Overwintering Bonsai, with Hong, 2016

Hong talks about overwintering his hardy bonsai trees at our club meeting in November.

[@thee2c604]

I don't grow bonsai trees, but I have been doing some research because I want to start. I discovered your channel and think it is so cool. I just wanted to say that you are a great KZbinr and I love your videos.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you, I enjoy making KZbin videos, more to come!

[@Gangstalicious411]

Really fantastic video. Lots of great information. Thank you, Nigel, and of course thank you Hong!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks to Hong also!

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Awesome! I am uploading my wintering video at this moment, and then I saw this. Hong goes more in depth on certain aspects, like the fertilizer and zones, so if you don't mind, I'll leave a link to your video on my post. This is my favorite part about being in the bonsai community here on KZbin - we can learn so much from each other. I certainly learn from you! Thanks, Nigel! And thanks to Hong!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, I look forward to your video and you are welcome have a link to Hong's talk!

[@mikbonsai]

Very useful information, thank you both Hong and Nigel. Best wishes Iqbal

[@jeffdodson1675]

Thank you. This was extraordinarily helpful information on a troubling topic. The information on what didn't work for him was as useful as what turned out to be his successful methodology. Like Hong, I tried a few different approaches before I found one that is now very successful for me here in zone 7. Actually, I have two methods but one is waaaay to much work to set up and involves an expense that some might not be willing to make.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Jeff!

[@n8tyler]

Great data...Thanks for sharing...

[@r58723]

Thank you for the video the ideas are helpful. Here in Illinois, I do have an unheated garage which never goes below freezing, but not above 40°F during the winter. the trickiest part for me is to make sure that the trees are adequately moist, but not too wet. I use a moisture meter which probes into the soil and I find that helpful. And I in Illinois mouse traps are very effective. I have both conifer and deciduous trees. Thank you for all your hard work and sharing, Jack

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Jack, sounds like a good setup!

[@marksuson5347]

outstanding video and discussion by the gentleman in the video.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I'll tell Hong, thanks.

[@pattik172]

Thank you so much for your valuable information. Hope I remember playing this again in August.: )

[@danbehrens1621]

Yeah, it’s creeping towards that time again. Starting to worry about which trees need to come in, and which stay out. My nephew is moving in and he has my porch just packed full of stuff. Hopefully he gets it all out in the next couple months. Also need to get my indoor plant shelves in order. No clue how I’m going to make everything fit. All those times I played Tetris are going to come into play.

[@EMATREMA]

Hi Nigel! I’ve been growing bonsai for about 10 years in Iceland overwintering them in cold greenhouse. This winter due to house change I don’t have a greeenhouse and I will put them on the ground under a wooden patio. I know snow is not a problem but here it freezes for many weeks and there are many stomy windy days… I am wondering how to deal with that when there is no snow but still -10Celcius. Do you think it would be ok to water the pots that are completely frozen for days to unfreeze them to let the root get some water or is it a bad idea since the soil will freeze again a few minutes after watering? Thank you in advance for your answer and great videos!

[@shreyasbauva4879]

thank you so much nigel. I really appreciate your feedback.

[@codyschick327]

It hard to find good information for overwintering bonsai up north. Thanks for the information now I know I'm on the right track. Ive killed alot of junipers my pines seem to deal much better

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Glad you liked the video Cody!

[@chomochuong3mien872]

Thank you for the video

[@BenMonteSS]

Thank you Nigel, for yet ANOTHER very informative discussion with Hong. I'm getting back into Bonsai, after a long time away from it. Looking forward to the relaxation & enjoyment, once again! Quick question though... What are the keys to keeping the pots from cracking? Is it that they have to be totally covered with mulch/insulation during Winterization?

[@shreyasbauva4879]

Hey Nigel!!!!!!! you said in one of your videos that you will make a video on how to sharpen your bonsai tools and keep them in good shape but you still haven't made it so please make a video on this I will appreciate your help. thank you 😊

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It will be coming soon, it is one of the topics that will be covered this winter at our club meeting. I'll video it.

[@josi4749]

Would an enclosed balcony do? It is surrounded by windows and faces north.

[@kris-chan1440]

your show have hong tour his benches on video some time.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I have always wanted to do bench tours of my benches and people in the club. I must get around to doing it this summer!

[@wallo102]

Hello Nigel and a hello to Mr. Hong. Thank you for this video. This was extraordinarily helpful information. I also use a Greenhouse for my bonsais. I'm living in Switzerland an we also have strong winters form November to March with till -10 Celsius. My question is what is the necessary temperature in the Greenhouse? And more importent for me what is the best humidity. Thank's for your help and sorry about my english.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It is best to keep the trees at a constant temperature, either below freezing or slightly above. The constant freezing and thawing is what damages the roots in winter. Hong keeps his trees in a garden shed and blocks off the windows to keep the light from heating up the inside. Hong likes to keep hid trees frozen through the winter. I keep my trees in side when the temperature starts to get below -10 C. Inside I keep my trees just above freezing. The dormant trees don't need any light in the winter. Some people keep them in a wine cellar. The basement stays humid in the winter and sometimes I get a little mold growing on the surface of the soil. This goes away quickly after the tree is returned outside. My tropical trees go into my sun room. The temp varies from a low of 12 C on cold cloudy days to almost 40 C on sunny days. The humidity rises with the temperature and goes from 30 percent to 80 percent. To get the humidity up on warm days, I mist the trees and the benches a lot.

[@wallo102]

Thank's so much. Now lets snowing........

[@asdfjkl50499]

I had considered adding a shelf close to the roof in my chicken coop to keep trees on, but maybe the garage is a better choice in the winter? Was thinking coop because would have some humidity and shelter but would be rodent/sun free and still pretty cold as it is not totally buttoned up against the elements. I know he uses a shed, but would dropping it in the ground be the preferred method? I did see you have yours sitting on a bench in the garden... We are on the border of zone 4a-4b, just got 9" of snow on Tuesday but that is not a normal snowfall for us.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello Sonja, I think the chicken coop would be fine. My wife over winters some of her garden plants in her small chicken barn. She has enough chickens and ducks that the small barn stays warm inside with the help of a heat lamp at night. It never seems to go below freezing. I bring my trees into the unheated basement for the winter, at the moment they are still outside as we haven't had really cold weather yet. I leave them out until the temperature looks like it will drop below -10 C for a while. My wife says the chickens will eat anything green in the coop, so you would have to protect your trees from the T- Rex threat! Putting your trees in the ground is risky as the rabbits and mice will chew away at the trunks. The garage is always a good place also.

[@asdfjkl50499]

Our average for the area in February is around -2 C with occasional drops down to -26 C and even lower. We do not heat our coop, would test if the body heat of the hens and moisture from them would keep the trees alive. Garages sounds like it may be a better option. Thanks.

[@MrIanWarwick]

Is watering negligible if my pots are below ground and the rest is covered by snow? If not, what can I do?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

The tree will be fine with a snow covering and in the ground. It will have lots of humidity and the snow will melt when the temperature warms up and automatically water the tree.

[@TIGERCHIEF79]

Hi. Great video. What brand and exact NPK numbers do you prefer for evergreen specifically juniper in aug to winterize?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I use 20-20-20 all year round. I naturally fertilize less when the weather turns cool. I rarely need to water in fall with all the rain and less heat in the daytime, because I water less, I also fertilize less. Here is my video on this... kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYmseqOuitarmrs Hong can answer your question also, if you ask on the club's Face Book page. Click the link on my channel's main page.

[@andymvp10]

does hong have a yt chanel ?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hong takes care of the club's Facebook page..... facebook.com/kwbonsaisociety I don't believe he has a KZbin channel......yet!

[@BenG54321]

Very informative video; thanks! What are your thoughts on frost blankets being used for just a few days of 15-20 degree Fahrenheit temperatures?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I think they are a good idea, they have the same effect as having the trees in a cold frame or unheated shed. Small lights under the blanket also will help keep the trees warm.

[@BenG54321]

Thanks, Nigel! I enjoyed seeing the progression of your trees throughout this year.

[@ngccharle3317]

i have question what to do if the temperature in spring start to rise to 10 c and then in next days it start to dop to -10 c that always happen in my country also somtimes in winter in January February when the usually temperature is always between -10 to -20 here but we get sometimes warm days temperature might get to +5 to +10 dose that damage the branches or the buds at what temperature the dormant tree finish it is dormancy dose +10 or + 15 end the dormancy of the tree ? and how we can protect the tree from that warmth ?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Temperature fluctuations are always a problem in spring, these can affect even the full size trees in the ground. I keep my trees in the unheated part of my basement, this has a moderating affect on the temperature and helps keep the trees from the variations in temperature week to week. They do still come out into leaf early some years. I am forced to either let the new growth die off with a heavy frost and then re generate later in the spring, or I bring the trees back into the basement when the weather gets too cold. It can be a lot of work bringing the trees in and out all the time! Hong keeps his trees in a garden shed over the winter. His shed is on the shady side of his property and he tries to keep his trees dormant as long as possible. He blocks the windows so the sun doesn't warm up the inside of the shed.

[@ngccharle3317]

thank you nigel you are the best i have another question about the basement here in Ukraine the basement is type of room underground that has no window we use it to store wines and all other type of tomato soak and sauce and other food my question is can conifers survive in winter in basement without light ? the temperature of the basement is always cool not freeze . about the garage i do not know how much temperature inside garage in winter i will monitor it and record it this winter for later reference but basement is cool here and not get freeze but the problem is that it has no window i do not know if that is a problem

[@nicdurand6374]

hi, i just got a juniperus procuben as a gift and now i am wondering if i should get it out in my shed as soon as possible. Should i prune it before? i am in Canada and it is -25c outside and with windfactor it fall to almost -35c does that affect something? thanks !

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I think it would be best to keep it indoors in a cool spot until spring. Trees need to harden off in fall to get ready for winter, if this tree has been indoors, it would be too much of a shock to put it in the cold. If you have a cool basement or garage that is just above freezing, this would be ideal.

[@nicdurand6374]

Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone Thank you very Much! I got a dark Room that is around 9°c but i am worry about the lack of light if the Little guy is not Frozen.. should i try to give him like 2h of sun per Day?

[@kgeitzel3293]

Very helpful thank you for this video. Would you recommend plant lights for lemons and dwarf jade in a room that doesn't get a lot of light?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, they need lots of light if possible. Sunlight is the best, but they will do well with grow lights.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, I checked it out and subscribed!

[@mar1video]

Ginny Ward - I'm surprised that Ray doesn't have any trees ( like a bonsai ) inside his voodoo garden. He definitely has a green thumb !

[@kgeitzel3293]

Is there a good budget grow light you would recommend for citrus trees?

[@bonsaido1709]

thx a lot

[@TheBonsaiZone]

You are most welcome.

[@michaelcowart6100]

Hong mentioned boxwood. Any videos on those yet?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

No videos yet, I am growing boxwood in the pre bonsai garden, I'll have to dig it up in spring and get it under way. I;ll try and get Hong to talk about his boxwood also. Thanks Michael!

[@TheFloatingflower]

Too many disturbing side-noises. Next time please speak in a silent environment. :-)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Sorry, the meetings are held in a multi use facility and sometimes silence is hard to find!

[@TheFloatingflower]

Suggestion: How about filming in your garden? :-)) There is only the rooster. :-)))

[@BOBMAX68]

'Overwinterizing' - lets make up a new language? Not watching someone talk shit.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I think your being a little overthewinterizationalismistic!