Hi All. 

I purchased my first Bonsai last week and I’m not sure whether it needs repotting or not? 

I can see some roots coming out of the soil. Can anyone advise please?

Thanks in advance.

This plant is badly potted in poor soil. If you know what species it is then you can decided if it needs doing now. The vast majority of trees, this is not a tree, are repotted in spring not now unless it is an emergency. No trees should be inside but some need protection from frost. I would remove some of the soil from the trunk and over the surface so that when watering it does not run off.

The soil is the same soil the tree has been produced in. If it is good for comercial production it is good for a beginner in bonsai.

That beeing said. I do agree with Geoff that it is not the best soil and should be done sooner or later. It is just not urgent. Repotting is one of the more complicated things we do in bonsai. It is important to do it at the right time of the year and to balance between the aestetics and health of the tree. I always recomend to do the first one together with someone experienced.

Now, how do we know that a tree is in urgent need of Repotting? Just check drainage. As long as there are good drainage it is not an urgent task.

One must understand that repotting is stressful to the tree. Even experienced bonsai artists lose a tree from time to time performing it. For beginners it is a question of ruling out errors. Learn how to keep your tree long term healthy before first repotting. The simple reason is that if the tree dies after repotting and you have no experience how to keep it healthy, you will not know If it was the repotting or your care that killed it.