree to once a month until the spring.

In colder climates, keep an eye on how your plants grow as some bonsai plant species are more sensitive and will not grow as quickly. 

Bonsai trees require regular feeding. You must know what kind of bonsai fertilizer to use to ensure the health of your bonsai tree. Bonsai trees need to be fed regularly to stay healthy and grow quickly.

Provide Suitable Soil

Bonsai trees aren’t ordinary plants. Their soil requires special care and attention because they grow in the limited space of shallow pots. If you don’t provide proper soil for your bonsai tree, it won’t grow well.

They require specialized pots and soils. Regular potting soil won’t do. You must use special soil that supports the roots and holds moisture, while not allowing it to become waterlogged. 

Bonsai Tree Grow Timeline Final Thoughts

Bonsai trees can be easy to grow by keeping the above in mind and providing proper care for a healthy tree.

All you need is some water, soil, and sunlight knowledge about bonsai trees and the right materials to help keep a bonsai tree healthy.

Once you’ve got those things down, you’re ready to start growing your own bonsai tree!

For more on bonsai trees, check out these articles: 

Fast Growing Trees and Plants

Bonsai Boy Plants and Pots

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Written by:

Amy Walsh
Amy Walsh is a passionate indoor gardener, deeply engrossed in the world of houseplants and herbs. Her apartment is a lush sanctuary of foliage, reflecting her journey from hobbyist to devoted botanist. She's constantly exploring the latest in smart garden technology, eager to share her insights on nurturing green spaces indoors. Alongside her botanical pursuits, Amy enjoys connecting with nature and friends, continually enriching her lifestyle with greenery and growth.

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