Interesting as FCK

Finished cannabis bonsai displayed on a rock with exposed roots and dense canopy

How to Grow a Cannabis Bonsai (Cannabonsai) – My Tiny Tree Project

TL;DR – Cannabis Bonsai in a Nutshell

I grew a cannabis bonsai (cannabonsai) from seed and styled it as a tiny tree on a lava rock.
The project focuses on bonsai aesthetics: exposed roots, rock, miniature canopy and a full cannabis bonsai time lapse.
Basic conditions: well-draining substrate, warm temperatures, enough light and careful watering.
Bonsai wire, root-over-rock styling and decorative stones turn a normal plant into a tiny landscape scene.
You’ll find project photos, a time lapse video and links to more bonsai & timelapse content below.

Ever wanted to turn a cannabis plant into a tiny tree? In this project I grew a cannabis bonsai (cannabonsai) from seed and styled it on a lava rock – roots exposed, stone visible, full bonsai vibes. In this article I’ll walk you through my process, share some thoughts on soil, light, temperature and care, and of course link the full cannabis bonsai time lapse at the end.

Think of this less as a strict “you must do exactly this” tutorial and more as a behind-the-scenes look at my tiny-tree experiment.

Getting Started – Seed, Strain and First Growth

Like every bonsai story, this one starts with a single seed. For this cannabonsai project I used the strain Wedding Cake. I sowed the seed in a small pot filled with light, loose, nutrient-rich soil – just below the surface – and watered it lightly. After a few days the seedling popped up and started growing its first leaves.

Close-up of a tiny cannabis seedling with its first serrated leaves in a small pot

At this stage the plant still looks pretty innocent: a thin, delicate stem, the first round baby leaves and the first pair of serrated cannabis leaves reaching for the light. This is the moment where you can already imagine the future cannabis bonsai shape – even if right now it’s just a tiny green stick with ambition.

Once the little plant had grown several sets of leaves beyond the first tiny ones and the stem had thickened a bit, it was ready for the fun part: turning it into a bonsai-style mini tree.

Repotting and Styling the Cannabis Bonsai

One of my favourite parts of this project was moving the plant onto a small lava rock to give it that “bonsai on a mountain” look. This is where the plant really starts becoming a cannabonsai instead of “just another plant in a pot”.

Hands repotting a young cannabis plant onto a small lava rock in a shallow pot

Here you can see the moment of repotting: the young plant is lifted out of its original pot, the roots gently loosened and then spread across the rough surface of the lava rock. The shallow container underneath will later hold the soil that fixes everything in place.

Over time, as the plant continued to grow, the roots started to adapt to the rock and naturally wrapped around it – exactly what you want for that bonsai “root-over-rock” effect.

Cannabis bonsai roots exposed and hugging the surface of the lava rock

In this stage, more of the soil around the rock has been carefully removed, revealing the root system. You can clearly see how the roots cling to the stone, almost like little fingers holding on to a cliff. This is where the cannabis bonsai really starts to look like a tiny tree holding onto a mountain.

Small decorative stones added around the cannabis bonsai to create a miniature landscape

To complete the composition, I added small decorative stones around the base. Together with the lava rock and the exposed roots, the whole setup starts to resemble a miniature landscape scene – the kind of thing you could imagine existing somewhere on a steep mountain slope, just in 1:20 scale.

Finished cannabis bonsai with twisted trunk, visible rock and a dense green canopy

Here you can see the finished bonsai: the trunk has thickened and slightly twisted, the canopy is compact and rounded, the roots are clearly visible hugging the rock, and the stones around it frame the scene like a tiny diorama. It’s still clearly cannabis – but in full bonsai cosplay.

Flowering Phase – Tiny Tree, Tiny Buds

Cannabis bonsai in flowering stage with small buds forming along the branches

In the flowering phase, the cannabis bonsai takes on a completely different character: small buds appear along the branches, tiny sugar leaves frame them, and the plant starts to look like a miniature version of a classic Christmas tree – just with a slightly different vibe.

Seeing those buds forming on such a small, styled tree is oddly satisfying – like watching a regular grow in “bonsai mode”.

Basic Conditions for a Healthy Cannabis Bonsai

To keep the cannabis bonsai healthy, I paid attention to the usual suspects: substrate, temperature, watering and light. Nothing extreme – just making sure the basics were covered so the plant could focus on looking good.

Substrate

I used a well-draining soil mix with some nutrients so the roots could develop well and the plant had enough food without sitting in soggy soil.

Temperature

I kept the temperature in a warm, comfortable range around 70–85°F, which worked well for this small bonsai setup.

Watering

As with most bonsai-style plants, I watered when the soil started to dry out and the plant signalled it needed a drink. Overwatering is the easiest way to annoy roots, so I tried to avoid that classic mistake.

Light

Like any cannabis plant, a cannabonsai appreciates plenty of light. Autoflower strains are more forgiving when it comes to light cycles, while photoperiod strains usually need longer days in the vegetative phase and shorter days to flower. In this project I simply worked with the strain’s needs and focused on shaping the plant.

Fertilization and Styling

During the vegetative phase I used fertilizer suitable for leafy growth, and later switched to something more bloom-oriented once the plant started to flower. Along the way, I continued shaping the cannabis bonsai with wire and selectively removing some lower leaves to show off the stone, roots and trunk – more bonsai, less bush.

Cannabis Bonsai Time Lapse – Watching the Tiny Tree Evolve

Because the changes are gradual, this kind of project is perfect for a cannabis bonsai time lapse. I filmed the whole process – from the early seedling to the styled, flowering bonsai – and turned it into a short video.

If you’re into filming plant projects in general, you might also like my detailed guide on the gear I use:

👉 Plant Time-Lapse Equipment – All You Need

FAQ – Cannabis Bonsai (Cannabonsai)

What is a cannabis bonsai?
A cannabis bonsai (or cannabonsai) is a cannabis plant that is styled like a bonsai tree: small pot, shaped trunk, exposed roots or rock and a compact canopy. The focus is on aesthetics and form rather than maximum yield.

Is a cannabis bonsai mostly decorative?
Yes – the main goal of a cannabonsai is the miniature tree look. It’s a creative side project for plant nerds who enjoy styling and watching slow growth, especially in time lapse.

Can I film my own cannabis bonsai time lapse?
Absolutely. Any slowly changing plant project is perfect for time lapse. Set up a stable camera, keep conditions consistent and let the plant do its thing. If you want a more general guide, check out my article on plant time lapse creation.

Final Thoughts

In the end I’m pretty happy with how this cannabis bonsai turned out. It’s my second attempt at a weed bonsai and it’s still one of my favourite “tiny tree” projects – especially when you see the whole transformation compressed into a few seconds of video.

If you enjoyed this project, feel free to share, leave a comment or just steal the idea for your next plant experiment. Tiny trees make big joy. 🌱

Avocado Bonsai from Seed (1-Year Time Lapse) – turning a fast-growing avocado into a miniature tree on a rock: Avocado Bonsai Tutorial