Winter And Your Tree

Jay

I need to take a break from packing. I figure it wouldn’t hurt to start a thread on winter and our trees, especially for those in their first year in bonsai. As you know, or should know, I ain’t no expert. But I have had trees in cold weather care for a few years with very good results.
All those in the southern hemisphere…WELCOME TO SPRING
In my opinion, the care you give to your trees during their dormant period is extremely important. What you do and how you do it, will determine if your tree lives or dies. It will also determine how it comes out of dormancy next spring.

First…. Determine where you are. Winter care is different for trees in zone 9 and zones 6 or 4… and all the others.
Next… Determine what trees you have. The winter care of a Larch is not the same as a Trident or a Bougainvillea.

Two steps? That’s it? No, but you have to know the answers to these before you get started. You also need to know answers to questions like ‘is the tree in the ground or in a grow box or even in a pot’ all these create differing wintering requirements.

In general, Bonsai seem to need protection to one to two zones more than the same tree in nature. If you have a tree that is hardy to zone 5, this usually means in the ground. In a pot it is more like zone 6/7. So if you are in zone 7, that trees winter requirements are less demanding. If you live in zone 5, you better take some effort to set the tree into a good winter home.

You were looking for answers here? You will find them. Not in this thread, unless others drop in and give details, but in the forum. Search the bottom of this page and put in the key words you are interested in.

I will give you a few ‘food for thought’ type statements.
1- There are no indoor trees… there are some trees that will live indoors, for a time, better than others.
2- Our homes are dryer than the desert…
3- Indoor artificial light isn’t as good as sun light

Please… jump in here and help with other worthwhile advise. Generally I feel it is more important to understand why to do something than to be told what to do… but here, with winter around the bend, those of us with trees going into their first winter need to be told!

For those reading here and looking for the answers, be aware. Remember this forum, like others, has individuals with differing levels of knowledge. Verify everything you read; ask questions of and about everything. In the end, you are the one in charge of your tree.

Back to packing…..

Jay

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A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

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