Preparing for winter is an important aspect of maintaining bonsai trees. It is important to avoid any form of heating for the tree, as it can kill tropical plants that need to dormancy in colder temperatures. However, the temperatures can still be kept at a reasonable level in a warm structure. During the winter, wind is the biggest threat to bonsai trees. If this is not avoided, your bonsai will die.
Protection from the cold
Protecting your bonsai from the cold is crucial. When temperatures are below freezing, bringing your bonsai indoors can kill it. Even the best-built bonsai pots can crack under cold winter temperatures. Here are some tips for keeping your trees safe. Use standalone thermostats for greater reliability and flexibility. For cold-weather climates, keep the temperature of the room at 33 degrees F.
You can also cover your bonsai with clear poly sheets, which are both waterproof and weather-resistant. Other ways to protect your bonsai from the cold include using hay bales. Simply place a bale of hay over the tree’s pot, but this method isn’t ideal, especially if you live in a cold-weather climate. Even if you can’t afford the expense of a clear-pane plastic sheet, you can place hay bales around it to protect it from the cold.
Cold temperatures can kill off pests and keep tree infections at bay. While temperate climates allow trees to remain outside all year long, cold temperatures require protection, especially if the temperature dips below ten degrees. However, cold-tolerant bonsai can be left outdoors until -10°F, but trees from colder climates need protection. Cold temperatures don’t always harm bonsai, but how long the cold spell lasts can have disastrous consequences.
Preparation for winter
Before the winter sets in, there are several things that you need to do to protect your bonsai from harsh weather. While you’re trying to protect your bonsai, it’s also important to avoid over-watering. Light frosts don’t have to be the end of the world for your bonsai – some are even hardy to light frosts! – and other trees need extra care in the cold season.
Depending on where you live, your climate can make winter storage difficult for your bonsai. In places where temperatures regularly drop to the teens and 20s, you might need to consider the possibility of keeping your tree in a greenhouse or cold storage facility. The last thing you want to do is damage your Bonsai with late frosts. However, if you’re lucky enough to live in a climate where winters aren’t too harsh, you can protect your bonsai from the cold by keeping them in a garage or a heated room.
A cold frame is not necessary if your climate is mild and temperatures don’t fall below -4 degC. If your area is cold, make sure you keep your tree indoors by placing it near a window. This will provide natural light and keep it warm. If temperatures do drop below that, you can place the pots under the commode to provide additional insulation. But if the climate is harsh, you can cover the pots with a blanket or heavy fabric.
Watering
While it is important to water your bonsai tree, the colder months can be hard on your tree. While some types of trees lose their leaves during the fall, others will sprout new leaves in spring. In either case, you must be especially careful to protect your tree during winter. Using a shallow water tray will give your tree extra moisture while reducing the drying effects of modern heating systems. Ideally, your tree should not be exposed to direct sunlight during the winter.
When watering your bonsai tree, keep in mind that you should avoid setting it directly in water. This will cause the soil to become saturated very quickly. Too much water can lead to root rot. Instead, use a spray bottle filled with room temperature water to mist the leaves of your bonsai. Don’t overdo it; your tree may become too wet and die.
If you can’t keep your bonsai in a cold room, you can place it in a cold place like your garage or shed. But be careful about the temperature, because even a small amount of heat can cause a rapid change. In addition, if it becomes extremely warm on a day, the tree may lose its dormancy and die when it cools. You might need to “two-step” your plants in spring.
Fertilising
Fertilising your Bonsai tree is an essential part of maintaining its health and vitality throughout the growing season. Fertilising is an alternative to water and other organic mediums. Plants require trace elements to grow and thrive, and these elements are found naturally in soil. However, modern growing mediums don’t usually contain these elements or break them down very quickly. For this reason, it is essential to provide them through fertilizers.
There are two ways to fertilise your Bonsai tree: granular and liquid. Liquid fertilisers are very simple to use, as they come in a concentrate that is mixed with water. However, they must be watered in regularly, since water will wash away the previous fertilizer. Soluble fertilizers are recommended for wintertime feeding, as they are much more accessible and convenient than granular ones.
When it comes to nutrient feeding, you should give your bonsai a balanced diet of P, K and N. For best results, you should do this while the plant is still active and its leaves are still on the trees. In addition to fertilization, you can also apply a sulfur and copper treatment to the soil. The amount of fertilizer to give your tree will depend on the variety of the tree.
Identifying bonsai trees
The process of identifying bonsai trees in winter can be somewhat tricky, because of the changing temperatures. While the weather can make it difficult for your tree to grow, there are a few indicators you can use to identify its kind. Hinoki cypress produces miniature cones, Jaboticaba produces clusters of yellow clustered fruits, and Chinese elms produce dark scaly bark.
To properly care for your bonsai, it is crucial to determine the climate where your tree would survive in winter. Because bonsai trees are not native to all regions, they would be exposed to different winter conditions than their home regions. Usually, temperatures below zero degrees are too low. Rain that lands on the garden quickly dries up. Soggy pots freeze solid at night, so it’s essential to keep the soil mix moist, but not wet.
When leaves fall off a Bonsai, it means the plant is suffering from a disease or pest. Powdery white mold develops on the back of the leaves. To cure the problem, you can apply an anti-mildew agent to the tree. For fungus, you can use a copper-based fungicide or insecticide. Keeping your bonsai in a sunny location will ensure that the plant gets plenty of airflow.
Buffering against temperature fluctuations
During the cold winter months, bonsai trees need minimal light. Too much sunlight can dry out the bare branches of evergreens and deciduous trees. Place bonsai in a partially shaded area to ensure sufficient lighting. You should keep your bonsai out of direct sunlight and away from heating vents to avoid scorching it. Also, air vents change temperature frequently, causing extreme fluctuations.
Generally, trees from temperate regions of the world are able to withstand the cold season. Deciduous trees stop photosynthesis while evergreen ones slow down to a trickle. Nevertheless, tropical trees are susceptible to cold. To avoid causing damage to your bonsai tree, you should prepare the plant for the cold months during the warmer months. These trees produce sugars and carbohydrates, which help them to resist the freezing of the air. Throughout the growing season, make sure to feed your tree with adequate amounts of sugars and carbohydrates.
Temperate trees should be placed near a window during the winter months, as they can tolerate moderately cool temperatures. During extreme cold conditions, it is best to transfer them to a greenhouse or a room without a heating system, or to a warm unheated greenhouse. If you cannot protect your tropical bonsai from temperature fluctuations, it’s best to keep it indoors in a cool, dry environment.
Keeping bonsai trees from getting scorched
Before you start overwintering your bonsai trees, it is a good idea to consider where you are going to place them. If your trees will be outside for two to three days, choose the location where they will receive the most protection from wind and sunlight. If you can’t place them outside, then store them in an unheated garage. In snowy areas, you can place snow on them. The snow will provide water for the bonsai tree. It is also recommended to water them when the soil becomes dry to the touch. Adding fertilizer is not necessary since your trees are dormant during the winter and are not actively growing.
If you are not sure what the proper method of protection is for your bonsai tree, read the care guide for the species you are growing. Some bonsai species are more susceptible to cold weather and must be protected from freezing temperatures. Generally, you won’t have major problems with your bonsai if you are indoors. However, if your bonsai is outdoors, you may have to move it to another location if you are not comfortable with its location.