Watering

How often should I water my Bonsai?

There is no fixed watering schedule. The basic principle is "water only when the soil is dry, and water thoroughly": wait until the surface of the soil has dried out, then water until it flows out from the bottom of the pot. Frequency varies with the species, season, pot size and amount of soil, so never go by days alone — observe each tree individually.

Roots need air as much as water. Each thorough watering pushes stale air out of the soil and draws fresh oxygen in, while flushing away accumulated salts and metabolic waste. "Let it dry, then water deeply" is therefore far healthier than frequent light watering.

How to Water?

Top watering

Use a fine-rose spray nozzle and water evenly from above, avoiding a strong jet that washes away the soil. A watering bottle is included with most of our medium and small bonsai, and works perfectly for this method.

Bottom soaking

Immerse the pot in water up to the rim, letting it absorb through the drainage holes until the entire root ball is moist, then drain it in a well-ventilated spot. Bottom soaking should not be used exclusively — occasionally water from above to flush accumulated salts from the soil.

How do I know if the soil is dry?

Most of our bonsai are potted with akadama or an akadama mix as the topsoil, and we recommend doing the same. It makes the wet-dry state easy to read and day-to-day care much simpler.

Dry
Wet

Akadama soil appears dark when moist, when it turns pale, it is starting to dry out

Signs of underwatering and overwatering

Underwatering

Leaves soften and droop; in severe cases, leaf tips and edges wither.

Overwatering

Soil that stays wet for too long starves the roots of oxygen — one of the most common causes of bonsai death.

Seasons and the Hong Kong environment

  • How often you water changes with the seasons: in the height of summer it might be daily, while in winter it can be two to three days between waterings
  • On summer evenings, misting the foliage helps retain moisture and cool the tree
  • Air-conditioned rooms are dry, so the soil dries out faster