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Effects of Rain? 6 years 9 months ago #33764

  • Valkyrie2271
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I'm thinking of moving my Elm outside (and plan to get some outdoor bonsai in the future) and was just wondering how rain effects the watering process.

I assume that after rain, you only water the tree when the soil starts to get dry, but what would happen if I were to water my tree and then there was heavy rainfall? Would it cause root rot?

Is there any care information I need to be aware of in regards to heavy rainfall? I live in England, so it rains quite a lot and not knowing something vital could be a big problem :)

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Effects of Rain? 6 years 9 months ago #33765

  • Auk
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Is there any care information I need to be aware of in regards to heavy rainfall? I live in England, so it rains quite a lot and not knowing something vital could be a big problem :)


I live in the Netherlands - so it can rain a lot as well - and don't bother about rainfall. If it rains enough, I don't water. If it doesn't rain, I water, and it starts raining, no problem.
Water itself does not cause root rot. You do of course need to use proper soil and a pot with drainage holes.
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Effects of Rain? 6 years 9 months ago #33771

  • Travi51
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Rain water is probably the best water for your tree. Not only is it the perfect p.h. but it dosnt have the heavy minerals that you would find in tap, distilled water is also good but nothing compares to rain.
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Effects of Rain? 6 years 9 months ago #33778

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What about fertilisers? Would liquid fertiliser be worse in rainy weather?

Also, my liquid fertiliser says to use it once a week but a book I have says to only fertilise once a month. Which should I follow?

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Effects of Rain? 6 years 9 months ago #33779

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I would say follow the book. Use the fertilizer as directed but letting your tree get rain water is good for it
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Effects of Rain? 6 years 9 months ago #33780

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What about fertilisers? Would liquid fertiliser be worse in rainy weather?


No, of course not. It would dilute it.

Also, my liquid fertiliser says to use it once a week but a book I have says to only fertilise once a month. Which should I follow?


Follow the instructions that came with the fertilizer.
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Effects of Rain? 6 years 9 months ago #33781

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You both said different things, so that's slightly confusing :lol:

It makes more sense to me to follow the fertiliser, seeing as the book can't give exact specifications for every brand/type of fertiliser out there

Thanks for your help again :)

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Effects of Rain? 6 years 9 months ago #33782

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Sorry, follow auk
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Effects of Rain? 6 years 9 months ago #33784

  • Mimo
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You should base fertilizing not just on what you read in book or on the label of fertilizer.
It depends on you soil mix, and what you want to achieve.
If you want strong growth, fertilize more.
I use pure zeolite as a potting medium, so I fertilize with diluted fertilizer every week and I put pellets of organic one on top of zeolite every month.
Because in most cases I need strong growth as a beginner where all of my trrees are in the beginning of their journey and for the sake of zeolite that is anorganic and do not provide any nutritients for the plants.
So you have to take into account various factors.
For example you don´t want to fertilize freshly repotted or collected trees for few weeks etc....
Study, observe and make fertilizing schedule for yourself and your trees.

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Effects of Rain? 6 years 9 months ago #33790

  • eangola
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I have found that where I live rain generally helps but it is not enough. Think about it, it might be raining around a lot, but the amount of water getting in that tiny pot is a very small fraction. Where I live it rains for long periods of time, so if it is raining the entire week and it is mid summer I usually have to water twice that week maybe, or once if there are strong rainstorms in between days?. If it is dry and mid summer, I usually need to water 4-6 days a week. Rain can be tricky because if it is only a bit of rain it will get the top soil wet.

Last year I went on a trip and told someone to water my trees. It rained the entire week so he didn't water. I came back and the trees where dried out and looked bad...

The best thing is to have proper soil, so that root rot is not a risk. Then when it rains for long periods of time, you can still water your tree and be safe. I love liquid fertilizer.

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