Mr Ginkgo

Pre-bonsai stock is a young tree chosen for its potential: a good trunk line, a strong root base and branches in useful places. It has not yet been styled or settled into a bonsai pot. A finished bonsai has already had years of training and refinement. Pre-bonsai costs less, and the shaping is yours to do.

Start with a hardy outdoor species that forgives a few mistakes. Chinese elm, juniper, wild olive and white stinkwood all cope well with Highveld summers and cold winters. Ficus is also a friendly first tree, but it needs protection from frost. Tell us where the tree will live and we will help you choose.

Most bonsai are outdoor trees. They need direct sun, moving air and the change of seasons, and species such as ginkgo, maple, elm and juniper need a cold winter to rest. A few subtropical trees, such as ficus, will cope in a very bright spot beside a sunny window. Any tree can come inside for a few days to be enjoyed, then go back out.

Water by checking the soil, not by the calendar. When the top centimetre starts to dry, water thoroughly until it runs out of the drainage holes. In a Highveld summer that usually means every day, and sometimes twice in a heatwave. Our winters are very dry, so a resting tree still needs water every few days.

A bonsai lives in a small, shallow pot, so its soil has to drain fast and let air reach the roots while still holding some moisture. Ordinary garden or potting soil packs down and stays soggy, which rots roots. Bonsai mixes are made of gritty particles that keep their structure and encourage fine feeder roots.

For most trees the best time is the end of winter, just as the buds begin to swell. On the Highveld that is usually August into early September. Subtropical trees such as ficus prefer to wait for warm weather. Young, fast-growing trees need repotting every one to two years, and older trees every three to five.

Yes, it loses them, and no, it is not dying. Ginkgo is deciduous: the leaves turn butter-yellow in autumn, fall, and the tree stands bare through winter. It handles frost well. Keep the soil slightly moist through the dry months and new buds will open in spring. If nothing has moved by mid-October, bring it in and we will take a look.

We will try, to the best of our ability, and that is what the Bonsai Hospital is for. We start with a proper diagnosis of the roots, soil, leaves and the tree's history, then repot, prune and nurse it as needed. We cannot promise a recovery, and we will tell you honestly if yours looks too far gone, but it is always worth a proper look. If you are in the Boksburg area, we can collect it for free.

No experience is needed. A workshop is one-on-one or small-group time at the bench, working on a real tree, whether your own or one chosen from our stock. We cover what you most want to learn, such as pruning, wiring, repotting or everyday care. Let us know your aims when you book and we will tell you what to bring.

We are in the Boksburg area and open 7 days, Monday to Sunday. Call 076 443 6789 or send a WhatsApp to the same number, and we will share the exact address when you get in touch.