JesusFreak
Shohin
Don’t understand what’s going on. I’ve always been told pines don’t need much water. But it seems to me this brownish green color means they need more water. Suggestions? 
Pines turning crispy
- Thread starter JesusFreak
- Start date
Paradox
Imperial Masterpiece
How often are you watering them?
JesusFreak
Shohin
Once every 4-5 days
Paradox
Imperial Masterpiece
Definitely not enough. In the spring when I first bring my trees out of the cold frame, if it doesnt rain, I water every other day.
When it starts getting hotter at the end of May or June, I water every day until it cools off and we get more rain in the fall then its back to every other day. Especially if you have them in large particle soil, they need to be watered every day when it gets hot. Its probably hot enough where you are in Georgia.
You should water when the trees need it, not on a set time schedule unless you know the trees well enough to know that the schedule works.
I know with the soil I use, when it gets hot, my trees need water every day in the morning and when its very hot like 90+, Ill sometimes run the sprinklers again for 10 minutes in the late afternoon.
JesusFreak
Shohin
I hope I didn’t kill them. I guess you just hear people say they don’t need to be watered much and you assume that’s the right way. So much for listening to that nonsense.
Wulfskaar
Omono
You can try a "chopstick" in the soil. I keep it in there like a dipstick and pull it out to check the water level. If the top part of the chopstick is wet, no water is needed. If it's dry, it's time to water.
www.bonsainut.com
This seems good, for the most part, because it will tell you how often to water based on your exact situation. Someone living in western WA might not need to water nearly as much as someone in GA.
Watering Bonsai Trees
Watering Along with proper siting, proper watering is among the most critical tasks to master to become successful in the art of bonsai. Water too frequently, or too infrequently, and the tree's health declines. Usually, the symptoms of...
This seems good, for the most part, because it will tell you how often to water based on your exact situation. Someone living in western WA might not need to water nearly as much as someone in GA.
Paradox
Imperial Masterpiece
Yea where ever you heard that from was wrong. Is it possible you misinterpreted it?
Pines dont like to have what we call "wet feet" meaning they dont like to be sitting in sopping wet soil but they still need to be watered!
This is why many of us use inorganic, large particle soil. While it retains moisture, it doesnt stay sopping wet.
Also with this soil it is pretty much impossible to over water and cause other issues with the roots because it drains so well.
Its also true that in general, deciduous trees like to be in soil that has a bit more moisture and they are more susceptible to drying out than pines are.
Just start watering them "when they need it" Which means water when the soil is "almost dry" Put a chopstick in each pot and monitor by pulling it out of the soil each day and looking at it. Water when the stick is almost dry. Do this for a couple of years. This will teach you what interval you need to make sure your trees have water across different seasons and weather conditions.
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Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
I've a chopstick in mine to judge watering. Jonas said 50-70 dry water. So when barely damp...I water.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
I water my black pines daily... twice daily if it is super hot. The issue is not how often you water them, but whether you have bad soil so that the roots sit in water. If you have an open, inorganic soil mix, it is very difficult to overwater.
If you don't know how dry the soil is, try picking up the pot. Dry soil weighs much less than wet soil. It is a good way to tell if you have soil problems because if you water the tree until water comes out of the pot, and you lift the pot and it is still light-weight, you have a problem because the water is not saturating the root ball, for one reason or other, and you need to investigate why that is the case.
If you don't know how dry the soil is, try picking up the pot. Dry soil weighs much less than wet soil. It is a good way to tell if you have soil problems because if you water the tree until water comes out of the pot, and you lift the pot and it is still light-weight, you have a problem because the water is not saturating the root ball, for one reason or other, and you need to investigate why that is the case.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
+1...
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
Jonas also mentioned picking up the pot. If its damp under it it doesn't need watered. If dry...needs watered. My trees are tied down. So I use the stick method.
JesusFreak
Shohin
Well dang I guess I need to be watering. Kinda hard to manage watering often and needle cast. Was hoping I’d get along with pines
Paradox
Imperial Masterpiece
Just about everyone on the east coast that has pines has to water pretty much every day in the summer and treat for needle cast.
Why is that so hard for you to deal with?
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
I used a systematic for needle issues...Adair mentioned it. Treat before an issue.
Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
Strongly second this
! This is best substrate for pines and nearly impossible to over water. Water trees daily including foliage and continue unless tree becomes COMPLETELY brown. Recovery MAY be possible but with diminished number of branches
. Do not remove any green needles. Even partially green."I guess you just hear people say they don’t need to be watered much and you assume that’s the right way"
These are ignorant and either do not keep Pines or have kept in H2O retentive substrate. Have seen way too many times on this forum. Lesson learned but may not be too late for your trees
.
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sorce
Nonsense Rascal
I water everyday and keep mine with "wet feet", needle cast is invited by the mind.
Without more information, I wouldn't call this a very exact tell. Terra Cotta on a holey patio table will be dry underneath way before a plastic pot on a plastic table.
Sorce
Without more information, I wouldn't call this a very exact tell. Terra Cotta on a holey patio table will be dry underneath way before a plastic pot on a plastic table.
Sorce
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
Well, I got nothing to add...since it wasn't my technique...That came from Jonas. As he sent me my JBP. He stressed most people over water pine and offered helpful tips on when to know when to water.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Says a guy in Chicago with no JBP...nonsense, rascal.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
@sorce I knew I had seen a blog on the moisture under the pot. It wasn't a new concept when Jonas mentioned it. I've been pouring through his blogs way before the tree arrived on my bench.
bonsaitonight.com
Watering conifers - Bonsai Tonight
I've seen signs, recently, that some of trees in my garden are staying too wet. What does this look like? On pines I might see yellow at the base of the
bonsaitonight.com
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
@sorce I knew I had seen a blog on the moisture under the pot. It wasn't a new concept when Jonas mentioned it. I've been pouring through his blogs way before the tree arrived on my bench.
Watering conifers - Bonsai Tonight
I've seen signs, recently, that some of trees in my garden are staying too wet. What does this look like? On pines I might see yellow at the base of the
That helps. He is in Florida?
I just think all that information is necessary for someone somewhere else to utilize the method.
Sorce
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