WHERE DO I PLACE MY BONSAI - ALSO IN WINTER?
Bonsai trees and temperatures vary so much that it can be a very hard question to answer. But we are going to try and answer it as sensible as possible.
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| Apiesdoring (Acasia) |
OUTDOOR TREES
Outdoor trees would be the indigenous trees that is found in your area and that grows in the field. Outdoor trees must be placed in a bright spot. This means that they should have at least 6 hours of morning sunlight daily. Having less sunlight than this will result in the tree suffering to grow properly. Just remember that you have to water more regularly if it gets direct sun, as the pots are shallow and dries out quickly. Please refer to how do I water a bonsai tree: https://silverstreambonsai.blogspot.com/2017/08/how-do-i-water-bonsai-tree.htm
In South Africa the sun is very harsh, so you might want to place your bonsais under a shade cloth. Don't exceed 50% shadecloth! The ideal is 40 % shade cloth. Also make sure that your bonsai tree has good ventilation. They do not like dark, cold and damp places.
A good method to see whether your tree is happy in it's circumstances, is to watch the growth. If the tree is suffering to grow, it might be that it need fertiliser or that there is too little sunlight. If the growth is too abundant and gives long shoots, your tree is getting way to much shade.
INDOOR TREES
In South Africa we do not have a lot of indoor trees that is indigenous. However, the following trees can be held indoors:
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| Ficus Burt Davyi (Protect in winter) |
Fig trees
Lollipops
BUT.. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY GET GOOD FILTERED SUNLIGHT!! Keep them near a window that has at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Bonsais love and need the sun to grow. Also make sure there is good ventilation. Please do not put bonsais on the ground, but rather on a small table! The reason for this is that bonsais that stays on the ground are normally neglected because they are not seen regularly.
WHAT ABOUT WINTER?
In nature trees can normally handle rather severe cold temperatures. The reason for this is that their roots are deep under the ground and cannot freeze. Bonsai trees are normally planted in shallow pots, so their roots is not deep under the ground exposing them to the danger of easily freezing. Therefor they must be protected in winter. You can keep your trees in a greenhouse in winter, if you have one availabe. You can also use covers around the pots to protect the roots of your bonsai. In warm environments you can leave your trees unprotected in winter.
Fig trees MUST BE TAKEN INSIDE IN THE WINTER! This is for places that get frost in winter. Figs trees are normally found in Kwazulu Natal with it's wonderful moderate temperature. So it will die in other places in South Africa that do get frost.
Also remember to bring all your bonsais indoors, or just put them under a roof, if temperatures go lower that -3 degrees Celcius in winter. This includes indoor as well as outdoor trees. If the temperature drops below -3 degrees, they might get black frost and will die immediately.
Black frost (taken directly from The Free Dictionary)
Black frost (or "killing frost") is not strictly speaking frost at all,
because it is the condition seen in crops when the humidity is too low for frost to form, but the temperature falls so low that plant tissues freeze and die, becoming blackened, hence the term "black frost". Black frost often is called "killing frost" .
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| Black frost (Killing frost) on plants |
When you do place your bonsais in a hot house, please make sure that the temperatures is not to warm inside. This will motivate the bonsai trees to come out of their winter rest and start to grow. When temperatures drop again, they will have no natural protection and new buds and leaves will die.
PLEASE BE AWARE of late frost that can caught you off guard. Be sure to watch the weather forecasts daily - even when it is spring and summer already. In South Africa this year, 2017, we had severe cold temperatures in October! So be sure to look out for your tree, just the same as you would look out for your child!
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN WINTER;
Check your bonsai tree regularly for pests and diseases - also in winter. Please water your bonsai tree in winter also, just not as regularly than in summer. Remember: they are just dormant, not dead, so they do need water. Please see this article for more tips on watering a bonsai: https://silverstreambonsai.blogspot.com/2017/08/how-do-i-water-bonsai-tree.html
Bonsai greetings!
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