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

[@GrowingBonsai]

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

[@natrjack965]

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]

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]

pot under a pot...... you have more humidity during more time.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2G0Zo2waLmMd7c 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!!!!!!!!

[@abpupeerapitug]

@@GrowingBonsai You can also wrap the top of the pots in aluminum foil to help keep the pots and roots cool.

[@mattygroves]

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

[@GrowingBonsai]

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

[@emptynest2664]

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]

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

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

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]

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

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

@@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.

[@greenmachinesweden]

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]

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

[@greenmachinesweden]

@@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! 😀👍

[@potreliefbonsaibatu5035]

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]

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

[@potreliefbonsaibatu5035]

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

[@bobmccarlie382]

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]

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

[@brianparnell2256]

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]

Absolutely!

[@BlueJayBonsai]

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

[@GrowingBonsai]

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

[@hernandotorres1234]

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

[@GrowingBonsai]

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

[@katyb2793]

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]

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

[@katyb2793]

@@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]

@@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]

@@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]

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

[@mariob.3232]

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]

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

[@PSPMHaestros]

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]

47 is insane! How do you cope?

[@PSPMHaestros]

@@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

[@savaeri]

Pas 2 jaar ervaring. Zo te zien is mijn waterschemat/routine niet optimaal. Thanks Jelle voor de duidelijke uitleg wat betreft het water geven aan je bonsai! Weer wat geleerd👍🏽

[@GrowingBonsai]

My pleasure!

[@ClicioBarrosoFilho]

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]

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

[@GrowingBonsai]

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

[@ben7100]

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]

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]

@@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]

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!

[@MehranAshkanian]

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

[@GrowingBonsai]

I find they love the higher humidity in summer.

[@jeffhurst4744]

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]

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]

@@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.

[@natrjack965]

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]

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

[@natrjack965]

@@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]

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

[@natrjack965]

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

[@GrowingBonsai]

@@natrjack965 ? Are there european bonsai championships?

[@TOMSAI]

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

[@GrowingBonsai]

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

[@TOMSAI]

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

[@GrowingBonsai]

@@TOMSAI :( Sooo sorry!

[@TOMSAI]

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

[@GrowingBonsai]

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

[@artreader2526]

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]

good point!

[@janethowell9048]

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]

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!

[@harlzAU]

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]

darwinism? Survival of the fittest for you?

[@dirtysouthhc2936]

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]

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]

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]

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

[@bonsaikastur]

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]

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

[@shanewatson8581]

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]

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

[@shanewatson8581]

@@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]

@@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]

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

[@JodyGrogu]

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]

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

[@MehranAshkanian]

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

[@GrowingBonsai]

Would covering not reduce ventilation? Maybe a shade cloth higher above the trees would help?

[@faizul_dergo]

👍👍..

[@GrowingBonsai]

Thx!

[@missaleromanum5614]

Are you in the nederlands?

[@GrowingBonsai]

Sometimes

[@janeMolinarius]

What Substrate you use?

[@GrowingBonsai]

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

[@janeMolinarius]

@@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]

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

[@razor2ts]

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]

Great tip!

[@SJKurd]

Im in Kurdistan . Summer here 45 c 😅

[@GrowingBonsai]

what species do you keep there?

[@SJKurd]

@@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]

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

[@SJKurd]

@@GrowingBonsai yes! good idea 😀🌱

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

I have not enough water,because no Rain here

[@GrowingBonsai]

:(

[@kestane123chesmo]

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

[@GrowingBonsai]

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

[@kestane123chesmo]

@@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.

[@dalespringerwilson4233]

I don't mean it as a slam.... Why don't you say for countries that don't have a flag on the moon ? 😂

[@GrowingBonsai]

? Because space travel is not relevant.