Driver170,
Misting is good but no substitute for proper watering. I think new growers can really benefit from using what we call the chopstick method. Insert a chopstick or kitchen skewer into the denser portion of the soil and leave it there. Every day remove it and check for moisture by touching it to the underside of your wrist. If it is damp do not water that day. When the skewer is dry water liberally. Your pot does have a hole in it, correct?
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rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
The soil staying damp so long after a watering is a sign that at least the original soil it came in is not right for it, too much peat moss, too heavy, holds water too long. I have to say that even though you said that what you put around the edges is "bonsai compost" (I know in the UK you use "compost" to mean what we call potting mix), it still looks way more organic than I expect bonsai soil to be. Proper bonsai soil is very mineral, gritty, and free draining.
Here's a couple good discussions of bonsai soil:
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... =36&t=3422
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/bonsai/03/soil.html
Here's a couple good discussions of bonsai soil:
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... =36&t=3422
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/bonsai/03/soil.html