Hot Day Advice for Beginners

[gk11820]

Fairly new to bonsai and the forums and I have a question for all of the veterans here. I’m in south New Jersey and we are approaching a weekend with back to back 95+ degree days. Wondering if I can get some solid advice on what to do or if there is some general advice for all the beginners here. I have read/heard that many areas are experiencing higher then normal temps so I figured this would be a good conversation starter.
As far as what trees I’m worried about I have maples, a crapemyrtle, a pine, a spruce, and some elms if we need specifics.
My first instinct is to just move them to a shadier area of my yard closer to the house opposite the suns pattern through the sky. Was also considering a move to the garage over the weekend. Any and all advice is appreciated !!

 

[HorseloverFat]

My first instinct is to just move them to a shadier area of my yard closer to the house opposite the suns pattern through the sky.

This would work well IF you are worried about this...

Orient them so they receive Morning-noon sun... and afternoon shade..

I don't ever have to run from the sun.. we live in different worlds...

So I'm probably not the best to ask...

@Njyamadori , @Orion_metalhead are out that direction..

@Gabler somwhat, too..

There are lot's of others, NE coast... @Pitoon There's a few in New York.. but not sure how ACTIVE they are..


I'm missing MANY others.. I'm sorry.

 

[rockm]

Fairly new to bonsai and the forums and I have a question for all of the veterans here. I’m in south New Jersey and we are approaching a weekend with back to back 95+ degree days. Wondering if I can get some solid advice on what to do or if there is some general advice for all the beginners here. I have read/heard that many areas are experiencing higher then normal temps so I figured this would be a good conversation starter.
As far as what trees I’m worried about I have maples, a crapemyrtle, a pine, a spruce, and some elms if we need specifics.
My first instinct is to just move them to a shadier area of my yard closer to the house opposite the suns pattern through the sky. Was also considering a move to the garage over the weekend. Any and all advice is appreciated !!

Shadier is good for the next few days. Direct afternoon sun is a problem. If such exposure is unavoidable, cover the pots with wet white tshirts/towels, etc. That will help keep the roots cool.

Make sure things stay watered (and also not OVERwatered--don't constantly water the trees to "keep them cool" --that won't help.) You can water the area AROUND the trees to increase evaporation and cooling.

 

[Paradox]

Morning sun and afternoon shade is good for maples.

Making sure they are watered adequately.
On really hot days, I check my trees in the late afternoon and give them another watering for 10 minutes or so IF they need it.

 

[Kanorin]

I deal with 95+ temperatures pretty regularly throughout the summer. A few observations from someone who works a 9-5 job and has to set my trees up so they can go ~8 hours between waterings in the summer:

• How often you need to water depends on several things...any advice you get, including the advice below may depend on how dense the tree's canopy is, how water retentive your soil is, how deep the pot is, how humid your climate is, and probably a few other factors.
• There seems to be a difference between a 95 degree day in early August (where a lot of trees experience "summer dormancy" in my climate) and a 95 degree day that pops out of nowhere in May where trees are still in rampant spring growth mode and maybe the last set or two of leaves haven't even hardened off yet. I'm a little more careful on those first few scorcher days.
• Most pines, spruces, junipers do quite well in full sun 95+ degrees, though one thing to watch out for is if they are in a dark, shallow pot...On really hot sunny days I'll cover some of my dark pots with an old white t-shirt as @rockm suggested.
• Trees in a little bit deeper pots, like training pots, I would worry less about.
• Japanese maples (and especially many of the cultivars of JMs) definitely appreciate some afternoon shade when it gets up into the 90s
• I have some american and chinese elms in training pots that do ok in full summer sun, but would probably give them some shade if they were in shallower pots
• Not sure about the crape myrtle. In the landscape they do great in full blast 100 degree sun here. Might be a little different in a pot.

I think your plan on giving some afternoon shade - at least to the deciduous trees, is probably a good one. I don't think you need to or want to bring them in and out of your garage every time it breaks 95 degrees.

 

[Dav4]

The crape myrtle will love the heat and will probably be bushier for it, and the pine and spruce won't care much. Maples don't dig windy and hot, so afternoon dappled shade is a good idea.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I would make sure you water thoroughly in the morning, as well as as soon as you get home. Deciduous I would move to afternoon shade since they likely arent yet fully hardened off.

The pines and spruce I would leave out in full exposure and water appropriately... they are hardy enough to handle sun... my pines never move until winter storage once they are on the benches.

Other recommendations about keeping pots cool and such are good ideas.

 

[bluesky]

Here in Madrid we frequently get temperatures >90F >32C.
My trees are on the east side of the house so they get morning sun until about 2pm then afternoon shade provided by the house. In the summer months I hang a 50% shade over the benches and use automatic watering. Before I had the mottled shade sheet, I used to put aluminium foil on the pots to reflect the hot sun.

Many of my pre-bonsai are still in the sun all afternoon, due to space constraints. I figure a bit of leaf burn is not a big deal for prebonsai, and I keep them well watered.

 

[Mikecheck123]

If you're using proper bonsai soil, it's unavoidable that on some days you have to water twice. Or three times if it's over 100F.

But as you gain more experience, you can dial in the particle size of your soil to account for this. For example, when I lived in California, the standard soil particles (on the larger size) from American Bonsai made the trees dry out too quickly on hot days, so I switched to using smaller particles, and it made a huge difference. And always resist the urge to add potting soil, which is counter productive in the long run.

 

[Gabler]

@Gabler somwhat, too..

I’m in Delaware, but I can see New Jersey from my bedroom window.

 

[Gabler]

I would second the comments about watering. Heat isn’t even remotely a problem in our region, provided you water frequently. If you can’t be at home, get an automatic spigot timer and a lawn sprinkler from Home Depot or Lowes and angle it to spray your trees. Set the timer to spray twice per day, and you should be fine. Just don’t set your trees too close to the sprinkler. A strong spray could tear softer leaves like unhardened beech leaves. Angle it to fall on your trees like rain.

 

[sorce]

In a couple billion years there been a few 95° days I reckon.

Welcome to Crazy!

Just water.

Sorce

 

[TN_Jim]

As far as what trees I’m worried about I have maples, a crapemyrtle, a pine, a spruce, and some elms if we need specifics.
My first instinct is to just move them to a shadier area of my yard closer to the house opposite the suns pattern through the sky. Was also considering a move to the garage over the weekend. Any and all advice is appreciated !!

If you don’t have a good place for them to stay forever post winter or during, why bother?

what maple? <- only partial shade maybe..?photos?
water is something -97* supposedly today, I didn’t water a single one, because, it was the best decision, and have all species mentioned… except pines….move them, no way

 

[gk11820]

This weekend seemed to just be hot unusually early for my region. I was more getting ready as a warm up for later this summer where I’m definitely expecting more 100+ degree days then normal. I appreciate everyone’s advice, I watered at night after work the one day and watered the area around them. Also gave the ones I thought were more sensitive some extra shade. Seems like they enjoyed the heat lol It also rained on Friday so that helped cool down the whole area. The advice will definitely help with those impending 100+ degree days