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Bonsai Care - How to Water

March 8th, 2008

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Don’t you water a bonsai like any other plant? The answer is absolutely not. Bonsai are very particular and specific and how to treat them will depends on lots of factors including enviornment and climate.

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 harms a bonsai far more quickly than over-watering. It is very important to take careful note of the condition of the compost, make sure it is not dried out.

A bonsai needs oxygen which it takes in through the roots in order to breathe - this happens when water flows over the roots - it takes away all the by products and provides fresh oxygen which gives the plant nourishment. You will suffocate the plant if you give too much water as this is when 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!

Do you know how often you water? There should never be a set routine. As temperatures and the environment change on a daily basis you need to adapt to your bonsai needs. Because the root system is very small it can dry out quickly and a careful watch needs to be keep on each plant. Compost which is wet on the top could well be dry below the surface. Each bonsai plant uses water differently and should be checked on several times a day.

A good tip is to use a wooden toothpick and leave it in the compost. The next time you come to check your plant, by lifting the toothpick you will see if the compost below the surface has dried out and this will help you assess how much water to 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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