I think it's very important Bob. I wonder what happened to Alexander, my big Meyer while we were away. We were gone for a week to the beach and my uncle stayed at my house to take care of all the animals and trees. He has been getting more and more yellow leaves and is not looking nearly as strong as when I left him. I am not sure what happened, but I wonder if he either under or overwatered him. It has been very very hot here. I'm a little worried.

And your trees look so great Bob! Those figs look ready...wow. I wish mine were, but I have a bit longer to wait.

In good commercial nurseries, watering is never done by the new employees, but by experienced workers. That's because watering can do either a lot of damage or a lot of good.

Laura, your tree’s are better, don’t kid yourself. Btw, do you want a couple of Thong Dee sions, you will not be sorry, just regraft or add to one you don’t like. Laura, I grafted some persimmon the same time I had send you sions, I think I might have some fruits next year..

Next time, you want to leave, call me, I,ll take care your tree’s and animals, they might not like you when you come back. I take them out and feed them what I grow and will lose their manners, just call.

Silica, you know so much, sharing just bits and pieces here and there, not right.

Bob watering took me ages to get down! Some people are just good at it from the get go with a green thumb, I was born with black thumbs sadly lol it’s only thanks to people here and lots of years of trials that I’ve gotten this far :)

It depends what climate you're in. If you are in the Western half of the US, watering is imperative over the Summer. consistent watering, with low flow that is allowed to trickle deep into the soil

William D Tisdale filed a patent for a decorative plastic flower pots in 1958 for the Illinois Tool Works Inc. Thermoplastic pots are cheap to manufacture with recycled resin and light weight to lift but they create watering problems that never existed prior with clay pots. The average first time gardener/home owner is around 32 years old. The median age at the garden centers here appears to be college age 18-22 years old with no prior garden experience. Watering is as easy or hard as you want to make it by the selection of potting mix and potting container.

u may need to order larger clay pots from a manufacturer of clay flowerpots

Mangoes are a lot harder to water correctly. I've lost mangoes over winter and in really rainy periods in summer.

In Japan, to become a certified in bonsai the student/apprentice has to spend about 5 years with a master. Out of that 6-12 months in the beginning is dedicated to learning how to water properly. The goal is to focus, almost meditatively, and be extremely aware of the season, needs of each plant, type of soil, etc. At the same inspect each plant and take mental notes of problems that need to be addressed. During this early indoctrination period the student is not allowed to do anything interesting like pruning/repotting/styling but must help and watch.

To me it is meditative since it helps me focus and be immersed in the task and carefully making mental pictures of state of each plant.

Tropics, you know that the Japanese always go in extreme, like the Chinese at one time.

Not going that route, not needed. I am already doing more than needed.

sometimes you need to go somewhere in the middle

Bob, I am very aware of Japanese going to the extreme in many things they do. Just wanted to put it out there as a different viewpoint.

I do not berate them, I think it’s a good way for some to go in extreme, the Germans do it.

You and me don’t. In modern time, don’t think it’s needed. My tree’s are happy, but than they probably don’t know any better.