So, is it too hot to bonsai?

[Eric Group]

I am in SC, and we have had the coolest, mildest spring and early summer that I can ever recall. I had a couple summers over the past few years though where we hit hot spells with 110 degree heat every day for weeks at a time and it straight up slaughtered some of my trees! I lost a trident Maple, A couple Junipers and one of my pines all in the same year within a few weeks. I work all day and had mister sprinkler systems for the trees, but you just can't account for that kind of heat without being around to monitor the trees better than my job allowed. I am now working so close to home, I can come home for lunch every day and I have a sprinkler on a timer that makes me feel pretty ready for a hot summer... And we are not getting the heat! I mean, we seriously had a cold Spring and so far this summer it rains pretty much every day,keeping the temps well below 90 most days! We have had a few hot days, but nothing like we have see in recent years!

 

[bonhe]

My trees are still growing at this time. The trick is that protection of the rootage system from the heat! I have been spent about 6-7 minutes every morning to put the white T shirts on bonsai pots before I was heading to work! Those trees which are too sensitive with heat such as ume, satsuki placed under the landscape tree shade with misty system on TID!
Bonhe

 

[berobinson82]

I am in SC, and we have had the coolest, mildest spring and early summer that I can ever recall. I had a couple summers over the past few years though where we hit hot spells with 110 degree heat every day for weeks at a time and it straight up slaughtered some of my trees! I lost a trident Maple, A couple Junipers and one of my pines all in the same year within a few weeks. I work all day and had mister sprinkler systems for the trees, but you just can't account for that kind of heat without being around to monitor the trees better than my job allowed. I am now working so close to home, I can come home for lunch every day and I have a sprinkler on a timer that makes me feel pretty ready for a hot summer... And we are not getting the heat! I mean, we seriously had a cold Spring and so far this summer it rains pretty much every day,keeping the temps well below 90 most days! We have had a few hot days, but nothing like we have see in recent years!

In central VA we've had the wettest Summer I can recall since '86. I've had to water maybe 15 times since May. It's a shame since this year's temps are so great for plant growth. But I'll not complain about afternoon storms one bit. Nor the ones that last all through the night. I know that the weather has been and could be much worse.

 

[MACH5]

Here in northern NJ is been humid and warm mostly in the high 80s. Thunderstorms on and off so watering has been minimal. All my maples are in semi-shade and will be until mid September. Some of them are still growing quite a bit while others have stopped for now. Certainly not a very busy time for bonsai except watching my wires, light pruning and keeping a VERY CLOSE eye on powdery mildew!!