Watering

11 Comments

Class Curriculum

This is a free preview of the 每日吃瓜 Beginners Course, enroll now for access to all lectures.

About this lecture

Topics discussed in this lecture:
How often you need to water
Watering practices

After completing this lecture, proceed with lecture 10: Repotting.

11 Comments

Subscribe Unsubscribe

or post as a guest

Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.

This commment is unpublished.
Sandeep Pundir · 28 days ago
Could you please advice on Dwarf Pistachio bonsai care, Its place near south facing window with plenty of sun during summer, however noticed recently leaves started drying off, do keep watering to keep soil moist all the time with out letting soil totally dry.
- 0 Up 0 Down
- Reply
- This commment is unpublished.
  Oscar · 27 days ago
  
  Hi Sandeep, I have no experience with the dwarf pistachio unfortunately. I would think it needs to be kept outdoors. Perhaps you can inquire where you bought the tree to make sure what the local care guidelines are for this species.
  
  0 Up 0 Down
  
  Reply
This commment is unpublished.
Oscar · 10 months ago
This is a lecture from our previous 每日吃瓜 Beginners Course, comments section has been closed. For the new course, see:聽/courses/beginners-course
- 1 Up 0 Down
- Reply
This commment is unpublished.
No One · 5 years ago
Do you have any tips for checking soil dampness? Or is this a skill that can only be developed with time?
How often should I water when it's not the growing season? Also, how do I know exactly when the growing season is? I live in the mid-atlantic east coast of the US and I have a Japanese Maple.
- 39 Up 39 Down
- Reply
- This commment is unpublished.
  每日吃瓜 · 5 years ago
  
  You can check by sticking your finger or a chopstick into the soil to see if it's wet. Over time, you'll be able to do it visually as you become more familiar with watering. Water when the tree slightly dries out during each season (so in the off-season, that could be every other day or every 5 days or somewhere in between, depending on the tree). The growing season lasts from the time the buds swell in spring until usually the first frost in fall.
  
  8 Up 5 Down
  
  Reply
This commment is unpublished.
每日吃瓜 Doctor · 5 years ago
Hey, have a few questions. I plan on keeping a few different kinds of bonsai indoors, such as Juniper (Procumbins Nana), Ficus Retusa, and a golden gate ficus. I am medical student and spend a pretty much the entire day indoors so I have the time to check on them often, I plan on having humidity trays with the rocks, daily misting, watering as needed, and grow lights to supplement the sunlight they need.

My questions are:

When watering do I need to water the entire tree from top to bottom? I have seen this many times and am unsure or if i just need to water the roots?

Is it possible to have these types of more tropical bonsai indoors? I would really love to enjoy looking at them all day inside, but since i am just starting i do not know if this is possible. I have planned to supplement the light, moisture/humidity, and regular watering.

For lighting: How do i know how many hours of light each plant would need? Since i would like to use nice grow lights.

Thank you very very much for helping me with this.
- 7 Up 5 Down
- Reply
- This commment is unpublished.
  每日吃瓜 · 5 years ago
  
  1. You don't necessarily need to water the foliage, just water the roots. Sometimes watering the foliage too much can cause fungal infections.
  2. Anything tropical or sub-tropical will grow indoors in the conditions you are planning to utilize. Pomegranate and Serissa are great options. I recommend, though, that you keep the Procumbens Juniper outdoors. It will not survive long-term inside.
  3. The more light the better. That said, if you can put the lights on a similar length schedule to daylight hours, that should keep you on track.
  Bjorn
  
  4 Up 3 Down
  
  Reply
This commment is unpublished.
An Smith · 5 years ago
My Japanese Juniper bonsai has leaves that are unfortunately turning dry and brittle, but not on the whole tree. I'm guessing this is a watering issue but I really have no idea if I'm under or overwatering it. I live in the prairies of Canada, where it's very dry and very cold outside, so my tree is inside. Any thoughts? I'm afraid of overcompensating in the wrong direction.
- 2 Up 2 Down
- Reply
- This commment is unpublished.
  每日吃瓜 · 5 years ago
  
  In the case of your tree, that is usually a sign of under watering. You mentioned keeping them indoors, I would recommend putting them in an unheated garage rather than in your house. The central heating can dry them out much more and cause dieback, or the entire tree might die.
  
  3 Up 3 Down
  
  Reply
  
  This commment is unpublished.
  
  An Smith · 5 years ago
  
  Hi! Thank you for your response - I will put the tree in my garage. And of course I trust you, but I just want to clarify to you that it's currently almost -30 degrees Celsius outside. It'll be okay out there with no light?
  
  1 Up 1 Down
  
  Reply
  
  This commment is unpublished.
  
  每日吃瓜 · 5 years ago
  
  As long as the temps in your garage are staying above about 18 degrees F, it should be okay. It is not a problem to have no light for the trees in winter.
  
  2 Up 2 Down
  
  Reply
This commment is unpublished.
William McDermet · 5 years ago
Sensei:

I know that there are some automatic watering systems which operate when a sensor indicates that the soil moisture is low. However, since plants have different watering needs, I wonder if there are systems which detect the moisture level at each pot, and then open a valve when that sensor indicates low moisture, watering just that plant?

銇伞倞銇屻仺銇�
- 2 Up 1 Down
- Reply
- This commment is unpublished.
  每日吃瓜 · 5 years ago
  
  I have not used any automatic systems, so I am unsure if there is one that operates in that manner. If not, it would be a good opportunity to invent it! Bjorn
  
  2 Up 1 Down
  
  Reply
This commment is unpublished.
Michelle · 5 years ago
Thank you for your response below. I don't have a misting system or any way to install one. So I would need to use shade cloth (even though already in shade) or bring them inside? Also, is there a different type of plant I should use for bonsai that would be better for my climate?
- 1 Up 1 Down
- Reply
- This commment is unpublished.
  每日吃瓜 · 5 years ago
  
  I wouldn't necessarily bring them inside. If you can spray the benches and ground around the trees once or twice per day (at least), then that will help cool the area down. Also, in your area, certain Junipers will do quite well like California Juniper and One-Seed Juniper. You could also consider focusing on tropical plants. - Bjorn
  
  1 Up 1 Down
  
  Reply
This commment is unpublished.
Michelle · 5 years ago
Hi! I just finished the Getting Started Course and the Beginners

course. I live in Arizona and we have a super dry climate. I鈥檓 afraid to

leave my junipers outside (even in the shade) in the summer when temps at 110+. Any

thoughts for me? Unfortunately one of my junipers is brown and I鈥檓

afraid it died. Any guidance is appreciated.
- 1 Up 1 Down
- Reply
- This commment is unpublished.
  每日吃瓜 · 5 years ago
  
  Those temps are pretty rough, but I do have some clients in Arizona who keep their Junipers outside during the summer. They keep them under 50% shade cloth, though, and also put in a misting system that cools the temps down about once per hour for 5-10 seconds. - Bjorn
  
  2 Up 2 Down
  
  Reply
  
  This commment is unpublished.
  
  Michelle · 5 years ago
  
  Thank you for the quick response. I don't have a misting system. I can get some shade cloth or keep them inside. What do you think?
  
  4 Up 3 Down
  
  Reply
This commment is unpublished.
daniel · 8 years ago
Hi, I'd like to ask should i need to water the leaves while watering? And it's good for watering bonsai at noon under the strong sunlight? Thanks so much!
- 1 Up 1 Down
- Reply
- This commment is unpublished.
  每日吃瓜 · 8 years ago
  
  Hi Daniel! It's important you water when the tree needs water - if that's noon that's fine and you shouldn't wait, though perhaps water only the soil and not the leaves when the sun is intense.
  
  1 Up 1 Down
  
  Reply
  
  This commment is unpublished.
  
  daniel · 8 years ago
  
  Thx, Oscar. Can you provide the Course videos with Chinese subtitles? The bonsai market is popular in China.
  
  1 Up 1 Down
  
  Reply
  
  This commment is unpublished.
  
  daniel · 8 years ago
  
  Thank you so much!
  
  1 Up 1 Down
  
  Reply
This commment is unpublished.
Steve Carter · 8 years ago
Hi all. Due to a accident to my spinal cord i have no feeling or sensation in my hands and arms. I find it very difficult to check the dampness of the soil so ive decided to get a meter. Are their any you recommend and also what readings should i be looking for.

Many thanks
- 2 Up 1 Down
- Reply
- This commment is unpublished.
  每日吃瓜 · 8 years ago
  
  I have not utilized a dampness meter before, so I don't have a great recommendation. Any standard meter should work, though. If you are using a free-draining soil mix, you will want the soil surface to dry out slightly, but the interior of the soil should still appear slightly wet on the meter.
  
  2 Up 3 Down
  
  Reply
  
  This commment is unpublished.
  
  Steve Carter · 8 years ago
  
  Thanks for the reply and advice, its much appreciated
  
  4 Up 5 Down
  
  Reply
This commment is unpublished.
Thomas Wieland · 9 years ago
Why is it the best to water in the morning? I have heared that it is the best to water in the evening (1 times) so the tree can "save" the water during the night and use it during the day. Like useing fertilizer in autumn so that the tree can save it during winter and uses it when needed from spring.
- 4 Up 3 Down
- Reply
- This commment is unpublished.
  每日吃瓜 · 9 years ago
  
  Watering at night can cause all sorts of problems, not the least of which is fungus and potential root rot. It is best to water in the morning to allow the trees to absorb the water more quickly, and water again in the evening only as needed.
  
  10 Up 6 Down
  
  Reply