How Often Should You Water a Bonsai Tree?

Bonsai trees are popular houseplants because of their exotic looks and their miniature size. One of the hardest parts of growing a bonsai is learning how to take care of it correctly, and watering is something that beginner bonsai owners often get wrong. To avoid killing your tree, start with the minimum suggested amount of water and then pay attention to how the bonsai reacts.

Bonsai trees in your house are confined to the pot you have them in; therefore, their root systems are unable to spread out the way they would if the tree were in the ground. Bonsai trees in the wild can find their own moisture by spreading their roots out, and they're able to adapt to their environment like this. But in a pot, the bonsai's roots are forced to stay in one place. They can't escape when you water them too much, and they can't spread out if you under-water them.

By watering your bonsai every day, you're probably drowning the tree. Too much water means the roots and surrounding soil can't absorb enough oxygen, and this causes the roots to start dying. As they die and the soil continues to get saturated as you water, bacteria form and the roots start rotting.

If you don't water your bonsai enough, it will die just like any other plant would die. The dirt will become dry, the leaves and branches will become brittle, and the tree will not survive. Under-watering your bonsai is just as dangerous as overwatering it.

If the dirt in your bonsai's pot is always damp, cut back on watering. If your bonsai's dirt is bone dry, you also have a problem. Signs of over- or under-watering include yellow leaves and collapsing branches. The best way to tell when to water your plant is to monitor the dirt; when the top begins to dry out, add a little water and wait until the next time it dries out a little. The inner dirt under the first centimeter or so should stay slightly damp.