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I've recently just received a Norwegian Spruce bonsai as a gift on 14/01/2022, the tree is 6 years old and currently living outside in a greenhouse-like shelter. I am from New Zealand, which has been experiencing a lot of heat lately, at times the temp in the shelter is reaching up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit). This is the first bonsai I've ever owned and still very new to the caring and tending processes. The bonsai is placed where it will receive direct sunlight for roughly 9 hours a day. I've been watering the tree for the first 3 days at night (around 10pm) once the temp cooled, though I fear I could have over-watered it. I noticed the soil was still very wet come 10pm on day 4, and decided not to give it more water, as the trunk also felt slightly spongy and was a little wobbly in its pot. The bonsai came with a care guide which stated I should be watering every single day, I've since learnt that you need to check the soil to be able to accurately tell whether it needs watering.

I've attached some photos of the browning / yellowing needles on the bonsai.

Thanks for any advice and I look forward to learning how to properly care for and cultivate a bonsai.

Norway spruce lives naturally here in very wet soil. I would be very supriced if it was possible to overwater in inorganic soil and 35 degrees. Most likelly not.

35 degrees is very rare in scandinavia. Maybe in your greenhouse like shelter it gets even warmer? Put it outside fully exposed to wind rain and unfiltered sun. Water abundantly over the whole surface until there are a steady stream of water pouring out the drainage holes. Do this a few to several times per day in this heat.

Can you find Norway spruce (non bonsai) in your normal garden center? Can you find them in gardens around you? Norway spruce is reported hardy to usda zone 2-9. Some of new zealand is just not within that range. Greenhouse adds 1-2 zoones.

Hey Tropfrog, thanks heaps for the information and advice. I've had a look around and most Norway spruce here seem to either be grown on mountain sides or in dedicated farms, which would be much cooler climates. Our typical garden centers don't seem to sell Norway Spruce trees. Where I live is rated a 10b on the New Zealand hardiness map, we do also get quite a lot of wind, and very harsh southerlies that bring a large chill.

I'll make sure to stay on top of watering it, especially with how hot it is getting.

You dont need to worry about southern cold winds. Norway spruce can survive and thrive in much harder condition. Most of the russian taiga is full of them

But for sure take it out of the greenhouse.

It might be beneficial to put it in the most shaded place in the warmest days (that is southern phasing at your place right?). I am not too sure thou. Our climates are so different.

Is it a Norwegian Spruce? If so what cultuvar is it?

The best thing to do is find a bonsai club near you. That will be a group of people in your climate who have kept trees alive in the heat, humidity, etc., you have.

In my area we get months of 35C/95F. Most of the time I water twice a day, once in the morning and again late afternoon.

If you have some leafy plants in a pot (like maybe a maple or elm bonsai) you can use the leaves as an indicator. If they look a little wilted, water them and remember the conditions and water before they start to wilt.

Hey TropFrog, yeah where I live the southern side gets the most amount of shade, so I've placed it open to elements and outside the greenhouse but not where it will receive the direct harsh sunlight.

I've done a little bit of looking around Rorror, and from what I can see it is a Picea abies, and yeah it is a Norway Spruce.

Thanks for the advice Ivan Mann, I'll be looking around to see if there are any clubs near me. Unfortunately I don't have any other bonsai type trees in my yard, I do have some fruit trees, mandarin, and fig. But they are all quite old and have been out there for years. I'll make sure to keep on top of checking the soil in these sort of temps.

Rimuru wrote:

I've done a little bit of looking around Rorror, and from what I can see it is a Picea abies, and yeah it is a Norway Spruce.

What makes you so certain?
From the few pictures you showed I would say it is highly unlikely.
Getting the species right is important.

Not a normal Norway Spruce, thats why i was asking.

I thinik i might be this cultivar Picea Abies 'Little Gem' , Little Gem Norway Spruce

This cultivar originated as a witch's broom that developed in the late 1950s on a specimen of Picea abies 'Nidiformis', the bird's nest spruce, which itself was a witch's broom that had been found on a Norway spruce. F.J. Grootendorst and Sons Nursery of Boskoop the Netherlands is credited with the broom's discovery, nomination and introduction to the nursery trade.

So it has nothing to do with Norway Spruce, and it actually came from a Picea abies 'Nidiformis'

There are a few round cultivars of norwegian spruce not generally used for bonsai. All have different names containing ball or globe. I dont find it impossible that it is one of them.