Lincoln Watering

bonsai trees

Lincoln (6 months old) helping water the bonsai trees.

Tags: Lincoln, Watering

Easy Bonsai watering system and Tree Check part 1 #17

bonsai trees

Checking out my easy bonsai trees to see how they are growing, also a look at my automatic watering system

Tags: Bonsai, Check, Easy, Part, system, Tree, Watering

Care Of Bonsai Trees: Watering – Who Would Have Thought It Would Be Difficult?

bonsai trees

When I started out on my journey on the care of bonsai trees, a mistake that I made early in my learning period was about watering. I thought it was just watering. How hard could it be? With my first bonsai, I treated it just like my other house plants and along with it being located inside with them, it meant that I was watering my bonsai when I “remembered” to water the house plants. I was about to find out the hard way, when my tree started to look ill, that this simple step in the care of bonsai trees was not as easy as I thought

I did some research and found out that there was a lot of differences between the care of bonsai trees and house plants and in particular – watering.

I found out that dehydration is generally the most frequent cause of death in bonsai trees in a new owner’s care. If a tree is under watered and there is not enough moisture left in the soil, leaves can die very quickly – and this can be within hours!

Watering a bonsai tree correctly is not so much about quantity but about frequency.

A bonsai’s whole world is bound in one little pot. Because they are in shallow pots and have less roots than normal , bonsai trees are particularly vulnerable to dehydration so knowing just how much to water is crucial. Not enough water and the tree could be quickly fighting drought conditions.

Proper care of bonsai trees involves a careful watch on the soil to make sure it hasn’t dried out – A definite no-no is overwatering as it can damage plants almost as quickly. But I was also to discover that if you give it too much water it will be at risk from root rot and fungal infections.

So it seems that too much water and it’s suffering a flood – too little and it’s a drought, and going from one to another is a vicious cycle will quickly kill a bonsai. Too wet for long periods could mean rot and infections and not wet enough for too long can mean dehydration, both extremes can lead to the ill health and eventual death of the bonsai tree.

From different sources, I found that there are many and varied ‘rules’ for watering and that watering depends on a number of variables, such as, soil, the tree’s position, light, temperatures, and the time of the year.

Different soils dry out at different rates, different shaped pots also lose water at different rates, and different varietals of trees will have varying watering requirements. The trick is finding the right balance for your individual tree and its unique requirements when planning your care of bonsai trees. Getting the watering just right will help develop a healthy root system to ensure your bonsai remains healthy.

To establish this, a moisture meter is a handy tool, but you may not want to go to the expense of buying one of these until you decide if you are going to continue to invest money and time into your new hobby. I found that as a beginner to the care of bonsai trees, the best way to test if my tree needed water, was to simply dig my finger into the soil up to about an inch depth and to see what state it was in. Of course, the trick here is to feel if the soil is damp without disturbing the roots.

Watering is only one of the steps to take into account in the care of bonsai trees. We must bear in mind that we are keeping our trees to miniature proportions by artifical means when we keep them in pots. This is not their natural state, so it is up to us to maintain the appropriate conditions for them to grow in this controlled environment.

I now have a greater appreciation of the importance of watering and the effects it has on my individual tree. I still have a number of things to understand about how, when and the type of water to use and I am working on this.

There are many steps yet for me to master in my care of bonsai trees.

Tags: Bonsai, care, Difficult, Thought, Trees, Watering, Would

Easy Bonsai watering system and Tree Check part 2 #18

bonsai trees

Checking out my easy bonsai trees to see how they are growing, also a look at my automatic watering system

Tags: Bonsai, Check, Easy, Part, system, Tree, Watering

Bonsai Tree Care Tips ? Watering

bonsai trees

With limited space and small amount of soil in a bonsai pot, regular attention is needed to ensure the tree is regularly watered. Sun, excessive heat and exposure to wind can dry out the soil in a short period of time. Hence, moisture levels should be monitored regularly.

Here are some tree care tips on watering:

During winter, if the trees are kept outside where rain can water them, then you need not worry about watering them, except when the weather is hot or there is little rain. During summer the plants need to be watered several times a week. During very hot periods, it is advised to water the tree atleast twice daily. It is also suggested to move the trees into shade. If the soil appears to be drying excessively fast, group the pots together so that the foliage creates a canopy to help shade the soil and keep it cooler. Clay pots allow additional evaporation from the sides of the pots and watering must be done more often. If there are two or three bonsai trees, you can use a watering can with a fine hose to water the soil and roots. But if you have a large number of bonsai trees, located at certain distance from each other in the garden, then you can invest in a drip irrigation system. If you are away from home most of the time, then it is a good idea to consider an automatic drip irrigation system or automatic watering system for Bonsai trees. The timers in the irrigation system can be set so that the bonsai are watered every day in the summer and every three days in the winter.

Tags: Bonsai, care, Tips, Tree, Watering

Tips For Watering Bonsai Trees

bonsai trees

No plant can survive without water and the need is even greater for bonsai trees. They are grown in shallow containers with little soil and rely on rain and artificial watering for their moisture

Most bonsai trees that die do so from a lack of water or from being in low humidity for too long. They rely on water to grow as the water is absorbed from the compost to the roots and then the nutrients are distributed throughout the tree. If water is not given so that these important processes can ocurr the the tree will die.

There are a number of factors which will determine how much water bonsai trees require:

Some species will require more water than others

Different soils will dry out at different rates

Small pots may dry out more quickly than larger pots and what the pot is made of will also play a part in how quickly it dries out

Plants whose roots a fully grown will absorb more water than younger trees with smaller roots.

What you need to do is take the time to observe and get to know your individual bonsai trees. As you become familiar with them you will learn when they need water by looking at the soil and the color and growth of the leaves. Each tree should be checked regularly and watered when required. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.

Watering is usually required once or twice a day in summer and maybe every three or four days in winter. Even though there may have been some rain, don’t assume that it will have been enough for the tree as it may only have dampened the surface of the soil. Once again, you need to check each plant, testing the soil about an inch below the surface; you can use a water meter to help you or just poke your finger into the soil.

Morning is the best time of day to water the bonsais so they are ready for the heat of the day. Don’t just moisten the soil but give them a thorough soaking so that the whole container is wet and there are no dry spots where the roots could die. In Japan they often water all the trees then go back to the beginning and water them all again to ensure the job is done correctly. Allow the water to drip out of the bottom of the pot and you may need to prop it up slightly so that it all drains away.

Gentle watering is required; if you use an ordinary garden hose you may find the flow of water too stong and the soil will be washed away. Make sure to use a fine mist or a watering can with a fine rose so as not to disturb the soil. As well as watering the soil you can also spray the foliage with water. The leaves can absorb water and the spray will wash any dust or pollutants away.

However, excessive watering can also damage the bonsai tree; the effects of this will not be immediate but can take some time to become apparent. If the roots are continually surrounted by water then they are unable to absorb air which is essential for a healthy tree. The fine root hairs become suffocated by the excess water, they will die and eventually rot. Of course if the tree cannot get air and nutrients from the roots then the leaves and braches will suffer and also eventually die. In the mean time a sick tree is more susceptible to attack by diseases and insects.

Growing bonsai trees is a fascinating hobby and by using well draining, moisture retaining soil and getting to know your plants you should be able to meet the challenges that watering presents.

Tags: Bonsai, Tips, Trees, Watering

How to Grow Bonsai Trees : How Often to Water your Bonsai Trees : Tips Watering Bonsai

bonsai trees

Learn special watering instructions are needed to properly care for your bonsai tree, in this free video.Expert: Mike Hansen Bio: Mike Hansen, owner of Midwest Bonsai, has been growing, caring, selling, and instructing others in bonsai care for years. Mike is an expert bonsai master.

Tags: Bonsai, Grow, Often, Tips, Trees, Water, Watering

Bonsai Tree Care Information – From Watering to Pruning to Soil

bonsai trees

The practice of Bonsai began in China and Japan hundreds of years ago, and is simple the miniaturization of naturally occurring plants and trees. Bonsai trees are not “special small” trees, but rather trees that ave been slowly miniaturized from their full size.

The main areas of tree care are the following:

Watering your Tree

Bonsai Trees require more watering than most plants, as they are grown in less soil and the soil itself is free draining (meaning it doesn’t retain the water and lets it pass through). The type of tree, the sunlight it is exposed to all factor in to how much watering should be done. You can tell if your Bonsai Tree needs water by looking at it, feeling the soil and if you prefer; by using a moisture meter to be certain.

Fertilizing your Tree

Bonsai plants are grown in smaller amount of soil compared with other trees and plants, therefore fertilizing and feeding your tree is key. You will want to fertilize once in the Spring and once again in the Fall to ensure maximum health and growth. Your fertilizer should contain chelated iron, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. Make sure before you fertilize, to water your tree and then apply less than the recommended amount.

Misting your Tree

Bonsai trees and plants in general thrive in a humid environment, something that is somewhat uncommon in most of the world. Some gardeners would recommend misting your plants, to recreate this humid environment. The issue with misting is that it’s only a short term benefit to your plant. We recommend placing a tray below your tree, which you fill with water and allow natural evaporation to do the work to create humidity. Make sure the plant is setup off the tray so the roots are not sitting in the water constantly.

Sunlight for your Tree

Bonsai trees thrive in a sunny location, and only with a few exceptions (repotting, extreme trimming) it should live permanently in a sunny spot. It’s a good idea to leave your plant within a foot of a direct source of ultraviolet light. Southern (east/west okay too) exposure is best, if you plan to grow in a northern exposure location you may need the assistance of grow lights. Do not use Incandescent light as it is much too hot and does not provide a complete spectrum of light. Choose your type of tree wisely as some do better in less light and some require lots of light.

Trimming & Pruning your Tree

One of the main attractions of Bonsai ownership is the possibility to shape and mold your tree to meet your vision and desire. However there are fundamental concerns you need to keep in mind whilst pruning your tree. Balance is very important, and keeping a nice even distribution of branches over the your roots below is key to keeping your tree healthy and complete. You begin shaping your tree when it’s very young, and continue to shape even as your tree ages year after year. Butterfly shears are used to remove leaves and branches as needed. Large branches should only be removed with a concave cutter. Maintaining your trees appearance while minimizing the appearance of pruning is essential.

Protecting your Tree (from disease and pests)

Similar to many other trees and plants, bonsai are vulnerable to attacks by diseases and various pests. If you keep your bonsai in excellent health, you can ward of insects who are attracted to dyeing and weak trees. A healthy amount of light, fresh air and clean soil will ensure your bonsai stays healthy and gives you years of enjoyment. Insecticide soap spray is an option, however you should re-apply on a regular interval to prevent attacks from coming back.

Training your Bonsai

Expanding on the training idea of pruning and trimming, bonsai can be further trained using copper wise or hemp rope. The copper wire is rooted at the base of the tree and than wrapped around the trunk and branches, which allows your to train the branches to grow in your desired direction and shape. The wire should be wrapped closely but not too tight and the bends created should not be too extreme as to damage the branch. Once the wire starts biting into the bark, it should be removed. Removal should be done by snipping the wire at each bend, do not un wrap the wire as it can damage the branches and bark.

Soil for your Tree

When discussing watering above we noted that Bonsai trees use free draining soil, which means that it passes the water through and does not retain like typical potting soil. The makeup of the soil allows the roots of your bonsai to breathe freely. Bonsai soil comes in two main types, conifer and tropical mixtures. When you repot your tree make sure to do so with dry soil.

Repotting your Tree

As your bonsai grows and matures it will need to move containers. However unlike most repotting we do not upgrade our pots to larger sizes. When the bonsai is repotted the roots should be trimmed to fit the previous container size. Average time between repotting is 5 years, however it should be checked annually to verify root ball size. When trimming the root ball, do not remove more than 1/5 of the root material. Finally when repotting keep the bonsai out of the sun/light for at least a week.

Tags: Bonsai, care, from, Information, Pruning, Soil, Tree, Watering