Hey everybody, I've had my bonsais a bit under a year (started from seeds) and am seeing my Ficus and Jacaranda growing roots through their drainage holes. Originally, I was under the impression that water that drains should be left in these trays to help with humidity, especially since they are indoor year round. However, I have noticed a few leaves (one a week over the past month) lower on the trunk of my Ficus begin to turn yellow, indicating overwatering.
I water my trees once a day while the pot is still in the tray and notice some drainage, though the remainder is always gone by the next morning.
I have a few thoughts on the matter and hoped a more knowledgable individual would be able to confirm what steps I should take to keep my trees healthy.
I water my trees once a day while the pot is still in the tray and notice some drainage, though the remainder is always gone by the next morning.
I have a few thoughts on the matter and hoped a more knowledgable individual would be able to confirm what steps I should take to keep my trees healthy.
- My trees are maturing, meaning more water is moving through the trunk. This might indicate the leaves lower on the trunk are absorbing more water than necessary. If this is the case, I should simply trim these leaves as they begin to yellow and leave the roots/drained water in the tray.
- There is too much water left in the tray after draining and should be emptied to keep the roots from absorbing too much. This will reduce humidity, but is the healthy choice in the long run. Alternatively, I could water my bonsais over a sink and allow the majority of the drainage to be expelled, leaving the remains to collect in the tray.
- I should trim these longer roots and continue watering as normal. (I plan to repot in the spring and perform a more aggressive root trimming, but don't want my bonsais to die while waiting)
