How Much Water Do Bonsai Trees Need
How often do i water a bonsai tree.
How much water do bonsai trees need. Like mature trees in the wild bonsai trees pump water through their roots into the body of the tree to the foliage. When you do water do so liberally. Allow the first to sink in then go back and water again. Through experience and practice for particular species of bonsai like ficus bonsai sweet plum bonsai hawaiian umbrella bonsai and jade bonsai there are estimated times you should water them every day.
It should be watered before the soil appears to be getting dry. No matter the method of watering bonsai you select. This has made watering more challenging so i ve changed my approach to it. Generally speaking bonsai tree soil is fast draining and doesn t retain a lot of water.
The size of the pot the bonsai is growing in will also affect when and how you water your tree. Bonsai can indeed require water on a daily or even twice daily basis particularly in hot weather or early spring. To be sure all soil is moistened water twice. This schedule may vary with the size pot type of soil and type of bonsai tree you own.
The soil mixture greatly influences how often trees need to be watered for most bonsai trees a mixture of akadama pumice and lava rock mixed together in a ratio of to to should be fine. The ideal bonsai soil drains well yet retains enough water to feed the roots. Use a moisture meter until you figure out the exact requirements of your specific tree which can vary depending on the conditions inside your home. The watering of your bonsai must never be neglected.
Smaller pots will hold significantly less soil than larger pots and may require watering 2 3 times a day. Bonsai tree need enough water to supply all of the leaves and stop them from drying out. I now do several garden checks throughout the day and only water the trees that need it. However watering to a routine commonly leads to permanently wet compost.
If your bonsai is receiving full sun it may be necessary to water once a day. The composition of the soil will directly impact its ability to drain and thus how often you need to water your tree. Water enough so the water flows through and comes out the holes in the bottom of your bonsai pot. Ficus bonsai and the hawaiian umbrella bonsai should be watered twice daily early in the morning and late in the evening.
Garden soil will likely retain too much moisture when watering bonsai and gravel alone won t retain enough water. However use a mixture that retains more water by using more akadama or even potting compost when you cannot water your trees that regularly. Now that the trees are much closer to being too dry i ve given myself a much smaller time frame in which to water.