How To Take Care Of Your Hinoki Cypress Bonsai Tree

Camecyparis Obtusa Compacta Bonsai Care

About The Hinoki Cypress Bonsai Tree

The Hinoki Cypress is a Japanese evergreen, and the smallest of the cypress species.

Its a conifer with flat deep green fan-like foliage.  The leaves look like scales, with green above and a blue tint below.

It has a dark brownish-red bark that quickly looks mature.

This is an outdoor bonsai tree, and is remarkably hardy.

Placement

The Hinoki Cypress is an outdoor tree that needs protection from the harsh winter weather.  Bury the bonsai tree up to its trunk in mulch when the temperatures are approaching freezing at night to protect it from the worst of the frost.

Alternatively, you can place it in an unheated shed or garage to help it go dormant while protecting it from the elements.

Watering

The Hinoki Cypress, like most bonsai trees, will die if it dries out.  It enjoys plenty of water in well draining soil. Never let it dry out completely. Not even in the winter!

Humidity

The Hinoki Cypress doesn't care how humid or dry it is.  However, if you're wintering it in the shed or garage, a suitable humidity drip tray will keep things clean when watering.

Fertilizing

Since your Hinoki Cypress 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.

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 Hinoki Cypress bonsai tree short, while helping the trunk grow thicker.

Repotting

Repotting must be performed periodically on your bonsai, Hinoki Cypress 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.  Hinoki Cypress, being evergreen, will need to be repotted around every 4-5 years depending on its environment.

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

Your Hinoki Cypress bonsai, 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 bonsai Hinoki Cypress should be thoroughly watered.

Diseases, Insects & Other Pests

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