AusBonsai

Hey guys i'm just wondering,

How do i know how much water i need to water my tree,
Is there some trick any of your guys have for knowing how much you need to water your trees?
or is it all just trial and error.

How do i know if i'm overwatering, or under?

Thanx!

if you are underwatering you will see the leaves wilting and if too late its all over. in this modern day and age, at this time of the year, there is no such thing as overwatering if you have the right soil mix. how ever for the guys who like to hold off or are in naturally wet areas. the chop stick into the soil, pull out and if you have moist particles stuck to your stick is how you tell. the trick though is to learn by the level of moisture on your stick as to how long that moisture can hang in there till you come to it to water. eg. a warm to hot day, you leave for work dont get back till 5pm, if there is not enough moisture to last till then, it is better to water in the morning than not to. im now almost watering every day. remember that wind is just as bad as a warm day for dying out. then if you have hot northwinds, RED ALERT! and take cover. hope this helps.

Thanx ant!

Love the chopstick trick!

Unfortunately i don't have any leaves atm, just buds so far, is there another way of knowing if i'm underwatering? for during winter?
I know its now the beginning of spring, but just for future reference (and for any other newcomers who read through this thread)

Jordy wrote:Thanx ant!
Love the chopstick trick! :DUnfortunately i don't have any leaves atm, just buds so far, is there another way of knowing if i'm underwatering? for during winter?
I know its now the beginning of spring, but just for future reference (and for any other newcomers who read through this thread)

obviously no foliage to up take water requires less watering. if the soil dries out at this point you are in less danger than you would be with foliage, how ever dont take that for granted. again your chopstick is your friend.

Yep you can always put your finger in and if it is wet it does not need watering. But ,as ant said, this time of year it is hard to overwater.

Good to know so its not too hard to overwater until when?

Midway through Spring?

the problem you get when you over water and the drainage is not good enough is root rot which will kill your tree. My experience has been with most people learning bonsai is that they kill them with kindness. Overwatering them even if the tree is looking sick thinking , oh it probably needs more water. You are right to think that watering is important but observing your tree is even more important. If you observe you will get experience and you will intuitively know what the tree wants

in this modern day and age, at this time of the year, there is no such thing as overwatering if you have the right soil mix

This is dangerous and misleading information. Unfortunately it is a misconception that is spreading about the internet that once you sieve your potting mix excessive watering is impossible. However, pore spaces in potting mixes reduce in size as roots penetrate the mix, increasing the amount of water retained after watering. Consequently, there is a greater risk of root anoxia.

Paul

Has anyone wondered why in Japan it takes a long time for an apprentice to get the chance to start learning to water, and why some masters there still claim not to have fully mastered the 'Art of watering Bonsai"?

Asus101 wrote:Has anyone wondered why in Japan it takes a long time for an apprentice to get the chance to start learning to water, and why some masters there still claim not to have fully mastered the 'Art of watering Bonsai"?

Haha! Nope, I assume it's cause it's a black art, and whatever you do you're really just going with a best-guess

Ah!! that old potato raises its head again. I have been trying to grow Bonsai with a modicum of success for a long time. Learning how to style a tree was one thing I wanted to know then and still do. What was the best tree's for me to learn on, I still do.
I am also still learning that there is no be all and end all to watering.
Most apprenticeships start learning,well in my day with learning how to make a decent cup of tea. Then how to properly sweep the floor so no one hurt them selves.
Watering is the hardest part of BONSAI.
To do it properly. it takes practice,like every thing, it takes practice. When this question was asked of our Sensei he stated when it needs it water it. How do we know when. Most of the apprentices in Japan spend up to 3 years learning to do it properly. Look at the tree if it is healthy what you have been doing is right. Easy eh! bulls#*t.
Look at your soil every day while you are making sure there are no bugs or weeds feel the soil. Remember all tree's have different needs. Which brings us to why most that grow Bonsai well.Have just a few species so you get to know what that one, needs or this one doesn't like Maples they need more water than a Pine.
Which then brings us to Australian Natives they can with stand drought, YEA not in a pot. When you have mastered all that. Then say it is what you do.
Until then water as needed so the finger test is the way to go.
I am sorry for this long winded answer,but there is no short answer to watering. Pup

63pmp wrote:in this modern day and age, at this time of the year, there is no such thing as overwatering if you have the right soil mix

This is dangerous and misleading information. Unfortunately it is a misconception that is spreading about the internet that once you sieve your potting mix excessive watering is impossible. However, pore spaces in potting mixes reduce in size as roots penetrate the mix, increasing the amount of water retained after watering. Consequently, there is a greater risk of root anoxia.
Paul

gee that brought you out of the wood works, where ya been? sorry paul i cant agree with that. if you were talking indoor yes its a huge problem. but outside if the soil mix is good it all comes out in the wash. the only time watering needs to be that patantic is if your microclimate demands it or if you are trying to hold your tree back, which in my opinion is a dangerous game.
some of us here in melbourne water freely with no problems so please dont discount it on other peoples errors.

Hey Ant, does it matter if its a timber chopstick or plastic?
Ive always just used the finger test.
Interestingly I have found that when I have an infestation of weeds the soil in that pot seems to hold the water longer but then will suddenly be bone dry.
The same is true of trees that havnt been repotted for a few years.
So I think Paul might be onto something about the soil retaining more when there are more roots in the pot, but equally as there is more tree (or weeds) to soak up the water it goes pretty quick once they start drinking.

Pups right, there's no easy answer and it bugs me that i have to learn the hard way.

I gota say i've only lost Maples to underwatering, drying out, heat, wind burn.

When it comes to watering as long as you've made a good mix and it drains freely your sweet (soil mixes are a whole other topic), i just wouldn't second guess watering a Maple.

In Melbourne we get four seasons in one day and its always in a random order so like Anttal I'd rather water than not.

I use the simple finger test, my father (Notorious for overwatering ) believes that bonsai MUST be watered daily (He's killed several of my trees that way) I always slip a finger in the edge of the pot, if I can't push the finger in (The tree needs repotting?) but usually opening your eyes, you will be able to tell if the tree needs water.

I also dunk water a lot of my trees. which a lot of people don't believe in.