This illustration by Kyosuke Gun is from our Masters' Series Juniper book (due back in print in 3 or 4 weeks). It is a perfect fit for this post that is borrowed from Michael Hagedorn's Crataegus Bonsai
Continuing with Michael Hagedorn from yesterday, we’ll stick with watering tips. This one originally appeared here in June, 2009
Before the real summer heat hits, consider how you are watering your trees.
Have you ever seen your trees grow through spring just fine, only to get fried leaves at the first onset of early summer? Ever wonder why that happens?
Those trees just don’t have enough roots. Those are the trees that got overwatered, or simply never dried out, in the cool spring months. Their roots were never encouraged to hunt out water, so these trees could survive in the moist cool weather on about three roots. First hot day: bam, they get hit hard as they have a spindly root system, not enough to support their overlarge, over long leaves and shoots on dry hot days. (A bonsai version of a company that has overspent just before a recession…)
Especially on cool overcast days, if you can monitor them, water each tree only when it is really drying out and not by rote. Watering by a schedule is the surest way to have some really weak trees that show themselves in the hot summer!
Did you think we'd do a whole post without showing at least one bonsai? This Rock mountain juniper is from Michael's Crataegus Portfolio.
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FOUR SPRING* SPECIALS
25% OFF BONSAI WIRE FOR 3 OR MORE ROLLS
35% OFF ROSHI BONSAI TOOLS
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Sets count as one item
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*It’s not really spring here yet, but it might be where you live