When should growth stop?

[William Dinitzen]

When should you expect growth to stop for the season? September? October? My trees have been quite inactive since mid October, is everything alright? Its my first full season of growing.

 

[rockm]

When should you expect growth to stop for the season? September? October? My trees have been quite inactive since mid October, is everything alright? Its my first full season of growing.

Your trees are fine. They're doing exactly what they should be doing-stopping extension growth and dropping leaves. Mine are all getting their first frosts here in Virginia. They're doing the same. I typically put them under mulch in the garden beds at the end of November. Exposure to Frosts and shallow freezes above 25 help them "harden off" tissues in preparation for winter's deeper cold. I leave them out on the benches until then, unless extreme cold threatens (below 25 F-about -3 to -4 C).

 

[William Dinitzen]

Your trees are fine. They're doing exactly what they should be doing-stopping extension growth and dropping leaves. Mine are all getting their first frosts here in Virginia. They're doing the same. I typically put them under mulch in the garden beds at the end of November. Exposure to Frosts and shallow freezes above 25 help them "harden off" tissues in preparation for winter's deeper cold. I leave them out on the benches until then, unless extreme cold threatens (below 25 F-about -3 to -4 C).

Alright good nothing seemed particularly out of order, just wanted to be cautious, thanks for answering

One thing i cant wrap my head around though, is that people talk so much about overwatering and so on in regards to indoor trees or summer seasons, so why do we leave the trees outside in rain 15-20/30 days a month in autumn with no problems at all? Is the overwatering not as big of an issue in summer as its made out to be? Why is is stated as the cause for so many issues when i seemingly havent had any issues with overwatering so far in my 1 year of keeping bonsai.

 

[rockm]

Alright good nothing seemed particularly out of order, just wanted to be cautious, thanks for answering

One thing i cant wrap my head around though, is that people talk so much about overwatering and so on in regards to indoor trees or summer seasons, so why do we leave the trees outside in rain 15-20/30 days a month in autumn with no problems at all? Is the overwatering not as big of an issue in summer as its made out to be? Why is is stated as the cause for so many issues when i seemingly havent had any issues with overwatering so far in my 1 year of keeping bonsai.

Overwatering is not a huge problem if your soil and pot drain well. If they don't, yeah, it can be an issue.

Before I cover pots in the garden bed with mulch, I make sure pots are level, have drainage space underneath (use bricks under the feet) and that the over wintering bed itself drains as well. Leaving trees in conditions where roots are flooded over the winter is a recipe for disaster.

 

[Paradox]

Many of use use bonsai soil that drains very well. I water my trees every day sometimes twice a day in the hottest part of the summer.
Never had root issues unless the drain holes got clogged with fine roots

 

[It's Kev]

There are so many factors to consider, types of trees, location, what you’ve done to them this year

I gave 2 different olives a hard chop in summer and they still look different every day when I see them coz if the growth they’re pushing out.

Azalea and elm are pushing new growth, azalea, no idea why, elm, probs because I’ve been pinching and wiring it semi constantly.

With all this new growth I was hoping to get another flush of foliage from my baobab, but ever since October happened 2 of my African trees said: f%#k your plans, we’re hibernating.

Ginkgo dropped leaves right on schedule with everyone else’s regardless of my warmer climate, didn’t do any work on it

Citrus are also pushing new growth rather surprisingly, also didn’t do any work on it either.

You’ll learn your trees’ habits as years go by, there might be guides from others in your climate zone but sometimes trees just have a will of their own