Watering bonsai Plants – too much, too little

Watering bonsai trees, house plants and other small ornamental trees is perhaps the most important part of house plant care. Most bonsai plants die from improper watering than from any other cause. The best way to avoid over watering is to know each plant’s moisture needs.
Water requirements for each plant in your home can different. It has to do with the type of plant soil and where the house plant is situated in your home. Even bonsai plants in the same room can have different watering requirements.

Watering bonsai plants and outdoor bonsai trees is usually done in the morning or evening. Many gardeners fill their watering cans the night before to allow the water to reach room temperature. This also permits any chlorine to evaporate.

If your water is softened in a water softener or if it’s remarkably hard or tastes of salts or minerals, use bottled or distilled water. If your outdoor water faucets by-pass the water softener, draw the water there. Be sure to let the water reach room temperature before using it on plants. Some plant lovers catch rainwater in a cistern and water their plants with it.

Most indoor plant specialists will respond evasively. Typical answers are, “As much as it needs” “Not too much, yet not too little” and the my all time favorite,” It depends.” Watering is indeed a very individual matter. How much and how often you water a plant will depend on the nature of the plant and the environment it grows in. Water when your plant needs it, not according to a schedule that’s convenient for you.

Watering bonsai plants and trees – seasons change the amounts

Since no two plants use water at exactly the same pace, many factors beyond the control of you or your plant will affect the amount of water it needs. The type of house plant container you select, for example can control and use to your plant’s advantage.

In winter, when days are short and skies often gray, house plants generally need less water than during the summertime. Some plants respond to winter by retreating into a state of listlessness. They don’t require much water; instead, give them dry aid and comfort by continuing your routine inspections and making sure they have adequate light. When your listless plant perks up, resume its normal care.

Some plants have a season for going completely dormant. The foliage of most tuberous and bulbous plants begins to yellow after the plants bloom. Gradually withhold water from these plants until the foliage is dry. Then store the pots with the tubers or bulbs in a cool, dry, out-of-the-way spot. When new growth appears, restore the plant to its customary place.

One method of watering bonsai plants in pots without drainage is to insert a funnel into the soil with the funnel tip an inch under the soil surface. Pour water into the funnel until water no longer goes through it.
House plants that grow quickly and those that bloom like flowering trees or bear fruit like the mandarin orange tree need more water than bonsai plants. Small house plants with a large total leaf surface, such as ferns, require more watering than sparsely foliaged plants. Plants with soft, lush foliage need more watering than those with waxy, leathery, or succulent leaves.

If you live in a very dry climate and watering plants becomes an issue you many want to look at drought tolerant house plants like the mimosa tree

House plant Care Tips

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House Plant Care Tips and Information

Just like our homes, house plants and bonsai trees need proper maintenance and care to stay healthy and grow normally. A bonsai or any house plant grown indoors in a container is completely dependent upon its you for light, water, and nutrients.

Plants require the right amount of water, fertilizer, light and pruning to stay healthy and remain the size you want. Re-potting when its container becomes restrictive (called root bound) is very important, roots need air just like us.

The next section on house plant care tips will help you maintain healthy house plants. It explains in detail the need for humidity, watering, fertilizing, pruning, and repotting, and it tells you how to inspect plants for possible problems. Consistent care to your trees and plants needs will allow them to grow properly and remain healthy for many years.

All plants not just bonsai plants need three ingredients;

• good plant fertilizer
• good plant soil
• Proper sized house plant container
• For bonsai and I would suggest all small house plants benefit greatly from humidity drip trays

Day to Day House Plant Care Maintenance

Inspecting house plants and trees on a regular basis is a habit worth developing. Just a few minutes a day will help keep your plants in top growing condition. This careful attention also enables you to correct most problems before they affect the health of you tree.

There is more house plant care information about outdoor bonsai tree care and indoor bonsai tree care here.

Ask yourself these questions when looking at your plants.

• Does the your plant need water?
• Has dust built up on the leaves?
• Are there any brown or dying leaves visible?
• Is there any sign of plant pests?

Keep your trees and plants looking fresh and healthy by removing any unsightly leaves with scissors or a sharp knife. Dead or dying leaves ruin the plant’s appearance and may invite unwanted pests or disease.

Removing dead leaves or branches also helps new growth to come in. Many leaves develop brown tips or edges, usually caused by a lack of humidity. Use sharp scissors to cut off brown tips or edges; try to follow the natural leaf shape so the trim isn’t obvious. Of course, this trimming won’t correct the problem; it merely improves the plant’s looks.
Most pests and bugs that attack house plants are small and hard to see. The first indication of a problem will probably be poor general plant health, which shows up as yellow, dying leaves or stunted poor growth. Examine under the leaves closely. If you find no sign of small creatures on your sick looking plant, make sure your plant is receiving enough water and light.

Plants don’t like to be covered in dust and benefit from regular dusting. Wash dirty leaves individually with plain water on a soft cloth or cotton. Always support a leaf with one hand and gently wipe off with the other. Daily misting also helps keep dust from collecting.

Some small house plant owners give their plants occasional showers, just be sure you use a spray attachment in a sink, a hose with a sprayer in the yard, or a bathroom shower at low pressure. If you have a water softener, spray the plant outdoors with a hose, since water from outdoor faucets usually by-passes the water softener. Be sure to let plants drip dry before returning them to their normal places.