Tips and tricks for bonsai watering

As I already killed two trees, I felt like sharing the experience I’ve got with those occasions. I was very sad of doing that, but it did not cross my mind that I was doing something wrong, as both trees died almost instantly. Then I started to search for some bonsai tree care information and I realized that I did not know the basics of this art.
Now, my third of the indoor bonsai trees series is well and healthy since almost six months ago, when I got it. The main mistakes I made were related to improper watering. Here are the things that I did not know from the very beginning:
- Bonsai trees require different amounts of water in different seasons
- In winter, soil is cooler and retains moisture for a longer period of time than warm soil, so less watering is required.
- In spring, water moderately because too much water results in too fast a growth of stems and leaves.
- In summer, you might need to water more than once a day, as most bonsai trees require more water then.
- In summer, mist your bonsai in the morning and in the evening to reduce the amount of moisture lost through transpiration. Do not mist during winter because of freezing.
- Do not allow the soil of your bonsai tree to dry out completely, because this will kill it almost instantly. There is an easy way to check soil humidity: stick a toothpick in it and remove it: if it has a dry portion of 1cm from the soil surface, then your tree needs watering.
- Always water from the top of the pot. The best way is to use a shower. Always make sure that you put sufficient water, so it gets to all the small ramifications of the roots. You can water, then wait for 10 minutes, then water again, thus allowing the water to spread into the soil.
- Do not keep the base of the pot in water for more than thirty minutes because it will hinder the circulation of air through the roots.
- Use a humidity tray in dry rooms, but make sure that the base of the pot stands on some pebbles in the tray and does not touch the surface of the water.

As for pruning, this does not require so much attention. You should just take care not to let the branches grow out of the desired shape and you should not cut all leaves at once, as it is possible that your tree never recovers from such an operation. Use special bonsai fertilizer once a month, excluding the periods after pruning. Some sources indicate root pruning too, but I never tried this yet, so I cannot say which is the best way of doing it.

Good luck and good trees!