Nature’s simplest pleasure-rain-can offer a range of benefits to a bonsai tree. Rainwater contains important minerals and nutrients that can help nourish the soil and support the growth of your bonsai.
However, when it rains hard, and the weather turns cold, the leaves of your tree can be easily damaged by frost damage or windburn due to high winds. That’s why it’s important to choose an appropriate time and place to leave your bonsai in the rain.
Generally speaking, there are two occasions when experts recommend leaving a bonsai out in the rain: Early spring storms, which can stimulate new growth, and summer storms, which may introduce beneficial minerals like nitrogen into the soil.
Contrary to popular belief, you should not leave your bonsai out in heavy snow or intense hail, such as takes place during some winter storms. Heavy snow is known for burying plants too deep in their root systems, leading to dehydration and even death over time.
In most cases, if you want to enjoy the rain with your bonsai tree outdoors but still remain safe from any risks caused by extreme weather, you should plan accordingly, timeframe-wise! Make sure you move it back indoors if conditions start looking more dangerous or extreme than expected.