Why water?

Water is necessary for all human beings and potted plants depend on us to grow.

Bonsai roots need air, as well as water, and that is why it is advised to keep the soil a little bit dry between waterings. Frequency and quantity of waterings are both key.

 

How often do you need to water?

Frequency of watering depends on the type of bonsai, type of soil, size of the pot and whether it is in direct sunlight. However, as a general rule, you should water the bonsai when you see that the first layer of soil is dry. That will be noticeable when you touch the soil with your fingers or due to the change of colour (soil will be lighter in colour).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to water?

 

With watering can:

You should use a watering can with thin holes to ensure the water is soft to the fall. Use plenty of water until it comes through the drainage holes. Ensure the leaves and trunk are moistened to simulate rainfall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Immerse:

Submerge the bonsai in water. The level of water should be just above the surface of the soil. Leave the bonsai submerged for five minutes until the bubbles stop. This system gives high hydration for very dry trees (if you have forgotten to water the tree) and verifies whether the frequency you water the tree is the most accurate. If there are lots of bubbles this means the watering needs to be more often and if there are few bubbles the frequency of watering needs to decrease.

Even if immersion is your preferred system, it is recommended that, every now and again, you use a watering can so that the salt does not sit on the surface of the soil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warning! Please be advised that it is best not to use water sprays as they do not allow water to reach the very bottom of the pot. Only use water sprays to moisturise foliage of indoor bonsai.

 

HIDROBONSAI SYSTEM

 

HIDROBONSAI is a system developed by Mistral Bonsai to complement irrigation in bonsai.

It guarantees the watering of the bonsai in all those situations that conventional watering is not possible.  This system is based on water running from a water tank to the soil through a wet wick.

 

The use of HIDROBONSAI is recommended:

- In interior species like Fius, Zelkova, Ligustrum, etc… to satisfy the high water requirements especially during spring and summer.

- For all other interior and exterior species, it can be used on holidays, weekends away or to complement their usual irrigation method.

- From April to August with exterior bonsai like Acer, Pyracanta, Cotoneaster, Higuera…etc

 

HOW DO YOU INSTALL IT?

 

a) Slightly separate the pot from the tree, pressing with your fingers through the drainage holes.

b) Insert, with the help of tweezers or a pencil, one end of the wick through one of the pot’s middle holes, making sure there is contact with the soil and that it cannot easily come away.

c) Place the tree back in the pot in its usual position and water thoroughly.

d) Place the bonsai on top of the lid and insert the other end of the wick through the slot or central hole, pulling it tightly to ensure the wick is not folded.

e) Fill up the tank and place the lid back on, with the bonsai on top, making sure that the wick is inside the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW DO YOU USE IT?

The water tank in HIDROBONSAI slowly supplies water to the bonsai, allowing you to only water the plant every 10 or 30 days, depending on the species and the size of the pot.

General recommendation for all bonsai, only water them once the tree has absorbed all the water in the pot.

 

HOW DO WE WATER THE BONSAI ONCE IT IS IN THE HIDROBONSAI?

Water above the pot until the soil is thoroughly wet. The overflowing water will fall into the tank and will not splash the furniture.Finish filling up the tank

 

IMPORTANT: Even if watering the tree is not necessary, check the water level of the HIDROBONSAI at least once a week.

 

 

PRACTICAL GUIDELINES

Place the bonsai at a maximum of 60cm from the window indoors. Avoid direct sunlight during summer. Do not place bonsai above heat sources like television or radiators.Turn the plant every 15 days to ensure light is absorbed evenly.

In the event of a long period of time away from home (months), place the bonsai with the lid from the HIDROBONSAI above a big tank with water.As long as the water has not completely absorbed from the HIDROBONSAI, the system will work. In the event of  the water being completely absorbed and both soil and wick drying out, you should water the bonsai thoroughly  away from  the HIDROBONSAI to dampen soil and wick enough to get the system working again.

 

 

 

VAPORIZER

 

 

To pulverize is to spray the blades of the Bonsai with dispersed water like fine rain.

Threes which live in the country receive very often the morning dew which is a very important source for the vitality of the plants which receive this water trough its blades.

In the wild valley of the mountain the quantity of the water got from the dew, is higher as the water got from the rain, which show us that the dew is very important for the plants. The Bonsai which live in countries, also which live a large period of time indoor, never receive this dew. The Bonsai which live indoor don´t receive the rainwater and the blade get full of dust. Therefore it is very important to clean the blades which are full of dust and to vitalize the trees which live in dry conditions.

 

WHEN WE HAVE TO PULVERIZE?

If we only want to clean the blades which are dusty it is sufficently, when we pulverize them one time per week. If we want to animate a Bonsai which is fatigated it is necessary, to pulverize the blades daily. The best time for the pulverization is when the sun raises. We have to avoid to spinkle the trees if it is very sunny, because of the bad effects which could result.

 

HOW WE HAVE TO PULVERIZE?

The plants have to be spinckled with a water pot which disposes of clusters with holes which allows to trow the water like fine rain. We have to spinkle from upside to downside and viceversa, because we have to guarantee that the water arrives to all blades of the tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What type of water to use?

 

The best water is rainfall or from a stream as they are both good quality waters. As a general rule tap water can also be used providing it has been left to rest in an open container for 24hrs to allow the chlorite to evaporate.

Waters with high salt contents (hard waters) should not be used to water bonsai or any other type of plants.