How often and how to water my Bonsai Ficus?
The irrigation of the ficus bonsai is one of the issues that most concerns those who decide to have a specimen at home.
As with all species, there are various factors that play a fundamental role in establishing the frequency and quantity of water.
All this is facilitated when we bet on knowing in detail the basic strategies to carry out this care. And that is the topic that we bring you today, the irrigation of ficus bonsai, do you dare to join us?
Important points when watering a ficus bonsai:
- Irrigation frequency: on hot days up to two weekly waterings can be applied, while on cold days one watering will suffice.
- Irrigation method: Drip.
- Optimum time of day for irrigation: any time of the day, avoiding midday, which is when the temperature is highest.
- Identify excess water: weakening of the bonsai that culminates in its death.
- Identify lack of water: dry leaves.
What watering needs does the ficus bonsai have?
Ficus bonsai are usually planted in pots and kept indoors. This condition means that its irrigation needs have to be attended to without delay because its roots have no possibility of obtaining more moisture from the soil.
Ideally, the soil should always be slightly moist, so deep watering is recommended at each time it is to be applied.
How can we detect the lack of irrigation in the ficus bonsai?
When you forget to water your ficus bonsai or go on a trip for a few days, it is possible that the leaves begin to dry out.
It is a much less complex issue than when overwatering occurs because you only need to apply a deep watering so that the roots rehydrate.
It is also worth spraying the leaves with a little water several times a day.
How often should we water the ficus bonsai?
The frequency of irrigation will be determined by the particular conditions that operate at a given time. In fact, a ficus bonsai that is kept for a whole year in the same place, will have obligatory variations in frequency.
To get an idea of how to work on this issue, we must put observation into practice and apply irrigation at times when the land is drying up. It’s not waiting until it’s totally dry, but an appropriate point where the roots still have access to underground moisture.
Although it may seem complicated, the experience of touching the ground frequently will make this task easier for you. Of course, the risks should never be daily. For the most general conditions, it is normal to apply irrigation twice a week on hot days of the year and once a week on cold days.
What is the best way to water the ficus bonsai?
The best method is by dripping, using a small-hole gardening watering can to better control the administration of the liquid.
Irrigation in this case will be applied in two phases:
- Phase 1: Apply a generous amount of water, watering from the top of the plant until the water thoroughly moistens the entire soil.
- Phase 2: after about 10 minutes, repeat the process again, making sure that the pot begins to drain the liquid from the base, which will give you a signal that all the soil is definitely well moistened.
It is important that you keep the pot in a position where it can get rid of all excess water before you put it back in place. Failing that, you can place a plate under it where it collects the liquid and then remove it.
How do we detect excess water in the ficus bonsai?
Excess water in the ficus bonsai will undoubtedly lead to premature death.When there is not enough knowledge about the care of this species, it is common to think that the irrigation frequency is greater than it should.
If we add to this the fact that they are often planted in substrates with a low level of drainage, this situation can become chaotic. Remember that it is very important that these bonsai have sufficient moisture in the substrate, but no waterlogging.
If there is rainy weather, it is a good plan to collect this water to apply irrigation since it does not contain salt or harmful minerals. In this way, you will be applying a more suitable water to your ficus bonsai that will be proportionally reflected in its health.
In case you do not have access to rainwater, it is better to opt for purified water. With these ficus bonsai watering care and the rest of those recommended for this species, you will have beautiful and healthy specimens for a long time.
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