One of the fundamental bases for the conception, realization and cultivation of bonsai is the choice of the right soil. It must be porous for effective and rapid drainage. This is only one of the prerogatives for a successful bonsai cultivation. They are just as important and vital for the plant. The bonsai in fact requires frequent and abundant watering but this has specific rules that must be followed carefully. First of all, it is good to know that excess water can be the cause of harmful fungi growth and root rot. Both of these damages can be avoided by following a few tips. Knowing how much water you need is therefore the first step to take.

It is important to adopt a method for testing the moisture content of the soil. The rather simple thing; in fact, it is necessary to touch the surface of the ground with the thumb not before making space between the protective gravel. In this way you will be able to know the degree of humidity and adjust accordingly with watering. A more accurate test is to use a normal analog or digital moisture meter for an accurate reading. The ground, however, could be wet or dry on the surface or up to the distance of the thumb of our hand but from that point on, the mystery remains as to how the unreached part is located. One way to find out is to see if there are dry spots in the pot which are harmful if close to the roots. Obviously, if there are, it means that there are certainly others deeper and therefore the thing becomes more complicated. Therefore, more humidity is needed to save the plant. To make sure that all the soil is adequately moistened, once a month you have to immerse the whole pot up to the base of the tree in a bucket or basin filled with water, let the pot absorb it (for a few minutes) then, remove it with carefully lifting it sideways and never off the shaft. If the soil mix is ​​correct and the plant has no diseased roots, the excess moisture will drain to the bottom of the pot tray. If the tray is full, then it is still better to insert the pot in it so that the water visible to us is reabsorbed by the roots, considering it as a supply. This operation is important as we are able to know that the excess water flows optimally and therefore, the drainage of the soil does not create problems for the roots, thus preventing them from rotting.

However, some bonsai may require a larger dose of water in a day. This depends on the climate and above all from species to species. Pines and other conifers, for example, need less water. They even tend to benefit from short periods of drought. Flowering trees, on the other hand, need much more water. Finally, a last tip to test the health of the plant and its roots is to check if there are principles of dry leaves or withered flowers. All these precautions, therefore, in their ease and simplicity, are however of fundamental importance to know the health of the bonsai, and to know with certainty the amount of daily food (water) that must be administered for healthy, luxuriant and lasting growth.