How To Care For Your Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Grape Bonsai Tree

About The Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Grape Bonsai Tree

This stunning Wine Grape Bonsai Tree is a living masterpiece and an endless source of delight. It has been skillfully cultivated, pruned and shaped over the years to produce a classic wine grape, which hangs in clusters from this vineyard treasure.

The grapes are edible and delicious.

The older this bonsai becomes, the more aged and magnificent it looks. For this reason, artisans will work for more than 10 years to cultivate and train these trees.

It is a deciduous tree, so it will have some fall color and go dormant for the winter.  It wakes up from its winter sleep in the spring, just like they do in the warm California vineyards.

As far as the wine goes, Cabernet is the classic full-bodied red from France that gives hints of pepper and cedar flavors, along with loads of fruit.

Placement

Like all deciduous trees, a wine grape cabernet bonsai should remain outdoors all year long.

It must stay cool or cold during the winter (about 3 months), but should be protected from harsh freezes.  In the late fall, protect your tree by burying your tree, or mulch over the pot in the ground. The tree should be protected from strong wind and sun (but not snow or rain) throughout the winter.  If you must, it can be placed in an unheated garage or shed.

Do not forget to water your tree in the winter!

In the early spring, when the chance of freezing is gone, it can be placed back in its normal location.

For the rest of the year, the tree should be outside with a few hours of sun (morning sun, with afternoon shade is best.)

Watering

Never let the soil completely dry out.  Whenever the soil seems dry, thoroughly water your tree until the water runs clear from the bottom.  In the growing season, this can be daily.

If you need help, a good moisture meter will guide you.

Humidity

If you ever need to take your cabernet bonsai tree inside, including into a garage for the winter, using a humidity tray is recommended.  It will prevent the water from running on the floor, and can help keep the tree somewhat moist in the dry season.

Fertilizing

Since your cabernet grape bonsai is in a small pot, and not the ground, it needs nutrients.  A slow release (pellet based) fertilizer is perfect for this, and can be added sparingly every 1-2 months during the growing season.

If you plan on eating the fruit of this bonsai tree, use a food-safe fertilizer that you're comfortable with diluted to at least half the labeled strength.

Pruning & Trimming

Trim back the new growth to the farthest safe point that looks good to you — but never remove all of the new growth.

A regular trim will help keep your cabernet grape bonsai tree short, while helping the trunk grow thicker.

Repotting

Repotting must be performed periodically on your bonsai, cabernet included, when its root system has filled the pot.  If you can clearly see the roots coming out of the bottom of the pot, it’s time to repot your bonsai.

Generally, this means every 2-3 years for a deciduous tree and every 4-5 years for an evergreen.

Repotting should be done in mid-summer, when the tree is at it’s least fragile state.

The grape bonsai tree, along with all of its soil, should be removed from the pot.  From there, you can trim away no more than 1/3rd of the root mass (1/4th is preferred.) 

Then you can repot the tree in the same pot, or give it a newer / bigger pot to thrive in.

After repotting, your cabernet bonsai should be thoroughly watered.

Diseases, Insects & Other Pests

Your cabernet bonsai can be treated for pests like a normal cabernet sauvignon plant.  Just remember, your tree is miniature and will need a much smaller and more gentile dose of treatment.