To water or not to water that is the question

doody

I have just repotted some of my bonsai in new training pots. They are translucent (see-through). When I look at them you can see moister in the soil mix, but when I dip my finger in (about 2-3 inches) I don't feel anything. Should I water them or not

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"What we see depends mainly on what we look for", because "Creation and art are defined only by the boundaries we confine ourselves"

both quotes written by authors unknown

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Earl

Until I started getting a little bit of feel for proper watering, I used the chopstick method. Stick a chopstick in several of the pots so you can learn to feel the differences. Pull the chopstick out (after its been in the pot for awhile). If it's damp it doesn't need watering. If its just almost dry or dry, water. It doesn't take long to get the "feel".

If I have been following your posts correctly, this is your first bonsai? If so, you might want to go a nursery and buy a couple 1 gallon Junipers or Pines. The trees in the 2 1/2" pots will be too small to do much with. But some inexpensive gallon trees will give you a lot to mess around with. You can always plant them in the yard if you don't like them! Just a thought...take it for what its worth.

Earl

danielmecseki

you can even pull out the tree with the soil and see wether it's wet or not. Then you can decide to water it.

doody

Thanks for the help.
Yes Earl, these are my first bonsai, but I did start buying some junipers from the nursery as learning tools. I thing I'll try the chopstick deal.

__________________
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for", because "Creation and art are defined only by the boundaries we confine ourselves"

both quotes written by authors unknown

jackmickelberg(deceased)

Hey!

My $.02- If you have good soil it's hard to overwater. When in doubt, I water.

Capt. Jack