How Often to Water a Bonsai Tree

How often should you water a bonsai? Watering is the most basic task in bonsai care and is usually done every day. But it isn’t a matter of giving the same amount on a fixed schedule: check the soil first, and water thoroughly when the surface is dry.

Check the soil before you water

Bonsai pots are small and hold little soil, so they dry out faster than garden plants or ordinary potted plants. At the same time, giving too much water to a weak tree can cause its roots to rot.

The key is to check how dry the surface of the soil is before watering. When the surface is dry, water thoroughly until it runs out of the drainage holes.

Watering changes with the seasons

In hot, sunny weather the soil dries quickly and you will need to water more often. In cold weather it dries more slowly. Rather than fixing a number of times per day, judge by the state of the soil each day.

The right watering can

A strong stream can wash soil out of the pot or dig into the base of the trunk. A can with a fine rose lets you water without disturbing the soil. For the other tools a first tree needs, see our guide to bonsai tools for beginners.