---
title: "Have had this for a while but haven’t trimmed it yet. Any advice on…"
description: "Have had this for a while but haven’t trimmed it yet. Any advice on how/when to trim?"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/hB0M8pmURCqUK7zhKpIOTw/ecT5k8fpQ2uxNuerBQA4jg"
community: "Bonsai Matters"
author: "ThorCaT"
published: "2024-07-03T16:26:49.383258Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZuAf7xwifNWXOgBHXibj_ztbZCXzoNwWzcoI-fPpNzI/p7ciI0diRE22-x35bXCt9Q.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Bonsai Matters](https://getplanta.com/community/hB0M8pmURCqUK7zhKpIOTw.md)

# Have had this for a while but haven’t trimmed it yet. Any advice on…

_Posted by ThorCaT on 2024-07-03_

Have had this for a while but haven’t trimmed it yet. Any advice on how/when to trim?

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZuAf7xwifNWXOgBHXibj_ztbZCXzoNwWzcoI-fPpNzI/p7ciI0diRE22-x35bXCt9Q.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZuAf7xwifNWXOgBHXibj_ztbZCXzoNwWzcoI-fPpNzI/D-fNJjryRWO8mof32fhkzQ.webp?size=large)

## 3 comments

### GreenLeaf commented on 2024-07-04

My best advice is do a bunch of research. Pruning these is not the same as pruning other plants (but don’t be scared!). When you prune you need to do it with the thought in mind if what you are trying to achieve esthetically years down the road. There are some rules about how frequently you prune, time of year, # of branches removed at one time, how many leaves to leave on the branch, etc.

Yours looks like it had a lot if old dormant branches. Which might be able to be removed. This can either promote new growth, or just remove dead tissue that doesn’t need to be there any more, improving the look of your tree.

I had mine for yeeears, and treated it like all my others. I decided to actually learn about bonsai, and the tree that I had. Completely changed my care for this plant. It has taken my tree from a weird straggly leggy thing, to finally looking like a bonsai tree. It still has years to go, but its definitely changed my plant completely.

#### ThorCaT replied on 2024-07-06

Thank you

### PorkChop 🐽 commented on 2024-07-14

Basic pruning guide (credits: bonsaiempire)

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/_5Q_-mEu3949tHXbK_2Fgyb2eSsTl83T1a7sSVoL_QQ/gTgAlZ6qSVae2euehF2oyw.webp?size=large)

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