This video is all about winter Bonsai care. I share some basic tips for overwintering Bonsai and the methods that I use to ensure that my trees survive the winter season.
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When I first got started Bonsai and heard the term “overwintering”, I first thought that it was a complicated process. However, it is simply the term we give to helping trees through the coldness of winter.
Protecting trees from the frost is rather simple! Ideally you can bring the tree indoors and have it in a unheated room like a garage or basement. However for some (like me) this is not always an option. Instead I have decided to build a cold frame to place my trees into. If you are short for space you may also wrap the pots in bubble wrap or get frost blankets to put over your trees to keep them a little warmer.
The larger the pot that a tree is placed into, then generally the better the tree is to withstand the cold. With smaller Bonsai pots, it is definitely a good idea to overwinter them.
It is important that the trees are not brought into a heated room as it may break their dormancy. If this happens they will begin to “wake up” as if it were spring. Over time this can have a negative impact on the health of the tree and you will probably notice it start to decline in health. The goal with overwintering is to have the tree in a cool environment that is not too warm OR cold.
It is good to note that when creating the dormant spray with the lime sulphur, If the solution sits for a few days then the solution will not be as effective as if it were just mixed.
TIMECODES:
00:00 – Intro.
00:21 – What Is Overwintering?
00:45 – Warm Climates.
01:25 – Cold Climates.
02:15 – How To Protect Trees From Frost.
03:12 – Building A Cold Frame.
04:01 – Watering Tips.
05:21 – How Much Light Do They Need?
06:26 – Preparing Trees for The Cold Frame.
08:23 – Lime Sulphur Safety.
08:33 – Making A Dormant Spray With Lime Sulphur.
09:19 – Putting Trees Into The Cold Frame.
09:44 – BONUS! Opening The Package From Jason!
33 Comments
First ๐
Hi Adam. Another excellent video. Very informative and full of useful tips as always. I really like the fact that you generally work on smaller, less expensive material, thereby proving you don't need a big budget to have a lot of enjoyment from bonsai. Keep it up!
Great video Adam ๐
Seeing as the pot has waves on it, perhaps you could plant a tiny coastal tree like a scots pine or perhaps a japanese larch
Nice video! Since the pot is based on the Kanagawa wave, you could put another japanese icon in there: a Fuji cherry. Would look lovely in spring/sakura time.
Great video Adam very useful tips, I bought a couple of years ago similar store to yours but I got a cupboard style for my smaller trees. I love your new pot. All the best Adam with your bonsai.
Another great and USEFUL video Adam. I'm always anxious to watch your videos because of your presentation, your information and the quality of the video. It's like you are a combination of Nigel Saunders, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Harry Potter all in one person. THANK YOU for such great content.
Nice Adam, very useful tips!!
Really good video and the pot looks pretty good too. I also find for overwintering just getting the trees on the ground by the fenceline and buddy them up together in groups – but not on concrete if you can help it. Unfortunately once your hobby overtakes the size of your freespace this can become a bit of any issue ๐
I was considering a structure to use here in AZ, and this has given me an idea. This seems enough for the few nights our temps drop, and easy to collapse and store during summer. Thank you! Another great video!๐
Ah a beautiful pot, a blue wisteria would suit it. I have weeded and inspected my trees but not sprayed as yet. Sheltered my young jbps a lemon and an azalea by putting in greenhouse, if it gets below zero for 3/4 day my other trees will jo8n them. Great content,,,,keep growing.xx
Very useful video, Adam. There are surprisingly few overwinterimg videos out there and this stands up with the best of them. Heck, you even got Nigel's attention. And he's got snow in like, 80% of his videos. Haha. Keep it up!
By the way, after your last video, I was inspired to go buy another garden center Alberta and lucked out with a 18 inch twin trunk for 10 bucks. Can't wait to style it!
Very informative video….a lot of useful information in just 12 minutes. Thank you and much success to you!
Maybe a weeping plant would do nicely in that pot! Mimic the waves.
Hi Adam, nice informative video, just a point on the lime sulphur, should you not be covering the soil while spraying the tree ?
Hi Adam, please find my comment inserted in MartinBBB section ๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ
Really good informative video mate, and that pot is a beauty!
Here I am putting trees in the fridge over winter :D. Cherry or red maple would go nice in that pot.
I'm a little confused because you mentioned the corner in which you placed the cold frame gets a good amount of sunlight. Shouldn't you try to avoid getting your trees into sunlight while they are dormant, even more if they are placed in something similar to a greenhouse? I would've thought this might make your trees think its spring already and kill them eventually if the following weeks are still really cold.
Gratz on the win! Nice pot
I imagine that a chaenomeles japonica with its red flowers would contrast well with the colors of the pot. br
Good idea spraying them before winter . I stay in a area that can go down to minus 25 in a semi mountainous area in Bulgaria so I put my bonsai in a summer kitchen in the garden and open the doors through the day to let air flow and close them at night. Keeping fresh air flow when I can if it's not too cold
That pot is a beauty. Where do you get the Lime Sulphur? It might be banned in the EU, might try to get it smuggled accross the border ๐
liked for the beautiful hair + for the video
Hi ๐๐ป great video I need to get one of those as I was looking at some of my bonsais today & werenโt looking too good in the cold ๐ฅถ weather.
Adam another great video and very informative. That pot is a beautiful piece of art and I was watching when you were picked for it congratulations. A nice black pine or even a wisteria would look nice in that pot whatever you choose Iโm sure you will make it proud.
lovely pot, just about to start my winter wash this week end.
Great informative video. I really enjoy learning the different approaches of winter protection. Here in Connecticut winters can be quite severe. It seems that, like home made bonsai soil, everyone sorts out what works best for them. Videos like yours are always interesting and appreciated. Thanks, keep growing
I agree, Jason makes awesome videos and his garden is like Eden. I was lucky enough to win one of his books. That pot is beautiful. Participating in the YouTube bonsai community is extremely satisfying. Itโs a wonderful community to be a part of.
Great video!
Hey Adam what a great video with lots of tips for looking after our bonsai trees in the winter, it was a very technical video well done. Keep up the great videos and take care. ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ
Well who's a lucky boy winning that lovely pot, well deserved I'm sure Adam and it wll be nice to see what species you decide to plant into it. Maybe a tree that grows in coastal areas would suit the theme of the pot.
Impressed with your video production/editing. Guess thatโs your โday jobโ? Cheers, Richard.