Keeping Bonsai Green in Summer || 5 tips and 2 myths.

Рет қаралды 6,335

Күн бұрын

In the middle of summer temperatures can soar. During hote weather it can be a challenge to keep your trees happy and healthy. In this video I share a number of tips and myths on keeping bonsai healthy in summer. What do you do with bonsai in a heatwave to avoid sunburn, crisp leaves and death of your trees?
0:00 This summer heatwave
1:06 Put your tree in the fridge
1:45 Experiment: How hot does a bonsai pot get, and does watering help?
2:50 Myth number one. Sunburn: How do bonsai get brown leaves? What damages bonsai on a hot summersday?
4:50 Tip one: How to properly water your bonsai?
5:50 Water bonsai twice for optimal saturation
6:59 Tip two: Reduce the heating up of bonsai pots
7:33 Tip three: Reduce the temperature and increase humidity in your garden and around your tree
8:00 Bonsai Myth 2. Water droplets and sunburn risks
8:45 Tip four: Reduce solar irradiation on your trees with trees or shade cloth
9:43 Tip five. Adjust substrate to your climate
10:36 BONUS tip. Ensure proper positioning of your trees!
11:30 What to do with recently defoliated bonsai or airlayers during a heatwave?
12:00 BONUS Bonsai Myth: Junipers do not like water
12:35 6 tips and 3 Myths for keeping bonsai healthy in summer

Пікірлер: 104

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Do you have tips that were not mentioned? Please share with the viewers!

@natrjack965 Жыл бұрын

I have put my pots on plastic trays filled deep with clay gravel which I then fill with water i find this helps keep them humid..

@janethowell9048 Жыл бұрын

Peter Chan recommends putting your pots on the ground or lawn preferably under a tree. That’s what he did with his big trees and they were all ok.

@BONSAIenCORTO Жыл бұрын

pot under a pot...... you have more humidity during more time.... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q5aBaL2rmLq9cYk.html 1:26 youll see what I mean... Water the entire perimeter, we usually do not water from behind and its important to water the entire surface due to the type of substrate we use and because the trunck and foliage stops water, in you video you can see it at 5:57, but surely you've done that way cause of the video..... really useful video. Thanks!!!!!!!!

@mattygroves Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this! It seems like this summer has been brutal for much of the hemisphere.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

It has been hasn't it? And still going on. I am concerned this might become the new normal.

@emptynest2664 Жыл бұрын

Glad I waited for the premier.. I have always killed my junipers so I gave up on them, but now, I think I'll give it another go at it.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Good to hear! I find them very easy, oddly enough!

@hernandotorres1234 Жыл бұрын

Great video, informative and with free humourous quips, "bloody hot", lol, quality.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it! Do spread the love (and video) around 🤪

@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jelle. I don't know how many times I have told people that watering in the sun does not give leaf burn etc. Bottom line is exactly what you have said: get them on the ground under shade and preferably out of the wind. Unfortunately lots of trees means lots of watering and much that i would love to do double soaks I just have to do my best with a single teaspoon :)

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

You have TOO MANY trees. I think I have mentioned that before? But.. How many do you have? I hear rumours of 3000?

@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai point made...it was my coping mechanism when my wife died i think. I had less than half of what i have now. It is too many for just me to manage.

@BlueJayBonsai Жыл бұрын

My tip for heat is to move to Canada. But then you have a problem with cold… 😂🤣🐦💙

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Hahaha. Sure. And the problem that my trees cannot join me!

@ClicioBarrosoFilho Жыл бұрын

As I have been saying for years, summer is the worst season for us in the tropics. Yes, it is the wet season also, so it rains in the afternoon most of the days but... Sometimes no. Maples suffer a lot. Shade cloth 50% and wind protection is a must here. I like to wrap the sun exposed pots in wet towels. It makes the garden ugly, but the roots safe. Great video, Jelle!

@katyb2793 Жыл бұрын

I thought it wasn't possible to grow maples in the tropics? It's good to hear you can!

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Thank you Clicio! Happy you like it, and indeed practice some of the things I put in!

@bobmccarlie382 Жыл бұрын

Totally agree about junipers and succulents liking water, if they are in a good well draining substrate. I heavily water both varieties everyday and they thrive.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Good to hear. I always am slightly shocked when I see people just giving a drip of water to them!

@brianparnell2256 Жыл бұрын

Always handy to have a €20\30 battery operated timer connected to a hose and sprinkler system for the times when you are away for short periods.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Absolutely!

@jeffhurst4744 Жыл бұрын

Good point, and reminder, to actually water your trees “twice” during very high temperatures, during each watering (e.g. once in morning, and again in later afternoon). I learned this very early, as a couple of my trees seemed well watered, but weren’t, and the suffered badly from it. Live and learn. Oh, and I don’t water anymore in the ‘late’ evening or night anymore. Have learned it is not recommended or from experience with both bonsai and other plants, both in pots and ground. Keep your videos coming my friend.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Hey Jeff, thank you for the kind words. Why do you not water in the evening? Except for fungals on the foliage (water the substrate, not the plant?) I do not know why not! 🤔

@jeffhurst4744 Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai Have learned from experience and advice from various, I consider, long time/well experienced individuals that watering in late evening, even diligently “avoiding” the foliage - the water put into to soil medium does ‘not’ evaporate properly nor does the root/tree systems use the water as well as they do during the warmth of the daytime. Now, considering a WELL DRAINING appropriate mixed soil medium, this can definitely be variable. Have tested moisture levels late evening/morning/early evening, and then over night. Moisture/water retention over night to dawn - can make for an environment that can harbor or promote fungi/mold growth. So I no longer do it late-late evening to sunset. If it works for you in your temperate zone, or others then by all means do it.

@MehranAshkanian 6 күн бұрын

I also sprinkle the Junipers in the afternoon when the sun goes away and once again at night and also give a good water sprinkle to the ground on hot Musaics. Ofcourse all my trees are placed on about 3 feet stools. I also sprinkle the mesh at nights . This makes them cool. I also sprinkle the ground underneath only before the sun covers them

@potreliefbonsaibatu5035 Жыл бұрын

CooL video about caring for bonsai when the heat is very hight.I enjoy it • In tropic,hot & rainy difficult to predict,uncertain weather🤔

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

You are in Indonesia, are you? Nice warm but humid?

@potreliefbonsaibatu5035 Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai 🇮🇩👌Do trees have NATURAL ABILITY to adapt to extreme change due to Global warming ..

@mariob.3232 Жыл бұрын

You can use green moss on top of the pot to hold a bit water in the pot. And then in the winter you remove it if more drainage is required. I also saw once for very strong heat waves people cover the pots with aluminium foil, so the sun refect back and you just need to water once a day.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Great tip on the moss. Do re-view my video: The alu is there :)

@PSPMHaestros Жыл бұрын

A few weeks ago we had a some 47ºC days here in the south of Spain, so yeah, shade (specially mid day) and good watering are really important. A hot, windy day will annihilate most trees, specially maples and such

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

47 is insane! How do you cope?

@PSPMHaestros Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai I live in a flat, so my trees only get sun for half a day, morning till midday, and even then I have to be careful, but for most people here is not so "easy" to have trees survive hahaha

@greenmachinesweden Жыл бұрын

Great vid Jelle! So far this year we had one heat wave. It lasted 24 hours and topped at 34C. Rest of the summer has been 20-25c. No need for special mid summer care here. I have lost a few moss, but that is easy to replace in athum if I want.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

No heat there right now? It is interesting to see the odd weather patterns in europe this summer!

@greenmachinesweden Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai today and tomorow is 26 to 28. Quite high for us, but ok for the trees. July brought 120mm of rain. So quite good growing season. Beetroots are monsters! 😀👍

@MehranAshkanian 6 күн бұрын

I cover my Junipers with a double layer thin very very fine mesh cloth used for curtains.. it is now 35 Celcius in the sun her but no wind. Fortunately most of my Junipers are in development stage in size 10 and 12 black plastic buckets

@ben7100 Жыл бұрын

The weather has been very difficult here in Idaho lately as well. 100f + highs in the day, and thunderstorms with 30-50 mph gusts seemingly every week or so. (Yes metric is better; Imperial is trash) We tend to get high wind during the heat waves too. I always leave my more sensitive trees on the grass under a large tree if its hot enough. Maybe it's just placebo, but they seem to stay moist longer on the grass. There's definitely those time where you just have to sprint as many trees as you can inside when a freak storm hit. We had one 2 nights ago where I ran out to find a few nursey trees rolling across the lawn.

@katyb2793 Жыл бұрын

I'm pretty sure Peter Chen recently said putting trees on the grass does keep them moist longer. He does the same thing as you and puts them on the grass under a big shady tree 😊

@ben7100 Жыл бұрын

@@katyb2793 I would guess it's fairly common just because a lot of large trees have grass or something similar growing underneath. If Peter is doing it, I imagine I must be doing something right though! 🤣

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Yes, lower to the ground there is less wind, and the grass itself reduces the heating up of the surfaces AND evaporates water, all contributing to a better climate! It is the reason why my benches are surrounded with tall ferns!

@katyb2793 Жыл бұрын

For those who don't use normal temperatures 🤣🤣 It can get up to 45 or even 47 in a heatwave here in Australia so I had to learn all this as a beginner on the fly. These are really great tips. In my first year my Japanese maple seedlings started to wilt on a 40 degree day even though they were in full undercover protected shade. So I put them in the bath 😂 and they were fine! They now are fine if they only get dappled morning sun. As they mature it gets easier. But wind scorch is a definite problem. I use a pretty organic water retaining mix which also helps for me and my climate. On the other hand, my natives, cotoneaster and chojubai stay in full sun on even the hottest days and they're 100% happy 😅

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

These temps are insane. I have long considered moving to Australia, but .. 40+ summerdays.. Not for me!

@katyb2793 Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai haha well, Tasmania isnt so hot! You could move there. We grow up with the heat so we get used to it. But once it's past 40 it can be quite difficult to function. We however cannot handle the cold 😅 We also don't have double glazed windows or proper insulation so our houses get very cold in winter and electricity is very expensive, so that doesn't help. Everyone dreams of moving up north to Queensland where it's tropical. But they have crocodiles, even more snakes and bird eating spiders so... not for me!

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

@@katyb2793 Hey Katy, I know. A friend of mine moved to Taz. And when I was living in Melbourne I went out to visit (I spent twice some time working in Melbourne and once in Darwin, all in all, about 3 years spent in Australia; Feels like a second home at times)

@katyb2793 Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai oh I didn't know! I lived in Melbourne for 8 years for uni. It's such a great city! My favourite place was the botanical gardens. Even before I got into bonsai haha But you must have found Darwin extremely hot, especially since it's humid too. The bonsai scene is very interesting in Australia too. There's a lot of experimentation with natives and they really make such beautiful bonsai.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

@@katyb2793 Which uni did you go to? I worked at RMIT while in Melbourne ;). Small world.

@harlzAU Жыл бұрын

During a heatwave, you soon learn which trees can’t cope with the heat and which ones do (albeit can survive). Early on, I killed more Chinese elms (and a few English oaks) in heatwaves here in Sydney before I realised it easier just to stick to more heat tolerant trees like figs and olives (and to a lesser extent maples and pines).

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

darwinism? Survival of the fittest for you?

@artreader2526 Жыл бұрын

i think an important thing is to know that if the pot gets to +35 C (which it can easily get higher in full sun as u mention) the tree does need a lot less water, and that overwatering will worsen a stopped/stunned tree specially in substrates that have even the smallest amount of organic, so always think of shade for the pot before more watering as a remedy. Also the trees are happiest in constant temperatures, even if they get a little high. What i do is to keep the pot covered with foil or cloth as u mention, but day and night, only uncovering once a day a few mins for watering IF needed

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

good point!

@janethowell9048 Жыл бұрын

The weather in UK has been exceptional this year. 41C in first heat wave was highest ever recorded temperature. This time round it’s just been low 30s. I have my trees (mostly newly planted seedlings and cuttings ) under 50% shade cloth such that they all get direct light dawn to late morning but shade from then on for most of them. I water early morning and early evening with a top up mid day for those that need it. Rocks or pieces of broken pots cove most of the pots. I put small pots in the shade of bigger pots. My substrate is free draining but water retaining so the air pockets between particles remain humid. I’ve tested this by planting a few things in clear plastic pots and seen the condensation inside. My only casualties are a few new cutting. Even so some of the cuttings have taken and buds are appearing.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

If you manage to not cook plants, this weather seems to do wonders for growth indeed. I have been getter metres on my maples this year!

@natrjack965 Жыл бұрын

I will be using some of your tips thanks Jelle 😊 we are also having great weather . Don't burn my friend put factor 50 sun cream on ....keep safe and cool 😎

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Factor fifty. A hat, sleeves.. THe whole nine yards to keep pretty and white :)

@natrjack965 Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai England as never experienced temperatures like this 35 degrees centigrade as a kid I remember way back in the seventies it got to 30 but yes the climate is changing...

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

@@natrjack965 Yeah, better be prepared for more of these summers!

@natrjack965 Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai are you watching the European championships I have been watching the cycling ...

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

@@natrjack965 ? Are there european bonsai championships?

@bonsaikastur Жыл бұрын

Some people here in Spain fill a tray with gravel and water and put their trees over it, specially mames. It makes a humid environment as it evaporates. Also they water 3 to 5 times a day. Not my case, I water only once in the worst conditions thanks to that I grow them in just potting soil.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Yes, I fully forgot about gravel beds! Next spring I should do a video about pots on gravel beds and escape roots, great suggestion!

@TOMSAI Жыл бұрын

Danke für deine Tips ! Ich nehme immer weiße Bretter und stelle diese vor die Pots die sehr heiss werden .

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

oh, that is a great idea too, to take white boards as shade shields for pots!

@TOMSAI Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai des Bit i have the Idee too Late . Some trees are Dead of too much head on the Pot !😫

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

@@TOMSAI :( Sooo sorry!

@TOMSAI Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai no Problem some small trees are dead . I Hope the bigger one is still Alive !

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

@@TOMSAI I hope so too. That one is too nice to loose

@dirtysouthhc2936 Жыл бұрын

Off the top I love has the word myths in it! A lot sometimes people seek easy advice and get conflicting advice based off of different species and experiences different parts of the world and climate zones. I have gone against general conceptions several times and had success I'm always looking outside the box thinking and wisdom

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Hey Dirty South, thank you so much. Agreed 100%. There are so many fairy tales out there when it comes to regular horticulture that every once in a while I am amazed that people just accept it as truth!

@zlatanderweise710 Жыл бұрын

This Summer, I put my coconut-fibre-mat (which I normally put around my pots in wintter) back on my pots. Especially around the black plastic pots.....they get too hot in the german heat 😅

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Haha, I know you are joking but the temps we are getting are also for our plants a challenge!

@faizul_dergo Жыл бұрын

👍👍..

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Thx!

@JodyGrogu Жыл бұрын

Hoi Jelle, Taxus heeft minder water nodig geef jij die ook twee keer per dag water. Mijn Taxus heeft veel schaduw, die heeft dan misschien minder water nodig. Ik geef mijn jeneverbes ook elke dag water en die staat de hele dag in de zon.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Ha Jody, ik geef op mijn dennen na, alle bomen even vaak water. Ook taxus vind water heerlijk, zolang het substraat goed open is. EIgenlijk gelijk jeneverbes. Mijn taxussen staan in de zomer ~7-9 uur per dag in de zon

@shanewatson8581 Жыл бұрын

I live in south Australia and we get temps 35c to 45c in our summers. I water 3 times a day When im at work I use a misting system I also have my tree set up on the side of my house that doesn't get afternoon sun from 3pm onwards

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Hi Shane, is that enough to keep your trees happy?

@shanewatson8581 Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai it works well because our hottest part of the day is between 2 to 5pm Also it stops our hot northerly wind. They still get about 5 to 6 hours direct sunlight

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

@@shanewatson8581 thats cool! Did you know I used to live in Mel , vic for about 2 years off and on? Some of the best roadtrips, so amazing to have just empty spaces around you.

@shanewatson8581 Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai Didn't know that Do you miss Australia

@missaleromanum5614 Жыл бұрын

Are you in the nederlands?

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Sometimes

@janeMolinarius Жыл бұрын

What Substrate you use?

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

will do a video on it one day. For now look at my website, growingbonsai.net for my substrate article 👍

@janeMolinarius Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai I looked at the Page for different Subtrade. But I do not know which one you also use and mix. Which one is the perfect for growing

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

@@janeMolinarius you saw this? www.growingbonsai.net/characteristics-of-good-bonsai-substrate/

@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371 Жыл бұрын

I have not enough water,because no Rain here

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

@razor2ts Жыл бұрын

I use a water filter to remove calcium and chemicals from my tap water, a Koi pond carbon filter works very well for this, the trees love it.

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Great tip!

@SJKurd Жыл бұрын

Im in Kurdistan . Summer here 45 c 😅

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

what species do you keep there?

@SJKurd Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai Here we have no forests My house is close to the mountain In the mountain there are many oak trees, pistachios and euphorbia. I have figs, grapes, eucalyptus, and berries at home And from the seeds I planted redbud, apple, pomegranate,honeysuckle , pine and much more

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

@@SJKurd ooohw... Pistachios around the house.. Must be nice to go hunting for seeds!

@SJKurd Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai yes! good idea 😀🌱

@kestane123chesmo Жыл бұрын

thats not hot, we get 40+ celsius for 2 months in a row

@GrowingBonsai Жыл бұрын

Everything is relative. We just had one of the hottest summers on record for this place..

@kestane123chesmo Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingBonsai Im starting to feel like my trees have enslaved me, Im watering 2 times a day in the summer too, Im thinking is it worth it, I started bonsai 2 years ago, I have nearly 20 trees, aiming for 50, I love JM, its like a curse and passion, completely dominating my time, money, I cant leave the house for more than a day, 😱, Im even considering an automatic watering systen.