Why do bonsai trees need to be watered

Just be careful not to wash all of the soil out of the pot. Gently submerge it. Leave it in there for a few minutes. It might bubble as air escapes. The foliage and branches also benefit from being watered. It washes off dust and helps deter pests.

We use cookies to ensure that we can give you the best shopping experience on our website. Remember me Log in. Lost your password? Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. How to water bonsai trees One of the questions that we are frequently asked is how to water bonsai trees.

How much water does a bonsai tree need? How often do I water a bonsai tree? The location of your bonsai tree affects how much water it needs Temperature affects how often you will need to water a bonsai tree. The size of the bonsai tree affects how much water it needs Smaller bonsai trees are generally grown in smaller pots.

Windiness affects how much water a bonsai tree needs If the weather is windy, the tree will lose more water through its leave. The soil affects how much water a bonsai tree needs Bonsai soil is usually a mixture of different components. How pot-bound is the tree The roots of bonsai trees, like other potted plants, keep growing inside the pot until they have completely filled the space.

Bonsai trees that are becoming pot-bound dry out more quickly after watering Pot size affects how much water bonsai tree needs Bigger pots have more soil, so they dry out less quickly than smaller pot.

But the decisive factor is the tree species, and in particular; is your Bonsai an indoor or an outdoor tree? The most important part of taking care of your Bonsai trees is watering. How often a tree needs to be watered depends on several factors such as; species of the tree, size of the tree, size of the pot, time of year, soil-mixture, and climate. However, understanding a few basic guidelines will help understand and identify when a tree needs to be watered.

Fertilizing regularly during the growing season is crucial for Bonsai to survive and thrive. Trees are usually able to extend their root system in search of nutrients, but since Bonsai are confined to the relatively small pots they are planted in, they need proper fertilization to replenish the soil's nutritional content. To prevent your Bonsai from being pot-bound and ultimately starving to death, it's crucial to repot, or transplant regularly.

A tree becomes pot-bound as it uses up the available nutrients in the soil and the roots grow to the shape of the pot. Due to the lack of space and nutrients, the trees stop growing, and if no action is taken, it will surely die. Repotting or transplanting your Bonsai will resupply the tree with the nutrients it needs to grow and flourish. Using the right soil mixture for your Bonsai trees is crucial.

Soil is important to supply your trees with nutrients, but it also needs to drain properly, provide enough aeration, and retain water.

Avoid watering though during the afternoon with cold water, because the soil has already been warmed up by the sunlight and will tend to cool down quickly. Although this should be considered, you can water your bonsai tree any time when the soil is slightly dry. Just water it if it feels and looks slightly dry.

Never let your bonsai tree completely dry out. Always keep this in mind, never water your bonsai tree on a routine schedule. There are many factors to be considered on how often you need to water your bonsai trees as previously discussed, and following the right guidelines will make your bonsai trees happy because you provide them water as they need it. It is important to ensure that the soil where you plant your bonsai will never become dry.

When checking the soil moisture, there are effective ways to do so. When caring a bonsai tree, it important to know when is the best time to water it for a more successful maintenance. A moisture meter measures the moisture of the soil at root level. It is used to prevent overwatering and underwatering. The scale ranges from 1 or dry to 10 or wet. You can stick your finger to check the soil moisture, which is about 1 inch deep. This usually works, but sometimes, it is difficult to gauge if the soil is moist using your fingers, most especially if it feels cold.

It is also a bit off after testing several bonsai trees. With these, you can use wooden chopsticks to check the soil moisture. Step 1 : Insert a wooden chopstick into the soil at around 1 to 2 inches deep.

This is about halfway from the main stem of your bonsai plant and the rim, being careful of the roots. It is okay to check soil moisture of all potted plants and bonsai trees at the same time, using a different chopstick for every plant to avoid contamination of fungus and other harmful microorganisms that might be present in the soil. Step 2 : You can leave the chopstick in the soil for about 10 minutes.

Doing so will allow enough time for the chopstick or popsicle to absorb any water within the soil. Step 3 : Pull out or remove the chopstick and check it. If the chopstick or popsicle has darkened or if it has a watermark, the soil is moist. You need to recheck the soil after a day or two. Step 4 : It is time to rinse the chopstick, popsicle, or tongue depressor off. Just set aside for it to dry.

You can reuse it for checking your bonsai tree the next time. You can also check the dryness or moisture of the soil by simply lifting the pot but this is only suitable and applicable for smaller bonsai plants not more than 5 gallons.

It takes the experience to develop the skill in feeling and looking at a dry bonsai. Soil dryness and moisture can be tested by using your finger and the chopstick method, but the best method is using a soil moisture meter which gives more accurate results.

The important aspect of watering bonsai trees is not just watering the soil in the container or pot. When watering your bonsai tree, the best technique follows an old practice of Japanese about caring for bonsai trees. This method involves the simulation of natural rainfall, soaking the soil until the water runs out of the drainage holes of the pot.

Let the water soak the soil for 15 to 20 minutes. After which, soaking the soil again is done until the water runs out of the drainage holes again. You can mist the foliage on your bonsai tree to keep the leaves free of dust and to keep the breathing holes or the leaf stomata open. The natural watering of rainfall is good for your bonsai. However, it may not be sufficient so you need to water even if it rained. If ever your place has been receiving excessive rain, you can prop up the pot of your bonsai tree to allow draining of the excess water.

If you will use an overly concentrated stream of water, the soil will likely be washed out. If you have a small bonsai collection, you can use a small watering-can that is fitted with a fine rose. This is sufficient to thoroughly water the soil without displacing it. If you want to use a hose, just turn it on a low-pressure or mist setting. The excessive pressure from the water hose may unsettle the soil.

You can also use a water hose that is fitted with a spray gun or set to mist, or shower setting. You can also water your bonsai trees using a drip irrigation system. You can use an automatic drip system with a timer. Large Collections are applicable for those who have too many bonsai trees. These are timed overhead sprinkler systems or automatic irrigation systems. When you have a nursery or you prefer to have a large collection, automatic systems are the best.

You can run your system once a day during winter. In summer, you can run it twice a day. You can also seasonally vary the length of time for each watering session. Bear in mind that automatic irrigation systems also have drawbacks. They can also break down, like any other system.

They can also be inconsistent in various zones, creating too much water when it rains and getting clogged. Watering bonsai trees by immersion can be done. If your bonsai tree is completely dried out, it can be a good quick fix. Frequent water immersion can cause compact soil leading to root damage. Most likely, your bonsai tree needs to be placed in a different soil mix.

Now, you can choose the best watering method for your bonsai trees. Regardless of the method you use, it is important to determine the bonsai species, soil moisture, and other factors we previously discussed.

Step 1: Check the soil moisture using a moisture meter. You can also do the finger method or chopstick method. Once you determine the soil is slightly dry 1 inch deep from the soil or it is dry out, proceed with the next steps. Step 2: Prepare the things you need water can, water hose, and suitable water for your bonsai.

Step 3: Water your bonsai tree from the top using a water hose with a fine nozzle to prevent washing away the soil. Thoroughly water your bonsai until the entire roots system is wet. Step 4: Water your bonsai after a few minutes.

Use the learning you had on the previous topics to make sure you are watering your bonsai plants the right way. Absolutely yes! If you can safely drink your tap water, then, by all means, use it to also water your bonsai tree. If ever you have hard tap water, it may leave white salt deposits on the bonsai trunk or around the pot. It is important to occasionally collect and use rainwater to get rid the salt buildup in the soil.

If ever your tap water has a lot of chlorine, just let it sit overnight to evaporate chlorine in the watering can. Misting creates humidity for your precious bonsai tree. Misting can help in cleaning and refresh the foliage of your bonsai tree.