Many bonsai need water every day, sometimes twice a day, so you should check them often. And summer heat and wind cause bonsai to dry out more quickly than usual. As days grow longer, bonsai also grow more hours a day. They use up and need more water. Also, with longer days and more active growth, plants should be fertilized.
Watering also washes needed nutrients from the soil, so you may want to review the section Fertilizer for Bonsai Tree.
As day become shorter, growth slows down and bonsai use less water. At this time, plants are preparing for the dormancy of winter. The complement to this post and the explanation of winter storage of outdoor bonsai in the bonsai container section should help you meet your plants’s winter needs.
In areas where tropical material will not survive winter temperatures, trees must be brought indoors. Bring your trees inside before the windows in the house are closed and the heat is turned on. This will allow them to adjust to the house climate more easily. The trees may or may not become dormant, but they will keep their foliage and require good light. In most cases a sunny window will suffice. If artificial light is used, refer to the section Artificial Light for Bonsai.
Indoor bonsai are not always dormant during the winter, and dormancy is not always easy to identify. If a bonsai continues to send out new growth, it is not dormant but merely growing at slower rate than other times of the year. An indoor dormant plant is often described as “looking fine, but doing nothing”.
A plant holding its foliage and color but showing no new growth is in a state of dormancy, manufacturing food and using only enough water to maintain its health. At this time be careful that you do not over-water your bonsai. As a general rule, remember that throughout the year the amount of light received and the amount of water needed are in direct relation to each other.
Trees going into outdoor winter storage and, more important, trees being moved indoors should be clean and free of insects. Areas to check are the foliage, both top and bottom, under the rim of the pot, and the drainage holes. If you find a problem, ask your local garden center for advice. Remember to wash the foliage when you water the tree.
Watering also washes needed nutrients from the soil, so you may want to review the section Fertilizer for Bonsai Tree.
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| Growing Indoor Bonsai in Winter. image source: www2.fiskars.com |
Growing Indoor Bonsai in Winter
In areas where tropical material will not survive winter temperatures, trees must be brought indoors. Bring your trees inside before the windows in the house are closed and the heat is turned on. This will allow them to adjust to the house climate more easily. The trees may or may not become dormant, but they will keep their foliage and require good light. In most cases a sunny window will suffice. If artificial light is used, refer to the section Artificial Light for Bonsai.
Indoor bonsai are not always dormant during the winter, and dormancy is not always easy to identify. If a bonsai continues to send out new growth, it is not dormant but merely growing at slower rate than other times of the year. An indoor dormant plant is often described as “looking fine, but doing nothing”.
A plant holding its foliage and color but showing no new growth is in a state of dormancy, manufacturing food and using only enough water to maintain its health. At this time be careful that you do not over-water your bonsai. As a general rule, remember that throughout the year the amount of light received and the amount of water needed are in direct relation to each other.
Trees going into outdoor winter storage and, more important, trees being moved indoors should be clean and free of insects. Areas to check are the foliage, both top and bottom, under the rim of the pot, and the drainage holes. If you find a problem, ask your local garden center for advice. Remember to wash the foliage when you water the tree.
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