Magnolia stellata 3-1

It needs a substrate that is always moist. Water regularly, allowing the root ball to dry out slightly between waterings to avoid excess water. In spring/summer, it should be watered regularly, and every day when the weather is hot! In winter, on the other hand, water as the soil warms up. Thanks to the rain and cold, you won't necessarily need to water regularly, as the substrate will remain moist. 

Important: Don't hesitate to water the entire root ball right down to the roots, as the water will drain out through the holes in the underside of the pot, or bathe the bonsai in water for a few seconds to make sure it is well watered. We advise against putting a dish/container under the pot as the water will stagnate and may cause the roots to rot (too much water = asphyxiation).

It likes fresh soil with a good proportion of organic matter. In the nursery, we use agricultural compost made up of black peat, blond peat, aged organic matter, topsoil, horse manure and pozzolan. At the next repotting, which takes place every 2/3 years in early spring, you can mix in a more draining substrate such as akadama, pumice, kiryu, etc. Just be careful not to disturb the root ball, and don't destroy the entire root ball! 

Many bonsai react badly when repotted at the wrong time or too drastically.

The Magnolia, being naturally harmonious, does not require very regular pruning. However, if you wish to maintain a beautiful silhouette, each year after the flowering period, you can prune it in autumn for maintenance in order to rebalance the branches or remove intertwined branches.

In the nursery, we use NPK 12 12 17 blue fertiliser for tomatoes and flowers. You can use it and put a handful (small or large depending on the size of the pot) on the substrate from May to October, every 2 months, alternating chemical/organic.