Over wintering Japanese Snowbell Bonsai

[bnb]

Do Japanese Snowbell bonsais need a period of cold dormancy or can I grow them winter long under lights next to a camellia and pomegranate. I live in northern new jersey and am getting ready for the winter. Though according to the internet I am in zone 7a it gets down to zero for a few nights here during the coldest parts of winter.

 

[KikurageOtomo]

Do Japanese Snowbell bonsais need a period of cold dormancy or can I grow them winter long under lights next to a camellia and pomegranate. I live in northern new jersey and am getting ready for the winter. Though according to the internet I am in zone 7a it gets down to zero for a few nights here during the coldest parts of winter.

They absolutely need dormancy. I successfully overwinter mine in zone 5a using a detached, unheated garage where generally it sits at around 20 Fahrenheit most of the coldest points of the year. If you're in 7a I would imagine that even the most rudimentary of seasonal protections, such as mulching around the tree, would be more than sufficient.

 

[bnb]

Thanks

 

[JoseVicente]

They absolutely need dormancy. I successfully overwinter mine in zone 5a using a detached, unheated garage where generally it sits at around 20 Fahrenheit most of the coldest points of the year. If you're in 7a I would imagine that even the most rudimentary of seasonal protections, such as mulching around the tree, would be more than sufficient.

Do you take it out on nice sunny winter days?

 

[KikurageOtomo]

Do you take it out on nice sunny winter days?

By my understanding, it would be quite pointless. Deciduous trees aren't photosynthesizing at all, they're waiting for a chemical reaction tied to a set amount of time spent below a particular temperature before they will pop out of dormancy. Evergreens are sort of different, they can opportunistically photosynthesize when temperatures allow for it, even in the midst of their semi-dormancy. Personally I don't really bother, the information I've seen on their ability to do so during their dormant period implies that the gains are quite negligible. I'd possibly change my stance if I had an evergreen that was limping along and had concerns for its viability through the winter.