To rescue a bonsai that’s turned crispy in too-hot sun, rehydrate the plant slowly. First, remove the bonsai to a shady spot. Use a spray bottle of water to soften the soil in the pot, which may be baked hard as concrete. Spray the leaves as well.

Next, water by submerging the pot into a pan of water up to the rim. Soak for 5-10 minutes and then remove the pot from the water. (If you leave it in too long you can suffocate the roots.)

Keep the plant in semi-shade until it recovers. Misting the leaves and stem when you water it will help. After about a week, cut off any obviously dead leaves. Resist the urge to fertilize until you see new growth, then feed lightly and place back in the sunshine.

Maples, azaleas and fruiting trees react to hot sun by scorched-looking leaves and trunks. Many bonsai fans keep these trees under 50% shade cloth or lath roofing during the hot summer months. At the very least, keep them protected from drying winds, especially the maples. Rotate pots weekly to prevent maple trunks from scalding. And always water deeply to flush fertilizer salts through the pot’s drainage holes, to prevent brown salt burn on the tips.

(August 1994)

Tag: Tree Care