Bonsai trees are famous for two things: their miniature size and their long lifespans. But how long does it take for a bonsai tree to grow?
Today, we’re going to answer this question and explain all the factors that influence the growth rate of these fascinating plants.
How Long Do Bonsai Trees Take To Grow?
A bonsai tree’s life can be broken down into four “key stages.” The length of these stages will vary between bonsai species, but generally, you can expect each to last around five years (apart from the final stage). Let’s take a closer look at these key stages below.
Bonsai tree timeline
This timeline is based on the assumption that you’re growing your bonsai right from the seedling. In contrast, a bonsai tree you might buy from a shop will already be several years old.
1-5 years old (planting)
During the first 4 or 5 years, the bonsai seedling must be lovingly cared for. Careful and regular watering is needed to develop the seedling into a small tree.
5-10 years old (styling)
This is the most challenging stage for a bonsai grower to master. Styling involves wiring the bonsai tree’s trunk and branches to mold it into your desired shape. Regular pruning is also essential to prevent the bonsai tree from growing faster than it should.
10-15 years old (pruning/growth)
During this stage, your bonsai tree grows to its final size. At this point, the plant is considered to have reached “maturity.”
15+ years old (maturity/aftercare)
Your bonsai will still need regular attention even once it reaches maturity. Watering and pruning are just as important as ever if you want to have a healthy tree for years to come.
Factors Affecting The Growth Rate Of A Bonsai Tree
The bonsai tree species
The biggest thing that affects how fast bonsai trees grow is their species. If the mother tree is a fast-growing plant, the bonsai will be too. If having a bonsai that grows quickly is important to you, then look into the growth rate of the regular trees in that species.
Size of the pot
The reason the average bonsai tree stays small is partly thanks to the tray it grows in. The tray provides just enough nutrients to keep the plant healthy but not enough to cause it to grow at a rapid rate. If you want your bonsai to grow faster, you can consider placing it in a larger pot to boost its nutrient intake.
Be careful with this, though. Bonsai tree growth can increase very rapidly once transferred to a larger pot. Before you know it, your bonsai could have lost its miniature look and been transformed into a regular tree.
General care
Another huge factor that affects how well a bonsai grows is the care it gets. Regular watering and pruning keep the plant looking its best and encourage it to grow too. A bonsai tree requires daily care to stay healthy.
How Long Do Different Bonsai Types Take To Grow?
The time it takes for a bonsai tree to reach its full size varies significantly between the different species. In general, bonsai growth is directly related to the final size of the tree. The largest trees take the longest to get to full size, while the smaller trees reach maturity very quickly.
Fastest Growing
Keshitsubo
If you’re looking for a bonsai tree that reaches maturity as soon as possible, then the Keshitsubo species might be your best choice. In just 3-5 years, this plant will have developed a thick bonsai tree trunk with solid and mature branches. The Kshitsubo can do this because it measures just 4-8 centimeters when fully grown.
Mame
For those bonsai enthusiasts looking for a plant that’s a little more substantial than the Keshitsubo, the Mame species is a great choice. This tree reaches maturity in as little as five years but is 10-15 centimeters when fully grown.
Katade-mochi
Taking 10-12 years to reach its final form, the Katade-mochi is a relatively fast-growing bonsai species for its size. Standing at 30-45 centimeters when fully grown, this tree is much larger than many other “fast-growing” bonsai.
Slowest Growing
Chiu
Despite being a similar size to the Katade-mochi when fully grown, the Chiu takes quite a bit longer to develop. Therefore, you can expect your Chiu tree to reach maturity in 13-16 years, around three years later than a Katade on average.
Dai
This bonsai tree takes a while to reach its fully grown state, typically 15 to 20 years. It measures between 75 and 125 centimeters at maturity, though, so it’s undoubtedly a large bonsai.
Imperial
The slowest growing group of bonsai is the Imperial. This considerable tree stands at 150 to 200 centimeters when fully grown, so it can be as tall as a person. It takes longer to reach this height than a human, though; around 25-35 years!
How Long Do Bonsai Trees Live?
If cared for carefully, most bonsai trees can live for 50-80 years. However, in some cases, they can live much longer than that. For example, some of the oldest bonsai trees in the world have been around for thousands of years!
In general, you can expect a bonsai tree to have a lifespan of 25% of the expected life of the mother tree. That means if the mother tree has a lifespan of 200 years, the bonsai should be able to live for 50.
Can I Make A Bonsai Tree Grow Faster?
If you want your bonsai tree to grow faster, move it to a larger pot. This will allow the roots to stretch out and collect more nutrients.
Bonsai trees are kept in shallow trays to prevent this from happening, so moving your tree to a larger home will cause it to grow larger than a standard bonsai.
Is Growing A Bonsai Tree Hard?
Most bonsai trees are straightforward to grow and are suitable for people with no gardening experience. With that said, bonsai trees do require daily care and attention, so they’re not hands-off houseplants.