How to Water Your Bonsai Without Killing It

[@bonsaisn]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@yoteslaya7296]

Ill never understand how people cant water a bonsai its not rocket science and with the proper substrate its impossible to over water

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Yes, with proper substrate and drainage holes, it's impossible to overwater!

[@zalonut]

Hi, can you please make a video from the tree on the right side that looks abit brown

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Hi there! Do you mean the cascade tree on the right? If so, yes! That will be shown in an upcoming video about creating a cascade bonsai. Please stay tuned!

[@zalonut]

I mean the bonsai that is not on a pot, all the way to the right the biggest one

[@garymullins4815]

I appreciate you so much. I am in my 70's and loving bonsai I have always wanted to learn. Thank you.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I am still doing bonsai in my 80s so it's never too late to start your bonsai journey! Hope you have fun and let me know if you have any questions!

[@loublou8870]

This is the inspiration I need 🥹

[@TheSnakeman3]

I have a maple that was growing very rapidly in the spring but the leaves are browning now. It’s over 100 degrees now in the summer but I moved it to shade the second half of the day. I water it twice a day as before. Do you think it could just be the heat now that’s it’s summer? I live in SE Texas.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I have seen Japanese maples thrive in sunny Southern CA when it is given ample water. However it is wise to keep them in the shade or expose only to morning sun during hot days.

[@ChannelSobari]

Thank you so much for sharing information bonsai🙏❤️❤️

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for watching and supporting!

[@phillipwaterman5721]

Milton keep up the good work mate thanks

[@matiasmatu98]

Hi! Thank you so much for the video. Here in Argentina i use as a soil mixture for my bonsai trees equal parts of river gravel, peat moss and compost (or universal soil). Sometimes i add volcanic rock too when i have access to it. So far it works so nice in my climate and i dont have any problems with over-watering my trees.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you for sharing this! Hopefully, others in the same situation as you will find this information helpful! It's great that we can all share our bonsai experiences and help each other in this community :)

[@RajeshKumar-dx6oc]

T

[@RoryWilmer]

Thank you 🪴

[@ravaginggoatman]

Hello Dr Chang, thank you for the video I also live in California and with the recent heat wave it's been very hard on my trees trying to find the best location for light and avoiding to much sun especially for the smaller trees with small pots they dry out so fast even my picea forest arrangement has burned needles. How do you manage your plants during the summer.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Water multiple times a day, and soak small plants with water touching the bottom. The point is once the soil dries, water just runs out so that the roots do not get watered. Therefore it is essential to never let the shallow soil dry out. You have to soak it if it's too dry.

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Great video 👍👍

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you 👍

[@keefe4484]

thanks for sharing your everyday knowledge

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you for watching!

[@rosesuenram6842]

So interesting.

[@mikec3820]

cute lassa puppy

[@dior1099]

very nice video and congrats on 10k subs!

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you! I'm really grateful to have built an online bonsai community with 10K supporters so far. Let's keep going and continue to ask questions, help each other, and be inspired by each other!

[@joegarland4885]

Thank you again for a very informative bonsai video on watering, I personally prefer watering my 80 or so trees with a spray container and when possible rain water from a storage tank, as I don’t like the chemicals in my tap water, I like you look on watering as an essential part of caring for them by watering each tree separately I can examine each tree for any problems such as aphids or any situation which will harm them or needing maintenance, pruning etc. one piece of advice I feel important never trust rain to water your bonsai as you have no control over the rain. All the best for your channel.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for sharing your experience with the community! It's great that we can all share our stories and learn from each other!

[@Naztalgic]

GREAT ADVICE! Thank you

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching!

[@tammychambless-0dteoptions]

Thanks for your videos. I have never grown bonsai, but your videos give good information and I think I understand them better. I may try to grow a bonsai. I would love to have one indoors. I see most of yours are outside. Do bonsais do okay indoors? Any tips on care for indoor bonsai?

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Always follow the logic of nature! We take shade loving plants from the jungle floor and make them house plants, which could be fine. However, most bonsai are outdoor plants growing in the sun. If you insist on making your bonsai houseplant, why not start several and rotate them into the house and out of the house for a few days at a time. The logic is trees don’t die if the sun does not shine for a week or two…so that is OK…It is not going to work if you push beyond what nature allows.

[@tammychambless-0dteoptions]

@@bonsaiheirloom Thank you. That makes sense.

[@bishquik3402]

Awesome video. I started my bonsai journey about 6 months ago from seeds and it quickly became my favorite hobby. Now i have over 20 and starting a small forest of sorts plus many other fun experiments. Excited to learn and join the group!

[@bonsaiheirloom]

That's fantastic! Wishing you the best of luck in your journey!

[@creightonfreeman8059]

I'm sure the sandy loam and Pearlite works good in a dry climate like California, but in wetter more humid climates like the Mid-West or Southern States more porosity and drainage is helpful. I like Pumice, shredded Pine bark, and a baked clay particle, but pumice is hard to find at a reasonable price around here. I find the red lava rock sold at home improvement stores in 40-50 lb. bags works well in place of pumice if crushed with a sledge hammer and screened to size. It is a lot of work processing it though. You can skip the gym on lava rock day.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for sharing your experience! One thing to keep in mind is that different solutions may work for different people in different situations. Always tweak things to suit your personal situation. Thanks for sharing your story with this community. I'm sure it will help others!

[@JoanGray-m5j]

Thank you for all your generous lessons. I love bonsai trees but live in a loft. I realize I probably should have outdoor space but this is not part of my living experience. Can I ever have evergreen bonsai live inside. I have two bonsai now a ficus.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Sure. Buy a powerful grow-light (with good spectral distribution) and follow instructions.

[@lawboat]

very good and enjoyable video!! Very informative and great tips!!

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@joshuasl9orpyouarecharon220]

I bought sandy loam in etsy 5 pounds for $43, how I can make it or found it cheaper?

[@bonsaiheirloom]

That's highway robbery! Your local landscaping company should have that, or just use garden soil or even builder's sand. All should work fine! :)

[@cliffmcmann3058]

I am genuinely enjoying hearing your thoughts and thought process. Thank you for the videos, sharing your knowledge, and creating an environment where everyone learns.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

So glad to hear that! Thank you for watching!

[@Divya-gz9iw]

​@@bonsaiheirloomk

[@dennissells]

I live in Thailand what are the seasons compared to the west Cool dry and wet how do l relate these to the California

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I have been to Bangkok, which can be hot and humid in the summer months. CA is dry and hot in the summer and wet and cool in the winter. I can see most bonsai plants can thrive in both here and in Thailand. When in doubt ask a nurserymen. Most plants have a wide range of tolerance.

[@PrettyGoodLookin]

Please give Leon homemade dog food. Research what Dogs CAN'T eat.....ex; Onions, raisins, etc. Start with homemade Beef Stew and Chicken Stew. Leon's health will improve !! ( You can afford it )

[@djbeard22]

Hi good day how often do you water your trees in winter. I learn alot from your video's thank you Sir

[@bonsaiheirloom]

We are cool and wet in winter. No difference really in the way I water...just a little less since the soil is wet.

[@djbeard22]

@@bonsaiheirloom okay. thank you for your time to reply. Where I live I don't have anyone to teach me so I look too people like you Sir to learn techniques to Bonsai

[@louismilienou5442]

Very informative keep it up

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you, I will!

[@ancientoak]

Great Tips!

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@judgetoogood1033]

I live in a poor county near Sacramento, our water tastes horrible. Yet the trees outside survive.

[@juanmelgar152]

I have learned SO MUCH from your videos. The best one is to know I cant overwater my trees with the good drainage they have. Thanks for all the wisdom.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Yes, that's a great one to remember!

[@timmywood9677]

I water my bonsai with creek water

[@uchimartos7674]

hello and thank you mister chang. I have another question regarding watering. I always water my bonsai with aquarium water. I've had good experiences with it so far. Do you have experience with it and know something negative about it? I ask myself questions like 'does that work like fertilizer?' or 'any pathogens that could be harmful for the tree?' I don't have the possibility to collect enough rainwater. If I compare it in principle with nature, then I don't think it could be harmful....

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Fish dropping is fertilizer, but if you use salt and chemical, then avoid. If your tap water is safe to drink, then it is safe for your bonsai. Just make sure it does not pass water softener, which uses salt ion exchange.

[@uchimartos7674]

@@bonsaiheirloom it is a freshwater aquarium with no salt and chemicals. The tap water is safe to drink but very hard which is why I am a little unsure. Thank you for your reply, much appreciated!

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@lesleygraham1588]

Wonderful video thank you

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I appreciate the kind words and support!

[@KUKNALIMtoNAGALIM]

New Subscriber from Nagaland:India.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Welcome and thank you for watching!

[@KUKNALIMtoNAGALIM]

@@bonsaiheirloom 🙏🙏🙏

[@timlee7227]

Excellent video! I am new to Bonsai Heirloom and am really enjoying catching up on your past videos. As far as watering while away from home, I am very interested in your suggestion to leave bonsais in a bucket of water while gone for one week. I will be on a trip for two and a half weeks in a few months and was wondering if you think this would work for that length of time. I know the level of water shouldn't go higher than the bottom of the bonsai pot so am not sure if it would work for that length of time. I have several smaller outdoor bonsais. Would love to get your insight Thanks again!

[@bonsaiheirloom]

You know the answer! Why not invest 25 bucks in a timer and a battery to sleep better at nights on your trip! :)

[@richardstack2853]

Very informative video like your style so easy going I took up bonsai 4 years ago as a sort of physiotherapy to keep my hands and fingers nimble as I get older been disabled all my life and you'll be surprised at the way I get round things but one thing I find difficult is wiring I know this clip and grow but sometimes wire is the only option although I have both hands one arm is very weak arm is very weak and I was wondering if you would have any hints on wiring if you only have one hand I have tried clips and pegs to hold the wire and with the other hand apply the wire to the branch it is successful to a degree but not all the time just wonder if you have a take on this perhaps you could try and wire with one hand and come up with the solution which would encourage other disabled people to enjoy a wonderful hobby thank you Richard from Manchester UK

[@katyb2793]

I'm not sure, but have you tried holding the wire with pliers, not your hands/fingers? I find that really helps, and means I don't need to use so much strength. Plus the plier's handles are bigger, so you can use your whole hand to get a grip. You could also wrap the tips with something soft so you are less likely to damage the bark. If the plier handles are still a bit small or slippery, you can wrap strips of fabric round them to make them bigger and easier to grip too. Alternatively, would using guy wires be easier, since you don't have to bend them around the branch? Does any of that sound feasible? Bonsai is very therapeutic, I wish you well 😊

[@richardstack2853]

Thanks Katie for taking the time to reply I do sometimes use pliers but it's the anchoring and holding the wire I have a problem with thanks for your good wishes

[@katyb2793]

@@richardstack2853 no worries! Could you put a 3m hook or similar on the edge of your table to anchor the wire and go from there? Not sure how to explain it.. does that make sense?

[@richardstack2853]

@katyb2793 now there is a good 💡 idea

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you for helping each other out! This is a great community that we are building here. :)

[@rosska99]

You're teaching style is much like some of the best professors I've enjoyed during my scientific training.(You really remind me of Drs Jerome Gross, Rox Anderson- MIT/Harvard) Insightful, and yet still open to new ideas and thoughtful.. Really great. Thanks

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you for the amazing compliment!

[@karterfoster5474]

Very informative sir!

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you for your kind words.