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Bonsai Care in Winter

Bonsai care in winter is a serious concern. All container plants need special consideration during winter - bonsai included. Indoors and out, there are many techniques to keep your bonsai safe.

Winter Care of Tropicals

If you live in the tropics, snow is rarely a problem. ficus bonsai tree, plant blanket, plant freeze, bonsai tree

However, when the cold does head south into tropical and subtropical regions, even a light frost for some plants can be devastating.

Growers in warm climates, often use 'plant blankets' (as shown above). This lightweight fabric can add 2-8 degrees F to the temperature, depending upon the type you use.

seagrape bonsai, bonsai trees, winter plant care
Plastic tents and many other creative protective arrangements are not unusual for even colder situations.

This photo is of a zip-up cover created from two drop-down sides of an old tent. Before it was zipped, I placed a bed sheet over the tree.

A word of caution - when using any type of plastic, always protect your trees with a layer of cloth or even newspaper under the plastic cover. Plastic conducts cold and direct contact can cause great damage.

If you can carry your bonsai, bring them indoors for the best protection!

Growing tropicals outside warm climates? A small greenhouse may be ideal.

Also see the page on growing bonsai trees indoors, which includes special lighting links.

Winter Care of Other Than Tropicals

These are Harry Harrington's bonsai under the snow in England.

bonsai trees, bonsai care, bonsai

While traveling, I've seen amazing 'plant pits', cold houses and half-in-the-ground preparations. However, winter in colder zones is not my field of expertise.

My suggested reading is Harry's excellent article on Care in Winter.

Have A Great Winter Story or Photo?

Send photos and thoughts on how you care for bonsai in winter. Have you built special winter protection? Maybe you leave your trees unprotected and have some great snow pictures. Do you have a great tip to protect bonsai pots? Share with us!

Although it's optional, please give us your name and where you live, so we can better understand your winter weather.

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See Other Winter Photos and Comments

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Bonsai Garden In The Snow
Here are some pictures of my NE Ohio bonsai garden during the winter. I don't leave any trees out during the winters here. It can easily get to zero degrees ...

Over-WinteringTropicals in NE Ohio and touchy hardy plants outside
Here are a few shots of my light racks in my basement where I overwinter about 1/2 of my tropicals during our long winters. These racks share space with ...

Snow on my juniper and willow
This was my first (real) year of having bonsai. I had a little tree 2 years ago, and made it myself and thought it was a bonsai... but it was not.

I ...

The gang last winter Not rated yet
Hi guys,
My name is Lance and this is how my trees made it through last winter....well most of them. They Azalea (front left) and one of the privets(top ...

Over-Wintering in the North East Not rated yet
During the winter in NE Ohio I overwinter my hardy trees in an unheated greenhouse from about Thanksgiving until the end of April. Plants that are more ...

SNOW outside - Bonsai inside Not rated yet
We had about 18-20 inches of snow on my daughter's week-end visit for her birthday. Thank you Ma Nature!

If you look past my trees and out the window,...

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