Page 43 - Tài liệu cây cảnh Bonsai4me Bonsai Basics

Some bonsai sources will recommend watering a bonsai by immersing the

bonsai pot in water for a while. This is not a recommended way of watering your
trees. Watering by immersion is a way of getting water to penetrate compacted,
very poor quality organic soils. If a bonsai needs to be watered by immersion, it
is in trouble and particularly prone to the effects of overwatering and weak roots.
If a vendor recommends that you water by immersion, suspect that this is
because the tree is in poor soil and is therefore difficult to water properly. Also
suspect that the tree will be weak, slow growing and very possibly have root-
related problems. Make holes in the soil around the edge of the pot using a
chopstick or similar, to allow water to penetrate the soil and repot at the earliest
opportunity (most commonly during the following Spring) into a better quality
(preferably inorganic) soil.
Other Watering Problems

Bonsai composts should always be free draining. Compacted, poor-draining
composts can cause many of the problems associated with under-and
overwatering. Bonsai compost should be open enough to allow water to
penetrate throughout and to ensure that excess water is able to pass out through
the drainage holes immediately.
Compacted soils slow the penetration of water, which will tend to sit on top
of the compost surface and run over the sides of the pot or down the inner edges.
Once properly wetted, poor bonsai composts can hold too much water and little
oxygen, which can eventually lead to problems associated with overwatering.
Extra care should be carried out when watering trees potted in poor draining
compost that should then be replaced at the next repotting.