Does your Bonsai tree look like a twig in a pot? Have you all but given up trying to revive your once beautiful miniature tree? Well don't despair just yet, help is at hand with the following tips

It may be time to prune your Bonsai tree. If you haven't touched it since you bought or received your tree its probably a good idea to whip out your secateurs and give it a haircut. There's no need to go mad, but a quick prune could be just what the doctor ordered in helping to revive your Bonsai tree. However, pruning the top of your Bonsai may not be enough; you may also need to trim the roots too. In actual fact, if you do any major pruning to the top of the tree you should also do the same to the base. Again, there's no need to go mad as a lot of damage can be caused but generally its ok to trim about one third of the root system.

Is your Bonsai pot the best possible match for your tree? Although colour and shape play a critical part in the art of Bonsai they are not critical to the growth of your tree. What is critical however is the size of your pot in relation to your Bonsai. In general, your Bonsai pot should be about the same size wide as the longest branch, and about as deep as the trunk is wide. If your Bonsai pot is either too big or too small it may be worth investing in one that your tree will appreciate better.

Correctly watering your Bonsai tree is essential. Too much water and you run the risk of rotting the root system. Whereas, too little water will cause your miniature tree to dry out and shed its foliage. Remember most Bonsai trees like to be moist all of the time. This will generally mean watering your tree a little everyday so as to keep your tree healthy. Its also worth mentioning here that most Bonsais will shed there foliage naturally around autumn as they prepare for being dormant through winter. So if your Bonsai has started to drop leaves it maybe just the time of year and nothing to worry about.

Often changing the soil of your Bonsai can work wonders. A good quality potting compost mixed with sand or grit to aid drainage is normally sufficient. However, it may be a good idea to use specific Bonsai soil. These are specifically designed to have better water retention than standard soil and also provide better nutrients and gases all essential in growing a healthy Bonsai tree.