Prebonsai cotoneaster "horizontalis" 1-12

It needs a substrate that is always moist. Water it regularly while allowing the root ball to dry out slightly between waterings to avoid excess water. 

In spring/summer, watering will be done regularly, when it's hot, it's every day ! On the other hand, in winter, water according to the soil monitoring you do. Thanks to the rain and cold, you won't necessarily need to water regularly since the substrate will remain moist. 

Important : Don't hesitate to water the entire root ball up to the roots, the water will drain away through the holes under the pot or bathe the tree in water (drenching) for a few minutes, to be sure to water well up to the roots. We do not recommend putting a cup or container underneath your pot as the water will stagnate and can cause root rot. (Too much water = asphyxiation). 

In the nursery, we use agricultural potting soil composed of black peat, blond peat, eco-aged, topsoil, horse manure, pozzolana. During the next repotting, which is done about every 2 years, you can mix more draining substrate such as: akadama, pumice, kiryu... only be careful not to disturb the root soil, do not destroy the whole root ball, 

Many bonsai react noticeably when repotted at the wrong time or too drastically. For this reason, you should cut as few roots as possible 

In order to obtain a quality bonsai, the cotoneaster must grow freely for the first few years. For older trees, pruning is done in early winter after the growing season. Regular pruning allows the tree to give off abundant structure. The young shoots will be easier to prune and tie because they are more flexible. On the other hand, the older branches are harder and more brittle. It will therefore be necessary to use appropriate tools.

In the nursery we use blue tomato/flower fertilizer NPK 12/12/17. Put a handful of them on the substrate (small or large depending on the size of the pot) from May to October, every 2 months.