digger714

Hello, this is my first winter with Bonsai. I have about 10 plants in growing pots, and 10 in nursery pots. I have them on the cold side of my house. Protected from wind and direct sun. Do the plants need any direct sun? I have mulch around the pots. THis is our first week of below freezing temps. Its getting down to 18 - 20 at night, and up to 30-35 in the day. It probably doesnt get that warm on my storage side of the house. Should i water these during the day to make sure the roots dont freeze without a water "blanket". I made sure they were well watered when it started to freeze. The top of the dirt is frozen, will watering when frozen hurt them? Should i use very cold water, or luke warm? Any other advice would be appreciated.

Brad

Phil

The question really can't be answered unless we know what type of tree(s) you have. If they are all deciduous THIS might be of some help.

By the way.....welcome to BonsaiCHAT!

~Phil~

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digger714

Sorry about that. I have 3 Japanese Black Pines. Around 1-2" trunks. . I have a JBP thats about 4" that i dug up last spring. I have a Shimpaku juniper thats about 4" or so. I have a Trident maple around 2 1/2". Scots pine about 2". A couple of Zuisho white pines 1/2" or so. 3 Japanese Maples 1" -2". These are in large growing containers. I have a few Japanese White pines in nursery containers. A couple of Procumbens nana 2 gallon nursery containers. A couple of cotoneaster horizontalis. A couple of Ginkgo's. Id say a few more conifers than deciduous, but close to half & half. Those are the main ones. Thanks for any help.

Brad

treebeard55

Nice starter collection, Brad!

Once the rootball of a hardy tree freezes, there's not much point in watering. Freeze-and-thaw, in fact, is what you want to protect against: that cycle can break roots. Best to let them freeze and stay frozen until spring. They are designed to have that happen.

My hardy trees are outside under a fabric that still lets light and some snowmelt thru. Cold water won't do much harm, tho it often doesn't do any particular good, either.

If it makes you more comfortable, water sparingly with cold water. Don't use hot water, or you risk freeze-and-thaw damage.

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digger714

Thanks Treebeard for the good info. Thats exactly what i wanted to know. Ive been landscaping for years. I have sprinkler systems for my gardens, and flowerbeds, but this watering in the winter is totally new to me. We usually dont stay below freezing for more than a few hours at night. Then usually warms up into the 40's or higher in the day. Then there might be a few days it gets below freezing for extended periods. This weather we are having is very uncommon. Thanks again for the info.

Brad

treebeard55

Hmmm. Your temperatures cross the freeze line, back and forth, more than ours do. Not trying to worry you, but that, as we've said, can lead to problems. (Up here, I can be sure beyond reasonable doubt that my hardies will stay frozen until I take them out of their shelter in the spring.)

Are your trees where they will freeze and stay frozen? (Most of the time, anyway, until spring?) Alternatively, is there someplace where you could keep them, where the temperatures would stay above freezing but below about 42F? In a case like that, they'd stay dormant, but you wouldn't risk freeze-and-thaw.

Actually, the best advice I can give you is to seek out the closest bonsai club, and find out what the people there do. They grow bonsai in the same conditions you have.

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Treebeard 55
Steve Moore
http://hoosierbonsai.blogspot.com

The most important bonsai tool is your brain.