Cedrus

Cedar

Bonsai care and maintenance

Cedars are tall coniferous trees which develop characteristic broad and elegant shapes with age. They are very suitable for bonsai purposes, but for unknown reasons cedar bonsai are quite rare.

Cedar Bonsai video
SELECTING TREE SPECIES

Cedar Bonsai Care guidelines

Placement

The cedar needs a position in full sun for healthy growth. In wintertime, protect the tree from freezing temperatures and cold wind. Young plants are especially delicate and need extra protection.

Watering

During the growing season water daily if necessary, but let the soil get dry before watering. Be careful not to overwater the cedar, as it grows in quite dry conditions in its native regions and can suffer from root rot if it is watered too much. Especially in winter it is important that the rootball does not stay too wet because this would increase the risk of frost damage to the roots. Continue reading about watering Bonsai trees.

Watering

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Fertilizing

During the growth season use a liquid fertilizer every two weeks or apply organic fertilizer four to six weeks.

Pruning and wiring

Twigs can be shortened in early spring. Later keep pinching new shoots which appear throughout the growing season. Do not cut the needles. Larger branches can be pruned in autumn. The Cedrus is known for its slowly healing wounds, so consider to create deadwood features like jins or little shari to prevent producing ugly cut wounds. Younger twigs can easily be wired when they are still flexible. Take care not to damage the sensitive bark. Older branches are better shaped with guy wires. Continue reading about pruning Bonsai trees.

Repotting

Repot younger trees every two years, older specimen every three or four years in spring before the new buds open or in autumn. Do not disturb the root system too much and prune the roots only lightly. Continue reading about repotting Bonsai trees.

Propagation

Sow seeds in spring time, cold stratification is required. Cuttings and air layering have rather low success rates.

Pests and diseases

Aphids and the fungi Sirococcus and Pestalotia, which cause shoot blight and defoliation, can attack cedars. Use a specific pesticide and try to improve the growing conditions for your tree. Root rot can occur when cedars are overwatered. For more detailed information on these techniques, check out our Bonsai tree care section.

Cedrus, Cedar Bonsai tree
Cedar Bonsai (Cedrus)

General information about the Cedrus Bonsai tree

There are four beautiful species: Cedrus atlantica, which is native to North Africa, with blue-grey needles and light grey bark, Cedrus deodara from the Himalayas, which has longer green needles, Cedrus libani, which is native to Lebanon and the Mediterranean coast, with dark green needles and greyish brown bark, and Cedrus brevifolia, which is endemic to Cyprus and has short blueish green needles and a broad canopy with horizontal branches. Cedrus brevifolia is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of Cedrus libani. Cedars grow clusters of needles along their twigs, which look similar to those of the larch (Larix) at first sight, but cedars are evergreen in contrast to larches. There are also several interesting cultivars of the cedar species with different foliage characteristics or growth patterns. If you need help identifying your tree, take a look at our Bonsai tree identification guide.

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Fertilizing

Fertilizing

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Tree species

Tree species

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Repotting

Repotting

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