I know to 2 methods, chop stick and sticking your finger in the soil to see if its still wet. My problem is that my tree (I believe) has regular soil and its pretty hard to stick my finger thru the soil because its so packed, not to mention when I actually get my finger in the soil it gives mixes thoughts because the soil is so cold it feels wet but I'm not sure it actually is. I read earlier that soil can appear wet but it mag actually be drying out underneath which is why I'm checking it. I placed a wooded skewer in about an inch, I'm supposed to let it sit for a while and check it like a dip stick...I'm assuming the wood will be a darker color if the soil is in fact wet, correct me if I'm wrong.
knowing when to water
- Thread starter nash2000
- Start date
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
Typically,the way I water is to try and visualize the root.It is happy when it is in the dark and slightly moist.It will be going through a wet/dry cycle(very important).Sorry I am not answering your question,but I have never used the chop stick method.You do have to be careful though.You definately need to saturate then let dry.I once read that roots are happiest at 25% moisture.To get there ,you need to saturate the soil then let it go through that wet/dry cycle without letting it get dry.A conifer can go a bit further more comfotably than a tree full of leaves.I have a portion of potting soil in my soil blend and the ideal 'slightly dry on the top of the soil surface' is in fact still very slightly moist.
Last edited:
jkd2572
Masterpiece
This is tongue and cheek. "You wait until its bone dry and water it the day before" I forget who's quote that is. Not mine.
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
Perhaps,your finger...would it feel nice and cool...slightly moist...buried in the soil you are looking at? I hope this helps,cause' watering is very important with any bonsai.
jk_lewis
Masterpiece
The chopstick method:
1. the chopstick is jammed into the soil to the BOTTOM of the pot, not an inch.
2. KEEP it there.
3. Remove it daily -- best if done at the same time of day every day.
4. Feel the dirty end. You can tell if it feels damp.
5. Water if it FEELS dry (NO dampness); Do NOT water if it feels the slightest bit damp.
6. Return the stick to the soil -- again, deep.
After you have been doing bonsai for a few years, you will get to the point where you can just pick up the pot and judge its weight to decide whether to water.
Note that in winter, in Maine, you should need to water very seldom if the tree is outdoors.
1. the chopstick is jammed into the soil to the BOTTOM of the pot, not an inch.
2. KEEP it there.
3. Remove it daily -- best if done at the same time of day every day.
4. Feel the dirty end. You can tell if it feels damp.
5. Water if it FEELS dry (NO dampness); Do NOT water if it feels the slightest bit damp.
6. Return the stick to the soil -- again, deep.
After you have been doing bonsai for a few years, you will get to the point where you can just pick up the pot and judge its weight to decide whether to water.
Note that in winter, in Maine, you should need to water very seldom if the tree is outdoors.
Here are a few pictures I took this morning. My tree did have white rocks and a big moss ball that I removed but now my tree seems its leaning, never noticed it until this morning...probably because the moss was there. You can see the type of soil that I'm working will, its really hard to tell when or if its dry. The color of this tree has been the same since the say I got it (last week) and the only water it's received was some rain last night.
Your soil looks TOO WET and TOO MUCH ORGANIC. I use crushed granit and small lava along with some turface.
robbase99
Seedling
I would take a look at this article. I found it to be very helpful. Good luck.
http://walterpallbonsaiarticles.blogspot.com/2010/06/feeding-substrate-and-watering-english.html
http://walterpallbonsaiarticles.blogspot.com/2010/06/feeding-substrate-and-watering-english.html
Dave, I know but this is how the tree was sold. The sell was a traveling vendor from Texas, I read that retailers use this soil mix for shipping or traveling. I've had a few comments already on my soil on different threads and they said I should be fine until next spring when I can repot, just as long as it drys out.
Very nice a article, I actually learned a but from it.
jk_lewis
Masterpiece
So get that chopstick in there so you can KNOW.
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Here's a little tip, if you can't tell if it's wet because the stick is cool, place it against your lip, or the skin above your lip, or your cheek. These areas for some reason can sense moisture better than your finger when it's cold.
Good tip. If it is in fact dry it or dry for the most part should I give it a regular watering? One of the watering methods I read was to water all over and and basically let it over flow from the top of the pot for about 30 seconds. I'm sure there's plenty of methods.
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Water it until it drains out the bottom of the pot, a nice slow watering. Then come back in 5 minutes and do it again. If the soil has dried out quite a bit (not likely this time of year) then I would suggest a third time, to be sure you got it all wet. As you might have noticed, when the ground is very dry, and you water it, most of the water will run off the soil instead of sinking in. So you will need to make sure that the water penetrated the soil. This will be made much easier with the soil you'll repot into in the spring.
jkd2572
Masterpiece
With soil that organic you can use a moisture meter. About $20 at Home Depot. If you start using less organic soil they don't work. I don't know why.
jk_lewis
Masterpiece
Water when it is DRY. Period. Not part dry. Follow Judy's instructions. A watering can with a fine spray rose is the best way to water without messing up the soil.
I bought the tree in this soil, I would like to know why vendors sell trees this way. It'll be repotted first thing come spring time.
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Because when it dies, you go buy a new one, as you think you killed it.... and by then you've been bitten by the bug! Plus it's cheaper for them.
Similar threads
