Watering a bonsai properly is crucial to a successful culture. Because errors in watering can quickly lead to damage to the plant or even result in the crop dying. But how and when should the bonsai tree be watered and what additional factors should be considered? With the following instructions, it also works for beginners in plant care.
watering bonsai
For bonsai beginners in particular, the question of watering the miniature trees correctly often arises. We have put together a guide with all the information about bonsai watering.
water
Bonsai usually need soft, low-lime water. Because hard or calcareous water can make it difficult to absorb nutrients. Hard tap water is therefore unsuitable for irrigation. Better variants include:
stale tap water
If hard tap water has been allowed to stand for at least a week, the limescale will precipitate and collect on the bottom. As long as the sediment is not used for watering, it is soft water. Prepared watering cans should be placed in cool, shady areas, especially in summer. Otherwise the water will evaporate very quickly.
aquarium water
Anyone who owns a freshwater aquarium can use the aquarium water to water the bonsai when the water is changed. The water is soft and filtered. It also contains some valuable nutrients due to fish food, aquatic plants and feces. The water also ensures a slight fertilization of the plant. However, the aquarium water may only be used if it is untreated. Chemical additives, such as medication for the fish or agents for clarifying the water, should not get into the bonsai tree.
rainwater
This free water source is ideal for bonsai. The water is soft and can therefore be used for watering without any problems. Rain barrels are therefore a sensible purchase for the garden and balcony. However, it is important that the water is not polluted. Harmful substances can be found in rainwater, especially in large cities and other areas with high exhaust emissions. So caution is advised here.
pond water
The same applies to pond water as to aquarium water. It is low in lime, making it soft and also contains nutrients that are gentle fertilization serve. Again, only untreated water should be used. Agents against algae or other chemical additives could damage the bonsai.
temperature
An important point when watering the bonsai is the temperature of the water. If it is too cool, the plant can attack you cold shock suffer. On the one hand, this restricts the absorption of nutrients and, on the other hand, growth can be reduced. If you constantly water it with water that is too cold, the bonsai tree can even die.
It is better, tempered water to use. This means that the water should be at room temperature. For this it is enough to leave it in the watering can in the same room as the bonsai for a few hours.
frequency and timing
When the bonsai should be watered depends on various factors. These include, among others:
temperature
The warmer it is, the faster the substrate dries and the more frequently it has to be watered. On very warm summer days it may therefore be necessary to water twice a day.
humidity
In high humidity, the bonsai substrate does not dry out as quickly as in dry air. If the plant is in the bathroom or kitchen, the water supply can be less and at greater intervals.
sun exposure
Light exposure or brightness stimulates the growth of the bonsai tree. As a result, the plant uses more water. The lighter the plant is, the more often it has to be watered.
substrate
The composition of the substrate determines how much water can be stored. Special bonsai soil is comparatively permeable, but it also dries out faster. Substrates with a larger humus content store with liquid, which can reduce the frequency of watering.
upon need
Casting is only carried out when the top layer of substrate has dried. The thumb test can be helpful here. To do this, the thumb or another finger is pressed about a centimeter deep into the substrate. If soil sticks to your finger or if the substrate looks damp, it does not need to be watered yet. On the other hand, if it's dry, it's time to water.
Bonsai watering: instructions
The watering of the bonsai is in itself quite easy if a few points are observed and a little patience is maintained. The following guide serves as a guide:
- Perform a thumb test to check the moisture content of the substrate.
- If the substrate is dry, use soft, low-lime water to slowly and carefully water the root disc.
- Stop watering as soon as the first drops appear in the bowl under the planter.
- Water again after about half an hour to moisten the substrate well.
Bonsai watering can with a gentle spray
Extra tip: A watering can with a shower attachment ensures that the soil is not washed away and can be poured more carefully and gently. The substrate can drain off very quickly, especially through the usually raised root disk of the bonsai tree. Gentle watering is therefore the better choice.
Bonsai diving as an alternative
As an alternative to watering with a can, the substrate can also be moistened in other ways. A bit of finesse is required here. Overall, however, the method is significantly faster and easier than classic irrigation, at least for smaller bonsai.
- Fill a bucket or a sufficiently large bowl with low-lime water
- Take the planter from the bowl below and slowly dip it into the bucket and under the water
- When no more air bubbles rise, the substrate is sufficiently moistened and the vessel can be removed from the water.
The advantage of this method is that repeated watering does not have to be done at short intervals. So the effort is noticeably reduced. Also, if you do the dipping carefully and slowly enough, you won't be rinsing off any substrate.
humidity
Regardless of whether the bonsai spends the summer outdoors or spends the winter in the living room with low humidity, the drought can damage the plants and encourage infestation by diseases and pests.
In dry rooms or in dry locations, it is therefore important to increase the humidity accordingly. This can be solved very easily, for example, by using a plant sprayer moisturize Again, make sure you use soft water. Otherwise lime deposits and other residues can form on the leaves. This in turn can damage the leaves.
Beware of sunlight
When the bonsai is best watered depends, among other things, on the lighting conditions. Watering should be avoided in blazing sunshine or at noon in summer. It is better to give water in the morning and in the evening or when it is just no direct sun shines on the plant. This also applies to spraying with water. Otherwise, the plant could be burned.
watering in winter
Whether the bonsai overwinters outdoors or has to be frost-free during the cold season, it also needs water during the winter. The substrate should never completely dry. However, the casting has to be adjusted again.
Overwinter the plant frost-free, then continue to water as needed as before. Make sure the soil is slightly damp but not wet. Depending on the temperature at which you overwinter the bonsai tree, a small watering may be necessary weekly or every two weeks. You should no longer submerge the plant during the winter. It is better to give small amounts of water directly onto the root disk.
If you want to overwinter the bonsai outdoors, you should choose frost-free days for watering when the substrate is too dry. On the other hand, if you overwinter the plant on the balcony or in another covered area, you must regularly check the moisture content of the soil. This also applies if the bonsai is outdoors but there is very little precipitation in winter.
