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How do I water my bonsai? Tips on watering a bonsai!

Watering a bonsai is not as complicated at some may think. As with all plants, watering is the most important part of caring for a bonsai. A little too much or a little too little water can have a big impact on a bonsai, so it is really important to keep the soil just damp at all times, especially on hot summer days!

• Check daily – water when needed, not by schedule
  Don’t water just because it’s a certain day. Check the soil with your finger—if the top feels dry, it’s time to water.
• Water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage holes
  Give a deep soak so the roots are fully hydrated. A quick splash on the surface isn’t enough.
• Don’t let the soil dry out completely
  Dry soil can cause stress and leaf drop. Keep it evenly moist but not soggy.
• Avoid waterlogging
  Always make sure your pot has proper drainage. Never leave the bonsai sitting in water.
• Watch the leaves for signs of over or underwatering
  Brown soft tips to the leaves may indicate overwatering; crispy papery leaves usually signals underwatering.
• Higher humidity can help indoor bonsai trees
  A humidity tray under your bonsai helps maintain the humidity, especially when the central heating is on. Additionally, indoor bonsai trees benefit from being misted with water or preferably Bonsai Direct mist especially when the rooms are heated.

Please Note: We strongly recommend against using a moisture metre. We have found them to be very unreliable and lead to watering issues.

Please watch our short video below on how to water your bonsai:

Here is a transcription of our watering video

“We recommend that you check to see if your bonsai requires watering morning and evening. To do this, simply touch the soil surface with your finger. If it feels wet, it does not need watering and you can check it again later. The soil is barely damp to the touch and usually appears lighter in colour. Then it’s time to water. You should never allow the soil to become completely dry. It should feel like a cloth which has been soaked and then wrung out, i.e. firm and barely damp. This is the time to water your bonsai.”

Time to water

“When watering, water the soil surface evenly and thoroughly until the water starts to drain through the holes in the bottom of the pot into the tray below. Some varieties of bonsai, such as the Fukien tea tree or Carmona and Serissa prefer to be kept on the drier side. So please take care not to overwater your bonsai trees. Do not allow your bonsai to sit in water. It is okay to have a small amount of water in the drip tray, as this helps maintain the humidity.”

“Once a week water with Bonsai Direct fertiliser to ensure health and vigour. Please see our video on how to feed my bonsai tree. For indoor bonsai. It is also a good idea to mist the foliage daily when hot and dry, and when the central heating is on. This helps maintain humidity. We hope this video helps and thanks for watching. Take care.”