Does Rain Damage Bonsai Trees?

We get lots of people contacting us with bonsai related questions. Here is one on how rain affects bonsai trees. The question being does rain damage bonsai trees.

Hi Adam
I recently purchased a Chinese elm from you and after reading your advice have decided to leave it outside in a sheltered area of garden. As I am new to keeping bonsai trees and reading up lots about watering techniques I was wondering if left outside the tree would get too much water causing the roots to rot. As I am planning to buy a few more different plants I would like to do what I can to keep them healthy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

Simon

Hi Simon

Thanks again for buying from us.

I find that no amount of rain bothers elms and most other trees. Most of them love it and even if it rains solidly for days, it doesn’t bother them.

The only exception might be some of the pines, such as Japanese White Pine. Even with these though, it more about keep the needles short, as bonsai growers prefer this. The tree itself doesn’t care.

That’s not to say that you can’t overwater them. You certainly can. It’s just that it takes a while for this to happen and I’ve never known it to rain enough, it would have to be solid heavy rain for weeks. As I say, I have never found it to be a problem. In fact, I’d go for some heavy rain right now lol.

Thanks