Help for winter
- Ribulah
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I'm in Canada and temperatures regularly reach -20c over winter. My bonsai is basically a sapling at this point. I purchased it in summer.
Due to circumstances I had to leave my bonsai with a horticulturist friend of mine over most of the summer up until now.
Upon the transfer back to me, my bonsai has been indoors for about a week now. I know getting them settled into dormancy is very important.
Temperatures are now going to be going down to regular below 0 status. I'm not sure if it is too late and I've messed up the induction of dormancy or not.
I know length of daylight is a big factor here.
Basically I'm asking if it is too late for my bonsai and if I've messed up badly or is there still hope. My bonsai means a lot to me and I very much do not want it to die.
I fear if I just put it outside again the temperature shock would surely kill it. I'm making an insulated box for over winter protection.
Any help would be greatly greatly appreciated.
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- Auk
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Ribulah wrote: My bonsai is basically a sapling at this point.
It is indeed, and it should not be in a bonsai pot. It will not develop sufficiently in there to become a bonsai.
Note that developing this into a real bonsai will take several years before you have something to really work with.
Temperatures are now going to be going down to regular below 0 status. I'm not sure if it is too late and I've messed up the induction of dormancy or not.
The temperature outdoors should not be a problem. The bad climate indoors (low humidity, high temperature, low light levels) are.
Basically I'm asking if it is too late for my bonsai and if I've messed up badly or is there still hope.
I can't tell. So far it doesn't look unhealthy.
I fear if I just put it outside again the temperature shock would surely kill it. I'm making an insulated box for over winter protection.
Keeping it indoors will kill it too. It needs to go outdoors. An unheated room would work, if you have one.
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- Ribulah
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- 333Adriaan333
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- Auk
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Ribulah wrote: As far as the pot that it is in, should I be transplanting it to a larger pot ASAP or is it too late now and I should just be concerned with getting it outside for the winter?
Never rush things. Now is not the right time. Just get it through the winter.
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- leatherback
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-20C is however a challenge for all plants, even hardy junipers. Try to keep it out of wind during those cold periods.
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- Ribulah
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