I need Winter Help!

RussellG

Hello all, I have a Queston about winterization. I live in Texas where the summers are hot and the winters can get cold at times. I have had 5 bonsai trees ( chineese Elm, Snow Rose and 3 Junipers) that I have managed to keep alive through the winter by bringing them in doors when the temperature gets below 40 deg F. When the temperature gets above 40 Ill bring them outside for some fresh air and sunshine. So my winter process consist of bringing the trees in and out all winter long, which can be a pain. The trees may stay in doors for a period of 2 weeks. They lose almost all thier folage during this indoor outdoor process. When spring arives I place them outdoors again and they begin to thrive once again. This past year I have added 15 more trees to my collection and this indoor outdoor moving of the trees is going to be rough. I have kept my first 5 trees alive and well for the past 7 years doing this indoor/outdoor process all winter long. Question is ....."Is this harmful to the trees?" They never actually go "dormant" Is my depriveing the trees of this dormant period going to shorten the life of the trees??
I have added a mugo pine, a hinoki cyprus, a fukien tea, a green island ficus, 2 hawain umbrellas and a few other varietys. Although I have had bosai trees for several years I am still just a begginer. Any advice would be helpful! Thanks!!

Advertisement

TreeBay

Of all the trees you listed, I don't think any require dormancy. They're all evergreen!

[quote:bc656b7871]mugo pine, a hinoki cyprus, a fukien tea, a green island ficus, 2 hawain umbrellas[/quote:bc656b7871]

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

Generally speaking trees and plants don't like to be moved around too much, it forces them to get used to the new environment each time.
The chinese elm needs dormancy to remain *healthy and will normally lose their leaves in winter. *It should stay outside along with the Mugo pine, Hinoki cypress and junipers. Give them protection from the north wind.

The other trees you mentioned are tropical and should not be exposed to freezing temps and probably nothing below 45 degrees to be on the safe side. I would bring them in for the winter and put them under grow lights and then put them back outside in spring.

Tony

JLK

I'm not sure I would agree that the Chinese elm NEEDS dormancy. *I know of several enthusiasts who just keep it going year round and in the Spring kick it out when the new leaves start to push off the old. *I do make mine go dormant but only because it's easier on my living space to have a few sleepers out on the porch.
RussellG, what's the coldest it gets in Texas?
I would agree that the in & out thing is hard on both you and the plants.
I don't bring my Schefflera in until it's below 40 F, and the Ficus have to tough it out down to 35 F. *I haven't had any problems. I do move Fukien & Serissa in when it's gonna get below 50 F but it's really more so they don't get shocked when they come inside where it's warmer (still cool though, 68 F MAX and nite time is 5.
Good luck!

"I'm not sure I would agree that the Chinese elm NEEDS dormancy. I know of several enthusiasts who just keep it going year round"

JKL,

How long have they been wintering there elm inside? I know some people who have done this also but they all seem to die in 3-4 years. Trees can go dormant and still hold their leaves but they won't be growing. Even the junipers and pines will go dormant below 35-40 degrees.

Tony

RussellG

Someone asked how cold it gets here in Texas. Dallas Ftworth area. Generally speaking we have Nov , Dec , Jan and a bit of February in which the temperatures will dip below freezing at times. Usually 3 weeks is the most that we will see both day and night temps stay below freezing. It's so hard to tell, our weather here is so unpredictable. Forinstance last week we had ice and sleet with temperatures around 28. Tonight it will be 60 deg. Tomorrow it might drop to 40....then 30 the folowing night. I REALLY appreciate the advice yall have given me!! I have come to the conclusion that I will eventually have to build a greenhouse of sorts. Possibly a cold storage. I have kept The ELM , The SNOWROSE and the JUNIPERS alive for 7 years thus far bringing them in and out all winter (someone had asked how long I had been doing this) All 5 trees are over 20 years old. There were roughly 15 years old when I bought them. Like I said I have added a FOREST of over 15 more trees bringing my total to 22. I have also succesfully propogated 3 snow rose (from cuttings) and 3 fukien Teas (also from cuttings). It's a lot of fun!!

Thx Russ

Russell, I'm in OKC and have simular weather as you but somewhat colder in the winter. I think you are babying your temperate trees too much. We got down to 19 last week with 7 inches of snow and todays high was 73, it's like this every year. I keep my chinese elm, red maple, pines and junipers outside all year long with no problems. I haven't grown the hinoki cypress but it should like simular conditions as the pine. The main thing you want to prevent is strong winds blowing on your trees when the rootball is frozen. Just mulch the pots in and provide a wind block and they should do fine.

Tony

RussellG

Thanks Tony, I think ill give it a try. I have been being much more tolerant of the weather this winter. I treasure the trees so much I am scared to death to lose one. Right now it's low 40's and i am leaving ALL the evergreens out. So far so good. If anything they will be much stronger and hardier. If it actually Freezes Ie. 30 or less ill have to do something to protect the pots from breaking. I have some mulch in the garage that would help.

Thanks again!