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How To Care For Your Bonsai - Watering

from: Paul March

Do you water a bonsai like any other plant? Of course not. Lots of factors affect bonsai including climate and environment and there are very specific ways on how they should be treated.

Because bonsai come in lots of different species, they use water at different rates, and that means they will grow at different rates during their growing cycle. Remember all bonsai are not the same, there are also deciduous and non-deciduous. Bonsai do not have set cycles and therefore they should be attended to when required.

Watering - it's important that the compost never dries out. You can quickly kill a bonsai this way. You will of course be aware that when in the ground, plants and trees adapt to the environment - this isn't possible for a bonsai as due to the smallness of scale, everything you do - or not has a big effect on it. The masters say that to fully master the correct watering of a bonsai it takes 3 years.

Under-watering can be much more harmful for a bonsai than over-watering. Make sure the compost is not dried out, its very important to take a careful note of its condition.

Remember that in order to breathe the roots of a bonsai need oxygen - oxygen is provided when water comes into contact with the roots and all the by products are flushed out and exchanges fresh air which nourishes the plant. Too much water and you will suffocate the plant - where there is too much oxygen, the fine root hairs cannot breathe.

How do you know what the right amount of water is? Sometimes if you are re-potting you can tell that a plant is over-watered because the fine root hairs will turn black and rotten.

There are other signs to look for in order to tell if you are watering incorrectly - loss of vigor, looking tired and no longer vibrant and healthy - also when the foliage turns yellow - or the smaller branches shrink and die away.

How can you alter this? You can cut the black roots away, this will help. When roots are rotten they promote bacteria growth that can kill plants, so if you cut the old and rotten roots away, this will help the plant to recover more quickly. Be careful when you are cutting not to damage the healthy roots as this will slow down the recovery process. Learn to alter your watering habits!

What is your watering routine? It should not be set. Daily changing temperatures and environment meant that you need to adapt your routine to that which your bonsai needs. You must carefully watch the needs of each plant as bonsai have a very small root system which can dry out quickly. Watch the compost which may be damp on top, but could be dry below the surface. Individual species of bonsai use water at different rates and must be checked daily.

You can use a wooden toothpick to help you find out what is going on beneath the surface if you put it into the soil and leave it. The next time you check the toothpick you will be able to see by viewing the lack of dampness and this will help you decide how much water you should use.

The needs of you plant will come before your routine, and you should adapt accordingly as correct watering is critical.

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