Cotoneaster "horizontalis" 1-4

It requires a consistently moist substrate. Water it regularly, allowing the root ball to dry slightly between waterings to avoid overwatering.

In spring/summer, water regularly; in hot weather, it's daily! However, in winter, water according to your soil monitoring. 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, right down to the roots. The water will drain through the holes at the bottom of the pot. Alternatively, soak the tree in water (draining) for a few minutes to ensure proper watering down to the roots. We do not recommend placing a dish or container under 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 peat, topsoil, horse manure, and pozzolan. During the next repotting, which is done approximately every two years, you can mix in a more free-draining substrate such as akadama, pumice, kiryu, etc. Just be careful not to disturb the root ball and do not destroy the entire root ball.

Many bonsai react significantly when repotted at the wrong time or too drastically. For this reason, as few roots as possible should be removed.

To obtain a quality bonsai, the cotoneaster must grow freely during the first few years. For older trees, pruning should be done in early winter after the growing season. Regular pruning allows the tree to develop abundant structure. Younger shoots will be easier to prune and wire because they are more flexible. On the other hand, older branches are harder and more brittle. Therefore, proper tools must be used.

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