How to Take Care of Bonsai During the Summer Season?

Summer can be a difficult time for Bonsai – the sun is heated, the air’s dry, and your tiny tree buddy needs some extra care, love, and attention to stay healthy and vibrant. But no worries, we have got your back! 

If you are looking for a large bonsai tree for sale and wish to become the ultimate Bonsai caretaker, look no further than Artisans Bonsai. Whether you are a professional Bonsai enthusiast or a beginner looking to level up your plant care game, knowing the right steps to take during the summer months will make all the difference.

Although it is obvious that bonsai plants require more water, there are other considerations to make that you should read carefully. Let’s have a look:

1. Direct sunlight

Many Bonsai need sunlight to grow but that does not mean they want sunlight throughout the day. Excessive temperature can heat the bonsai pot and soil and might even burn the leaves. Therefore, make sure your bonsai gets morning and evening sunlight, with some afternoon shade.   

2. Watering Pattern

According to an old Japanese proverb, you should water your soil, pot, and bonsai three times each. The leftover water is for the bonsai roots after those are taken care of. The soil requires nourishment, even though a pot may hold to water.

You need to ensure the water is not hot because it can burn the roots while damaging the soil if you are using water from the tap or a hose. To protect your trees from over-watering, you can use a good soil moisture meter to check the water evaporation level.   

Sunlight-loving bonsai plants will absorb as much as they can, thus they will require frequent watering. Water your plants if you think the soil is dry. By testing every day, you can gradually determine how frequently your bonsai requires water.

3. Check your soil

This depends on which type of soil you use as follows:

• Real bonsai soil – real bonsai soil is a dirt-less soil made up of ¼” sized aggregates that are either volcanic in nature like lava rock, pumice, etc. or calcined clays. It may also contain ¼” sized pine bark. It contains no actual dirt at all.

The aggregates in real bonsai soils are designed to absorb the water passing by when you water and release it back to the tree throughout the day. This soil provides excellent air flow and drainage for the roots which helps to prevent root rot

When using bonsai soil, it’s best to use a shower nozzle and water (daily) the whole tree and pot from overhead to saturate the whole surface. Water will start pouring out the bottom right away but keep watering. It is very easy to underwater bonsai soil but impossible to overwater it.

• Regular potting soil - Water can cause standard potting soil to compress, shift through the drainage holes, or spill over the edges. It is important to regularly replenish the soil to ensure the roots remain adequately covered.

Regular potting soil can also become compacted. Compacted soil has a harder time allowing water to seep through and can cause your bonsai to dry out quicker. It also does not allow for sufficient air flow as does bonsai soil. 

For the best results we recommend using bonsai soil for all your bonsai trees. Stop by our website and check out our 3 pre-mixed bonsai soils today.

4. Location

Try to arrange a shaded place for your bonsai tree during high summer temperatures to avoid direct sunlight. Because of this, two things are achieved:

• It allows the leaves to stay green and pretty.
• Maintain humidity for a longer time.

5. Spread moss around the plant bed

Now is a fantastic time to plant moss around the base of your bonsai plant if you want to be proactive. Note: Do not allow the moss to grow onto the tree as it will cause damage to the tree.

For bonsai, moss is great because it retains moisture and acts as cooling insulation for the roots. Adding a covering of moss to your potting will help protect your bonsai plant from the summer's harsh conditions.

6. Watch the leaves carefully

Keep a close eye on your bonsai leaves because most of them will first show symptoms of sickness. If you notice the leaves look yellow or worse, it is a major red flag that summer heat harms your bonsai tree. At that point, give the bonsai additional water, provide more shade, or do whatever it takes to bring it indoors until it recovers. Your bonsai is already having problems if the leaves are discolored. 

7. Tools

Bonsai tools are available in a wide range of quality levels, including:

Samurai Power Carving Tools (6mm)

• • Samurai Jr. Bonsai Carving Bit 361 (6mm)
  • Bonsai Wire Brush Shaft SB-3306 (6mm) for SB-3308 brushes
  • Ronin Bonsai Carver Bit 371 (6mm)
  • Geisha jr Bonsai Carving Bit 671 (6mm)
  • Geshia Bonsai Carving Bit 670 (6mm)
  • Ninja Bonsai Carving Bit 615 (6mm)
  • Samurai Bonsai Carving Bit 610 (6mm)
  • Shogun Master 651 (6mm)

Samurai Power Carving Tools (3mm)

• • Samurai Jr. 362 (3mm) Bonsai Carving Bit
  • Ronin Bonsai Carving Bit 372 (3mm)
  • Samurai mini 363 (3mm) Bonsai Carving Bit
  • SB-3305 3mm Bonsai Tool Shaft (for SB-3308 brushes)
  • Ball Shaped Bonsai Carver (3mm) extra long shaft
  • SB-3301 24mm Steel Bonsai Brushes (3mm shaft)

Stainless Steel Bonsai Tools

• • Stainless Steel Bonsai Sheers
  • Hugo 8.66″ Stainless Steel Rake with Spatula
  • Hugo 7.08 Stainless Steel Scissors
  • Hugo 8.26″ Stainless Steel Concave Cutter
  • Hugo 7.87 Stainless Steel Scissors
  • Hugo 8.26 Stainless Steel Scissors
  • Hugo 8.26″ Stainless Steel Wire – Jin Pliers
  • Hugo 8.26″ Stainless Steel Wire Cutter
  • Hugo 11.02″ Stainless Steel Knob Cutter
  • Hugo 8.07″ Stainless Steel Concave Cutter (Round Edge)
  • Hugo 11.02″ Stainless Steel Concave Cutter
  • Hugo 7.08″ Stainless Steel Shohin Concave Cutter
  • Hugo 8.26″ Stainless Steel Knob Cutter

Carbon Steel Bonsai Tools

• • 11″ Carbon Steel Concave Cutter
  • 8″ Carbon Steel Concave Cutter
  • 9″ Carbon Steel Jin Pliers
  • 8″ Carbon Steel Wire Cutter
  • 8″ Carbon Steel Knob Cutters

These tools are designed to minimize damage to delicate branches and roots, which is crucial for the longevity and aesthetics of the bonsai. Additionally, having the right tools makes the overall maintenance process more efficient and enjoyable, allowing for more detailed, mindful care that supports the growth of a strong, well-formed tree.

8. Repotting

The bonsai plant will slow down its growth and get ready for the next winter months by the middle of summer. It emphasizes the growth of seeds and flowers. In the spring, broad leaves grow roots quickly, so you might need to report them sooner than you think. Standard practice is to repot your trees every 1 to 2 years.

Your bonsai trees should flourish in the summer if you give them regular summer maintenance. Additionally, now is the ideal season to add a new bonsai tree to the family.

9. Pest control

Some pests are more active in the summer season. Due to their rapid reproduction and preference for hot, dry environments, you should always keep an eye out for spider mites on your bonsai plant.

However, since bonsai plants do not react well to insect damage when they are dormant, you need to keep the pest number low during this time of year. Since plants do not absorb pesticides well when they are dormant, the late summer is the ideal time to apply systemic insecticides.

Conclusion:

The bonsai plant undoubtedly enjoys heat and sunlight, but if you don't give it extra attention throughout the summer, it could die. Every step is essential to preserving the health of your bonsai, from controlling sunlight exposure and modifying watering schedules to keeping an eye on soil levels and offering shade. Additionally, proactively managing pests and utilizing the appropriate tools will help protect your tree from typical summertime problems. In addition to surviving the summer, your bonsai will flourish with proper care, guaranteeing that it will continue to be a stunning and enduring addition to your collection.

If you are looking for bonsai trees for sale, don’t forget to check out our awesome selection of Bonsai trees and care products over at Artisans Bonsai.