Cold-Hardy Bonsai Feeding Made Simple – BioGold & MicroTotal Bundle

Cold-Hardy Bonsai Feeding Made Simple

Outdoor bonsai need regular nutrition while they are growing. They also need a rest from fertilizer when they become dormant. This bundle simplifies that seasonal routine by pairing slow, steady BioGold pellets with periodic MicroTotal applications.

BioGold provides the tree’s primary nutrition. MicroTotal supplements it with nitrogen, iron, magnesium, sulfur, and other supporting nutrients.

Four reusable fertilizer cups are included to keep the BioGold pellets contained, evenly spaced, and easy to remove.

The simple plan: Count the BioGold pellets, divide them among the cups, and place the cups on the soil. About four weeks later, apply MicroTotal. Continue alternating the two while your tree is healthy and actively growing.

What’s Included

• BioGold Japanese organic bonsai fertilizer
• Ho Yoku MicroTotal 5-0-0 liquid micronutrient supplement
• Four reusable fertilizer cups
• Downloadable cold-hardy bonsai feeding guide (PDF)

Why These Two Fertilizers Work Together

• BioGold 3.5-3.7-3.3: A gentle primary fertilizer that supplies nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for slow, balanced feeding.
• MicroTotal 5-0-0: A liquid supplement that adds nitrogen, iron, magnesium, sulfur, manganese, copper, zinc, and boron.

MicroTotal contains no phosphorus or potassium, so it supplements rather than replaces BioGold.

Step 1: Apply BioGold

Use approximately one BioGold pellet for every inch of pot width. Count the total number of pellets first, then divide them among the fertilizer cups.

• 5–6 inch pot: Use 5–6 pellets divided between 2 cups
• 7–9 inch pot: Use 7–9 pellets divided among 3 cups
• 10–12 inch pot: Use 10–12 pellets divided among 4 cups

Place the cups evenly around the pot and water normally, making sure water reaches each cup.

Do not fill every cup completely. The amount of BioGold is based on the width of the pot, not the capacity of the cups.

BioGold generally provides slow, steady nutrition for about two months. Weather, watering frequency, and growing conditions can affect how quickly the pellets break down.

After approximately two months, remove any remaining fertilizer material and add a fresh measured dose only if the tree is still healthy and actively growing.

Step 2: Apply MicroTotal

For a simple staggered schedule, make the first MicroTotal application approximately four weeks after placing the BioGold pellets.

• Cold-hardy outdoor bonsai: Mix 2 tablespoons of MicroTotal per gallon of water.
• Use enough mixed solution to water the soil normally.
• Allow excess solution to drain from the pot.
• You do not need to pour the entire gallon onto one bonsai.

Repeat MicroTotal every 6–8 weeks while the tree remains healthy and actively growing. Apply it on a different day from placing or replacing BioGold.

Beginner tip: If the soil is bone dry, moisten it with plain water before applying liquid fertilizer.

Follow Your Tree’s Growing Season

• Spring: Begin feeding when buds open and healthy new growth appears.
• Summer: Continue the BioGold and MicroTotal schedule while the tree is actively growing.
• Late summer and early fall: Continue only while the tree remains active and healthy.
• Dormancy: Stop feeding when the tree becomes dormant or the soil begins freezing.

For deciduous bonsai, leaf drop is a clear sign that the active season has ended. Pines, junipers, and other evergreens may remain green during winter, but they should not be fertilized once cold weather has placed them into dormancy.

When Is My Bonsai Ready to Be Fertilized?

Look for signs of healthy, active growth:

• New leaves are opening
• Shoots or candles are extending
• Foliage has healthy color
• The soil drains and dries normally

Wait if the tree was recently repotted, is unhealthy, has an unresolved pest or watering problem, or has stopped producing new growth. Resume feeding after the tree has recovered and active growth returns.

Is This Bundle Right for My Bonsai?

This bundle is designed for outdoor, cold-hardy bonsai such as:

• Maples
• Elms
• Junipers
• Pines
• Hornbeams
• Other temperate outdoor bonsai

Need More Help?

Download our How to Fertilize Cold-Hardy Bonsai guide (PDF). It has the full seasonal schedule in one place. Print it and keep it with your supplies.

Keep the Schedule Simple

BioGold is the primary fertilizer. MicroTotal is the occasional supplement. You do not need to combine every available fertilizer to keep your bonsai healthy.

Feed while the tree is growing, pause during dormancy, and adjust the schedule to the health of your tree and your local climate.