Most care mistakes in bonsai happen when watering. So that your little tree develops splendidly, we have 6 watering tips for you.
Keeping a bonsai isn't even done casually. The main problem is actually that each bonsai species has its own requirements. Anyone who decides on a bonsai tree should therefore obtain sufficient information beforehand.
Experience has shown that the biggest problem with care is watering. One waters too little, another too much, one often, the other rarely. But how is it exactly right?
Watering bonsai made easy - this is how it works for sure
Tip 1: Avoid standing wetness and dryness
The bonsai pot must not dry out completely, but it must also not stand in dammed water for a long period of time, otherwise there is a risk of dangerous root rot.
The finger test has proven itself as a means to watch for the right time to pour. Use your fingertip to make a small indentation in the top layer of substrate. If you don't feel any moisture, the bonsai needs water.
Tip 2: Note the shape of the bowl and the temperature
Basically, the flatter the bowl, the easier it is for moisture to rise and the more frequently you have to water it. In addition, the temperature determines the water requirement. The warmer it is, the more water the plant needs. You can safely water a bonsai that is in a shallow dish in the summer sun once in the morning and once in the evening. You don't have to worry about overhydration.
Tip 3: Water bonsai with a watering can or ball shower
To ensure even moistening of the root ball, the irrigation water must be well distributed in the bonsai pot. You can use a spray attachment for the watering can to distribute it over a large area, and it is even easier to use a ball spray.
This practical little helper consists of a watering head reminiscent of a shower head and a small plastic ball. Both are connected to each other by a thin tube. Squeeze the ball, hold the watering head under the water and loosen your grip. The negative pressure sucks the water into the ball. Thanks to its small size and lowweight, a ball shower is more accurate than a watering can.
Tip 4: Put bonsai in the immersion bath
Instead of watering the bonsai, you can immerse it in a bath with lukewarm water for a few minutes. Afterwards, however, the water must be able to drain off easily. This method is recommended as an immediate measure if you have not watered for a long time and the sapling is already beginning to dry up.
Tip 5: Spray dusty leaves
Dust settles on the leaves of bonsai trees when they are indoors or in an apartment. You should regularly dissolve this dust with water for the benefit of the plant, but also for aesthetic reasons. The easiest way to do this is with a standard spray bottle.
Tip 6: Use low-lime water
Lime is deposited as an unsightly whitish layer on the surface of the substrate in the bonsai pot. Use rainwater to water your bonsai because the lime content is significantly lower than in tap water.
If you don't have access to rainwater, you can decalcify your tap water yourself with a limescale filter. Even with boiled water that you then run through an ordinary coffee filter, the lime content is significantly reduced.
More about bonsai:
- Bonsai: recognizing and combating diseases and pests
- Fertilize bonsai: This is how the plant gets all the important nutrients
- Pruning bonsai - basic rules and tips
- Bonsai propagation - This is how it works with the cuttings method