How Do I Water My Bonsai Tree? [Do It The Right Way]

How do I water my bonsai tree? Watering a bonsai tree has a few steps to follow.

First, check the soil’s moisture content using a moisture meter: chopsticks or your fingers.

Secondly, soak the ground by pouring the water slowly into the pot with a water can.

Nurturing a bonsai tree with water remains one of the vital aspects in the practical cultivation of a bonsai. Because bonsai trees always require more water than other vegetation.

If you have already overwatered your bonsai tree and your tree is suffering from over-watering, learn how to revive the overwater bonsai tree.

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The Simple Way To Water A Bonsai Tree

Watering a bonsai tree is extremely important. It is a simple and essential element of its maintenance.

The quantity and frequency of watering requirements vary depending on the tree type, pot height, and environment.

Before you begin feeding your bonsai tree with water, you should know a few things.

Excessive watering or inadequate supply can cause death or abnormal development.

Watering a bonsai tree requires two steps:

Firstly, examine the bonsai soil moisture levels before watering with a watering can, or immerse the complete bonsai plant in a water basin.

There are two methods of watering bonsai trees, either by Watering can or by the immersing method.

Below is the step involved in watering your tree:

Firstly: Check your bonsai Soil Moisture Levels

secondly: watering the bonsai tree

So, these are the two things to consider in Watering a Bonsai Tree.

In this section, you will learn the best step to carry out when watering your bonsai tree. Follow this step I provided below to get started.

Here is some method on how to water a bonsai tree:

Check Bonsai Soil Moisture Levels

Before watering a bonsai tree, it is essential to check the soil moisture level before deciding whether or not to flood your bonsai plants.

It is necessary to water when the substrate begins to dry out.

Before you check the moisture level of a plant, there are three methods of checking Moisture Levels. Here is the method

How to Check soil moisture Using Moisture Meter [for Bonsai And Other Plants]

A moisture meter is a helpful gardening instrument for both an expert and a novice. That has two parts: a probe and a scale.

A moisture meter rapidly identifies the soil’s moisture level in the root zone.

It is the most reliable method of measuring the water content of the ground at the base level of your tree; it prevents overwatering and underwatering.

Every bonsai enthusiast can easily read the scale range from 1 to 10. “1” represents dry, and “10” illustrates moist.

How to use a moisture Meter For bonsai trees and another plant

Here is a simple guide on how to use a moisture Meter

Place the moisture meter at the root ball’s level.
Examine the moisture level of the bonsai soil.
Water your bonsai tree at level “3,” which is typical for many bonsai species.
It’s time to take the meter from the plant.
After each usage, clean the moisture meter. Keep the moisture meter somewhere dry.

How To check Soil Moisture Using Finger Method For Bonsai And Other Plant

This finger method is simple for bonsai enthusiasts; someone can do it by placing two fingers at the base of the bonsai soil.

Your finger should be at least 1 to 3 inches deep, and leave it for approximately 15-25 seconds.

It’s time to know when to water the plant. There’s no need to water it if it feels damp, but if it feels dry, water it.

The finger method is also reliable, but one needs to invest in a moisture meter because the moisture meter is reliable and perfect.

Some soil may feel wet when they are dry, so this is the reason you need to invest in a moisture meter.

Determining how moist the soil is with fingers might be challenging. The earth’s moisture is not a general principle that all bonsai plants follow.

How To Check Soil Moisture Level With Chopstick Method For Bonsai Trees And Other Plant

The chopstick method requires you to make use of a wooden chopstick to check the moisture level of your soil.

Hold the chopstick by the thicker end, insert the narrow end 1 to 3 inch into the soil, and leave it for 7 to 10 minutes.

After about 7-10 minutes, remove the chopstick and check if the chopstick looks dark or absorbs any water from the soil.

Use a clean wooden or bamboo chopstick; it should be roughly halfway between the main stem of your bonsai tree and the edge.

Avoid using ceramic or plastic chopsticks because they cannot absorb water from the soil.

How To Check Soil Moisture Level With Weight Test Method For Bonsai And Other Pot Plant

The weight test method is carried out by monitoring the weight of your bonsai tree.

By this method, you can use the weight of the pot to determine if the tree needs watering.

Please pick up the bonsai pot and feel its weight. If it feels light, it’s time to water the tree.

It can only work for miniature trees and does not give accurate results because weight can increase due to the growth of a particular bonsai tree.

I do not recommend this as the best choice. But you can get this by monitoring the weight of the pot and plant.

Learn the effect of overwatering a bonsai tree.

How To Water A Bonsai Tree

Two methods are involved when watering a bonsai tree. You can water a bonsai tree with a watering can or by the immersing way.

Let me explain how to water a bonsai tree with these two methods starting with a watering can.

How To Water A Bonsai Tree With A Watering Can

Watering a bonsai tree with a watering can is done by gently pouring water from a water can into the soil.

A watering can have lots of tiny holes to ensure the water comes out gently so the pressure from the water doesn’t disturb the soil.

Steps step guide To Water Your Bonsai Tree using a watering can

Step 1:

Check the soil’s moisture content using a moisture meter, Chopsticks, your fingers, or the Weight test method as explained above.

Step 2:

Please remove your water can and ensure to fill it with enough water.

Step3:

Gently Pour water from the top of the tree to avoid washing away the soil. Pour Gently over the tree until you see puddles on the soil top.

Step4:

Once the bonsai container is full, stop watering, it should take about 60 to 120 seconds to saturate the soil and the root system thoroughly.

Continue watering until water flows from the drainage holes indicating the soil is nice and moist.

Step5:

Wait about 15 to 25 minutes and observe if the topsoil feels dry already.

If it still feels dry, add more water to the earth. But if it doesn’t feel dry, don’t pour more water.

Important Note:

If you notice yellowing leaves or shriveling branches, skip the second watering because these are signs of oxygen deprivation due to too much water.
If your bonsai tree has crispy leaves, do a third 30-second watering or revive it in a water bath.

Warning:

Don’t water the leaves if your Bonsai is in full sun on a hot day. It’s generally okay to get the leaves wet.

Avoid watering in full sun on a hot day to prevent the leaves from getting magnified to light rays and burn the leaves.

How To Water A Bonsai Tree By Immersing Method

Applied If your Bonsai is small, you can immerse the entire bonsai plant in a bucket or basin of water.

It is required to soak in water for 5 to 7 minutes and let the soil feel wet.

After the soil has been wet for a couple of minutes, remove the plant from the water and let the water drain out from the draining hole.

Steps step guide To water a bonsai tree by Immersion

Step1:

Fill a basin or bucket with water: Choose a large container to hold your bonsai tree’s pot.

The water level should be just above the surface of the soil level. Make sure the container is clean before filling it with water.

step2:

Immerse the bonsai tree: Gently lower the bonsai tree, pot, into the basin or bucket filled with water.

Make sure the water Does not wash away the topsoil.

Allow the water to travel from the bottom to the top of the soil through the drainage holes.

step3:

please leave it in the water for about 5 minutes until the bubbles stop coming out of the soil when it feels moist.

You’ll know if the soil is moist when it darkens in color, or If you’re unsure, feel it with your fingers.

If the soil feels dry and doesn’t leave a depression when you press it down, leave it in the water for another 5 minutes and then recheck it.

Avoid leaving it in the water for too long, as this can cause root rot and other issues.

step4:

Lift the Bonsai out of the water and allow the drainage holes to evacuate all the surplus For a few minutes.

The water needs to drain out of the Bonsai after the soak.

Step5:

Place the Bonsai back in its spot: Return it to its usual location, ensuring it gets enough light and air circulation.

When should I water Bonsai trees?

How frequently bonsai trees should be watered is not governed by universal guidelines.

This choice is affected by variables such as the plant’s particular needs, the size of the pot, and the local climate condition.

My best overall guidance is that Bonsai should be watered when the soil has lost wetness.

The tree’s thirst indicates that it requires water.

To do this, water continuously until the water runs out of the drainage openings.

Then continue the process for a few minutes to ensure that all the roots are well soaked.

The essential thing is to monitor the humidity of the substrate regularly.

Watering should be done around sundown so the water droplets do not magnify and focus the sun’s beams, burning and harming the plant.

On the other hand, many Bonsai species will enjoy it if you regularly spray the leaves with water to remove dust and debris, mainly if they are kept inside your home.

Conclusion

Now you know how to water your bonsai tree. It is important to remember that Checking the bonsai Soil Moisture Levels Is the first approach when watering a bonsai tree.

Root rot and other issues can arise due to Over-watering. Likewise, insufficient watering can lead to bonsai tree death or irregular growth and infection.

Keep in mind that the decision of When you should water your Bonsai trees is that Bonsai should be watered when the soil has lost its moisture.

There is no specific routine of when to water a bonsai tree.

Watering a Bonsai tree is a technique every Bonsai Practitioner needs to know. Check out our article on bonsai techniques. and the introduction to Bonsai.