September 2026 Bonsai Care Guide Sunshine Coast, Southeast Queensland
Updated: 6 minutes ago
Monthly Bonsai Advice
with Rosemarie Caston
JAX & ROSE Bonsai
Welcome back to Rosemarie's Zen Garden, where I share what's happening on our bonsai benches each month here on the Sunshine Coast.
September has arrived, and here on the Sunshine Coast, spring is truly putting on a show!
In this September 2026 Bonsai Care Guide Sunshine Coast, I'll share what's happening in the garden as our bonsai respond to the warmer spring weather.
Every morning when I walk out into my Zen Garden, there seems to be something new to discover. New shoots are appearing, buds are swelling, flowers are opening, and the birds are certainly letting us know that spring has arrived. I can hear the baby birds chirping away in the trees as I walk around my bonsai.
The weather has warmed up so much over the past couple of weeks, and you can really feel the change in the garden.
Each morning, I have been doing my meditation out in the Zen Garden, listening to the birds and taking a few quiet moments to ground myself while looking over all the new growth and beautiful flowers.
Spring really is the most amazing season of the year. 🌸
For me, September is also a very busy time in the bonsai garden. It is the time when I start preparing my trees for the busy spring and summer season ahead, and there is plenty to do!
So, let's take a look at what has been happening in the Zen Garden and what we should all be thinking about for our bonsai this month.
This Month in Rosemarie's Zen Garden
A beautifully repotted Juniper Squamata, ready for the spring and summer growing season. A flowering Buxus with beautiful corky bark, freshly repotted and ready for spring. Beautiful Chinese Elms with fresh spring growth and exposed roots.
Repotting, redesigning and preparing for spring and summer.
The past month has been all about repotting and preparing bonsai.
I have spent weeks working on bonsai for customers as well as preparing my own stock for the upcoming spring and summer season. With more events and customers coming through over the warmer months, I like to have my bonsai beautifully presented and ready well in advance.
Over the past few weeks I have been repotting and redesigning:
🌿 Serissas
🌿 Junipers
🌿 Japanese Black Pines
🌿 Chinese Elms, including some beautiful trees with exposed roots
🌿 Willow Leaf Figs
🌸 And plenty of Serissas that are now flowering beautifully
It is always exciting to see the difference that the right pot, soil, root work and positioning can make to a bonsai.
And this month, I have had several customer trees come through that needed a little more than just a simple repot.
Bonsai Rescue & Repotting – Before and After
One of the things I really enjoy about working with bonsai is seeing a tree that has been struggling and helping bring it back to its potential.
This month I have had three wonderful examples.
🌿 Juniper Squamata – A New Beginning
One customer's Juniper Squamata had been sitting in a pot that was simply too shallow for the tree.
The branches had become quite long and lanky, so rather than simply changing the soil, I looked at the whole composition of the tree.
I selected a beautiful cascading-style bonsai pot and designed and made a silky oak bonsai stand specifically for the tree.
The result is a completely different presentation.
I love seeing how the right pot and stand can change the way we see a bonsai.
Customer’s Juniper Squamata bonsai before repotting, growing in a shallow bonsai pot. Customer’s Juniper Squamata bonsai after repotting in a new cascading-style bonsai pot. Rosemarie building a custom silky oak bonsai stand for a customer’s Juniper Squamata. Juniper Squamata bonsai displayed on its new custom-made silky oak bonsai stand. Juniper Squamata bonsai showing its cascading form on a custom-made silky oak bonsai stand. Finished Juniper Squamata bonsai in its new cascading pot and custom silky oak bonsai stand.
Customer’s Juniper Squamata bonsai being repotted, redesigned and paired with a custom-made silky oak bonsai stand, showing the transformation from the original tree to the finished presentation.
🌳 Swamp Cypress – Releasing the Roots
Another customer brought me a beautiful Swamp Cypress that had been slip-potted repeatedly over the years.
When I started working on the roots, it became clear that they had become extremely tangled and congested.
Swamp Cypress showing a congested soil surface with tangled roots and moss. Swamp Cypress bonsai after repotting, with the congested roots removed and the tree planted in fresh From congested roots to beautiful nebari — this Swamp Cypress received a major root overhaul and a f
The roots were so entwined that they were beginning to choke the tree.
This was not a quick repot. I spent around two hours carefully working through the root system, removing the congested roots and giving the tree the room it needed to develop a healthier root system.
After the repot, the tree has been kept in a shaded but well-lit position, protected while it recovers.
And already, with good aftercare, I am seeing beautiful new buds developing.
That is always a wonderful sign.
🌿 Tiger Fig – Giving the Roots Room to Breathe
The Tiger Fig was another tree that needed some serious root work.
Again, it had been slip-potted several times, and the roots had become badly tangled and were essentially strangling themselves.
The tree had dead branches and was looking very sad when it arrived.
To make matters worse, the original pot was broken.
Tiger Fig bonsai with a broken pot and severely tangled, entwined roots before repotting. Tiger Fig bonsai after careful root pruning and detangling, repotted into a new clay pot. Close-up of the Tiger Fig bonsai’s exposed nebari and roots after repotting.
After around two hours of careful root pruning and detangling, I was able to give the tree a fresh start.
We found a lovely new clay pot that suited the tree, and once the roots were properly worked through, we were able to reveal some beautiful nebari and exposed roots that had been hidden.
It is amazing what can be hiding beneath the soil!
🌸 Rosemarie's Bougainvillea Journey - update
2026–2027 Bimer Bonsai Club Challenge
My Bougainvillea journey has continued through August and into September.
After watching Bambino Maudi develop strong new growth and begin flowering, I finally reached the next major stage of the journey — repotting.
At the end of August, I took Bambino Maudi back to the Bimer Bonsai Club, where Keith helped me through the repotting process.
Bougainvillea bonsai root ball removed from its pot, showing the dense root system before repotting. Bambino Maudi Bougainvillea bonsai being worked on to expose and remove the dense roots during repot Bambino Maudi Bougainvillea bonsai freshly repotted in a new bonsai pot with its roots trimmed and s
This was a significant repot, with approximately 60% of the root mass removed.
I used a 1:1:1 mix of pumice, akadama and scoria, and the tree was firmly secured into its new pot.
After such a major root reduction, the most important thing was patience.
Bambino Maudi has been placed somewhere bright and sheltered, protected from strong wind and hot afternoon sun, and I am allowing the tree time to recover before fertilising.
And, as always, I have been checking on it each morning.
I have also updated the full Bougainvillea Bonsai Journey on my website, so if you have been following Bambino Maudi's story, you can see the latest photographs and the full journey there.
👉 Missed the beginning of the journey? Read the previous Bougainvillea update here.
🌱 September Bonsai Care
September is when our bonsai really begin to wake up and put on new growth. With the warmer weather arriving, our care routines need to change too.
💧 Watering
I’ve already increased my watering and moved my main watering to the morning. Check your trees each morning and, on hot or windy days, check them again in the afternoon. Water thoroughly when needed, rather than watering by a set schedule.
☀️ Sun & Wind
Spring growth is tender, and our Sunshine Coast UV can be harsh. I’m using shade cloth over most of my bonsai and protecting them from strong, drying winds, particularly newly repotted trees.
🌱 Fertilising
As trees begin actively growing, it’s time to resume feeding. However, give newly repotted trees time to recover before fertilising. It`s recommended waiting around 4–6 weeks after significant repotting.
✂️ Pruning & Wiring
Spring growth can be fast, so keep an eye on new shoots and check your wiring regularly. Wire that was perfectly safe a few months ago can begin to bite surprisingly quickly as branches thicken.
🪴 Repotting
If you still have repotting to do, September is the premium repotting window here in Southeast Queensland. Get your important repotting work underway now, and remember that good aftercare is just as important as the repot itself.
🐛 Keep an Eye Out
With all this fresh new growth, check regularly for aphids, caterpillars, scale and other pests. Catching problems early makes them much easier to manage.
Species Spotlight - September 2026 Bonsai Care Guide - Sunshine Coast
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Keep an eye on watering as the weather warms and avoid allowing the tree to become excessively dry.
Remember that junipers should generally be pinched or plucked rather than sheared, particularly when you're developing refined growth.
Japanese Black Pine
Spring growth is underway, so this is a good time to monitor candles and overall vigour.
Avoid rushing into heavy work without considering the tree's development stage.
Bougainvilleas love warmth, and September is an excellent month to get them moving.
Increase watering as growth increases, but allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
And for my own three large stock Bougainvilleas — September means it's time to get to work!
My Chinese Elms are also responding beautifully to spring.
Watch the new shoots closely and check wiring regularly as branches begin to thicken.
Willow Leaf Fig
Many native species are beginning to wake from winter. Ensure excellent drainage, maintain good airflow and prepare suitable trees for repotting during spring.
✅ September Bonsai Checklist
✔ Increase watering as temperatures rise
✔ Check bonsai every morning
✔Check again on hot or windy afternoons
✔ Finish major repotting work early in September where possible
✔ Give newly repotted trees excellent aftercare
✔ Delay fertilising after significant root work
✔ Watch new spring growth closely
✔ Check wiring every 2–3 weeks
✔ Remove old wire before it bites in
✔ Inspect regularly for aphids, caterpillars, scale and mites
✔ Protect tender new growth from harsh afternoon sun and dry winds
✔ Keep tools clean and sharp
🌿 Rosemarie’s Tip of the Month
Get Your Repotting Done!
If your bonsai needs repotting, September is the time to get organised here on the Sunshine Coast.
Don't wait until the weather is at its hottest if the tree is ready for repotting now.
And remember -
the repot is only half the job.
Good aftercare is what helps the tree recover and get ready for the growing season ahead.
Give your newly repotted bonsai protection from harsh sun and wind, keep the moisture consistent, and give the tree time to settle.
Sometimes the best thing we can do after a major repot is simply step back, be patient and let the tree do what it naturally knows how to do - grow. 🌱
🌸 Community Spotlight
August brought another wonderful Japan Festival Sunshine Coast, and I was thrilled to once again have JAX & ROSE Bonsai represented at the festival.
It was such an entertaining and enjoyable day, and I always love being able to share bonsai with people who have an appreciation for Japanese culture, gardening and beautiful things.
Upcoming Events -
Our next big event is the Abbey Festival on 26–27 September.
I am looking forward to being part of the festival and bringing JAX & ROSE Bonsai along for another wonderful weekend.
If you're attending, come and say hello
I'd love to see you there and have a chat about bonsai.
🌺 Looking Ahead
And there's another exciting event already marked on my calendar.
JAX & ROSE Bonsai has been invited to exhibit for the first time at the Red Fox Orchids Annual Sales Day on Saturday 5 December 2026 in Caboolture.
I'm really looking forward to taking the bonsai stand along and being part of this wonderful annual event.
To learn more about Red Fox Orchids, visit Red Fox Orchids.
Thank you for joining me for another month here at Rosemarie's Zen Garden.
There is something very special about spring in the bonsai garden.
The mornings are warmer, the birds are singing, flowers are opening and everywhere I look there is new life.
After spending so much time over the past month repotting, pruning, designing and preparing bonsai for the season ahead, it is lovely to simply stop for a moment and enjoy the garden.
My morning meditation has become one of my favourite parts of the day.
I sit, listen to the birds, take a breath and look at the trees.
And then, of course, I notice another new bud that wasn't there yesterday!
That's the wonderful thing about bonsai.
There is always something new to discover.
Until next month, enjoy your bonsai, enjoy your garden, and enjoy this beautiful spring season.
Happy Bonsai Growing!
Rosemarie Caston
JAX & ROSE Bonsai
Continue Your Bonsai Journey
If you've enjoyed this month's bonsai advice, you might also like to explore more from JAX & ROSE Bonsai:
🌳 Join a JAX & ROSE Bonsai Workshop (coming soon)
About the Author
Rosemarie Caston is a passionate bonsai artist, educator and owner of JAX & ROSE Bonsai on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. With a love of creating, teaching and helping others discover the art of bonsai, Rosemarie shares practical advice drawn from her own growing experience in Southeast Queensland. Her goal is to make bonsai enjoyable and accessible for everyone, from complete beginners to experienced enthusiasts.
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