Japanese white pine: growing features. Bonsai pine - the art of unique trees

Literally translated, the word “bonsai” means grown on a tray. Essentially, bonsai is an art that involves growing a miniature copy of a tree. It originated at the end of the 8th century, in China, and was the main decoration of the imperial court. Since that time, many styles have emerged that differ in the structure of the trunk and crown. Bonsai trees are outdoor trees, their size varies from two centimeters to one and a half meters. Even if you do not know how to grow bonsai at home, this art becomes accessible thanks to the article.

Trees for bonsai - types and features

Some people mistakenly believe that bonsai is some kind of crop characterized by dwarf size and bizarre shape. Actually this is not true. You can grow bonsai from almost any tree. The main condition is to know which culture is suitable for creating a harmonious miniature copy.

1. Juniper, serviceberry, spruce and rhododendron 8-20 cm.
2. Barberry, field and rock maple, privet, mountain pine 20-30 cm.
3. Scots pine, American maple, birch, hazel, elm 30-70 cm.
4. Linden, larch, ash, ash-leaved or sycamore maple, oak, beech, black pine 60-100 cm.
5. Wisteria, chestnut, black pine, plane tree, elderberry, acacia 100-130 cm.

Seeds of the tree you like can be purchased at a botanical garden, a specialty store, or collected in a city park. A good option for beginners - buy seed in China. The seeds of trees such as spruce, pine, fir, oak or euonymus are ready for planting after collection.

Seeds of other plants must remain dormant for some time and undergo stratification.

Seed stratification as a measure of preparation for sowing

There are seeds that are specially prepared before planting - these are sakura seeds. In fact, the Japanese cherry tree (sakura) is an ideal material for creating bonsai. From the seeds of Japanese sakura, you can create real masterpieces that will amaze with their amazing shapes. In order for the plant to germinate properly, the seeds of this tree are subjected to stratification.

Essentially, stratification is a process that simulates winter conditions in order to improve seed germination. There are several ways to stratify plants:

1. Cold stratification. Necessary for seeds that need ripening: pine, thuja or blue spruce. The seeds of such plants are first soaked in lightly warm water and then placed in the refrigerator. In this way, an artificial imitation of temperature differences in nature is produced.
2. Warm stratification. Used to “awaken” seeds. Planting material placed in warm water for several hours or days. You can also place the seeds not in liquid, but in a medium with high humidity: Wrap in damp cloth or place in damp coconut substrate.
3. Combined stratification. Applies to maple, cedar, and sakura seeds, which take a long time to germinate. Its essence lies in the change of cold and warm stratification. Initially, the seeds are placed in a cold room, and immediately before planting they are soaked in warm water. Combined stratification is common when growing bonsai.

In addition to stratification, seeds should be disinfected so that plants are not afraid of fungal formations. To do this, you can use a solution of manganese.

This product perfectly disinfects seeds before planting. The seed is soaked in pinkish water. Disinfection of seeds lasts from 5 days to 2 weeks. After the seeds have been stratified and disinfected, they can be planted.

Soil and container for growing bonsai

The best soil for seeds is considered to be coarse sand, which is steamed before use. This is a kind of disinfection that will prevent the plant from dying. It is recommended to use a wide container with a depth of 5 cm and drainage holes. Before planting, the sand must be well moistened and special grooves must be made in which the seeds will be placed.

To grow bonsai at home, you should take care of preparing the soil and choosing the right container. The container in which the miniature tree is grown can be of different shapes and depths. Rectangle, oval, circle or polyhedron, deep or flat - the choice is really large. Remember, if the bonsai trunk has a slope, then the container for it should be more stable. In this case, give preference to deep containers or those made of heavy material.

The color of the container should be calm and discreet; this will only emphasize the elegance of the plant. Moreover, the bowl must match the bonsai style. If miniature copy will have a dense crown, it is better to choose a flat and wide container. For a cascade style bonsai, a narrow and tall pot is suitable, and the tall crowns of the plant are better emphasized by containers that are deep, but not wide.

Before planting, scald the bowl with boiling water to destroy possible sources of fungus and bacteria.

Traditionally, bonsai are grown in a special substrate called akadama. It is a heavy soil that contains a lot of nutrients, high level moisture and good air circulation. However, such land is rarely used in its pure form. Firstly, it is available in its pure form only in one of the prefectures of Japan, and secondly, a high concentrate of useful substances does not always have a beneficial effect on bonsai, especially during the period when the tree is being shaped.

The substrate for bonsai must meet several criteria: retain moisture well, contain useful material and provide oxygen access to prevent souring or rotting of the roots. A good substrate is mixed from granular clay, humus and sand, in a ratio that is suitable for each type of plant.

1. Type of tree and soil used.
2. Deciduous trees. Turf soil and sand, in a ratio of 7 to 3 (3 parts sand and 7 parts turf).
3. Blooming bonsai. The mixture is prepared from turf soil, sand and humus in a ratio of 7:3:1.
   Coniferous bonsai. Four parts sand and 6 parts turf soil.

You can prepare the soil yourself at home. Turf soil can be dug up in a meadow. All you have to do is remove the top plant layer, and the top 20 centimeters of soil can be used for growing bonsai.

Before use, the soil must be cleaned by sifting through coarse sieve. Sand should be taken from river, coarse grain. It will make the soil looser, which will improve air circulation, and it will retain moisture better. Before use, all these components should be disinfected by heating in the oven. Humus should be purchased in a specialized store or ordered online.

Features of sowing seeds and plant care

Planting is done in spring, summer or early autumn in peat pots, which are filled with a mixture of sand and peat in a one-to-one ratio. If you have nowhere to buy peat, you can buy soil for cacti and mix it with coarse sand. Such a substance will be a complete replacement. Follow the following sequence of actions.

1. Pour the mixture into the pot so that there is still 3 cm left to the edge.
2. Add 1 centimeter of cleared turf soil and press down with a wooden circle.
3. Place the seeds on the prepared surface and cover them with a layer of sand. The layer thickness is no more than twice the diameter of the seeds.
4. Press down again with a wooden circle, remove it and pour water over the sand (no more than 80 ml).
5. Cover with plastic wrap.

Place the pot with seeds in a dark place with a temperature of no more than 15 0 C. Periodically remove the film for ventilation and check if the soil is dry. It should always be moist, but not wet.

When the first shoots emerge, pierce the polyethylene to provide air access. After the first shoots appear, remove the film from the pots and move them to a lighted room. Make sure that the plants are not exposed to direct sunlight. After 2-3 months, it is worth cutting off the taproot by 2/3; this process is called the formation of seedlings.

Fertilizers are added to the soil where the seedlings ripen. It is necessary to transplant the seedlings into a separate form after the sprout has grown by 10 centimeters. During this period, the sprout can be accustomed to the sun's rays and at the same time continue to form the desired shape.

Using this scheme you can grow sakura bonsai or Japanese pine . But some types of trees require a special approach.

Features of agricultural technology of Japanese and red maple

This tree begins to drop seeds in the fall. To grow bonsai from maple seeds, they need to be stratified for 120 days. The optimal time for planting is April or May. To make sprouts appear faster, the seeds are soaked in hydrogen peroxide for 1-2 days. This measure will speed up the germination process and protect the plant from diseases.

Bonsai from seeds of all types of maple, especially red, should be grown in partial shade - direct contact is contraindicated for it. Sun rays. The land for growing this species should be fertilized once a month to achieve the required level acidity. In winter, feeding is excluded.

Features of lemon bonsai agricultural technology

Growing a plant from lemon seeds is not difficult. Stratification in this case is not needed. Seeds for planting are extracted directly from the fruit. It should be ripe, but without external damage. You can plant several seeds at once.

1. Prepare the pot and soil as described above.
2. Make 1-2 cm of drainage at the bottom of the container.
3. Fill to the top with prepared soil.
4. Place the lemon seeds at a depth of 1.5 cm.
5. Wrap the pot in film.

In the room where the container with seeds will be stored, the temperature must be at least 18 0 C. Every 2-3 days, remove the film and lightly moisten the surface with water. Do not over-moisten so that the resulting roots do not rot.

Features of cedar agricultural technology

The easiest way to grow bonsai is from cedar seeds; they are suitable for beginner gardeners. Stratification seed material has two stages.

1. Lasts 6 days. The seeds are placed in water at a temperature of 25-30 0 C and changed every two days.
2. The stratification period is 60 days. The seeds are taken out of the water and mixed with disinfected river sand and peat. This substance with the seeds is moistened and stirred periodically until the first shoots hatch.

Once the sprouts have hatched, the seeds can be planted or placed in a container. In this form, cedar seeds can be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 2 0 C until planted in a pot. Cedar loves a lighted place, but does not tolerate direct sunlight.

The exception is a young bonsai made from Japanese cedar seed. It will grow better in a shaded area.

Features of Japanese pine agricultural technology

There are 2 types of Japanese pine: black (less demanding on lighting) and ordinary. Before planting, the seeds undergo a mandatory 3-month cold stratification. Seeds should be planted in a deep container to a depth of 2 centimeters. Sowing time is the end of winter.

The grooves are cut at a distance of 3 cm from each other to facilitate the care of sprouted but not yet mature bonsai seedlings. When the first leaves appear, you can take the container into a bright room. With the accelerated process of photosynthesis, the sprouts will grow stronger faster. You can begin to form the crown as soon as the plant reaches 5 cm in height.

Watering, fertilizing, wintering

The main problem in caring for a bonsai is watering it. Because of small size pots, the roots of the tree are deformed and the efficiency of watering decreases. There are two main methods of watering: irrigation and submersion.

1. The plant is watered with water from a special kettle.
2. The tree pot is placed in a bowl of water and taken out after a few minutes.

It is better to water with rainwater, but if there is none, let it sit for two days with tap water.

Remember, bonsai die without water. Even if its leaves are green, if there has been no watering for a long time, the roots are most likely dead.

In summer, watering should be done more often and more water should be poured.

Feeding is important when growing bonsai, especially at the time of crown formation. The tree is fertilized once every 2-3 weeks, and algae-based fertilizer must be applied once a month. The most important components of fertilizer are potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Nitrogen is responsible for the growth and development of tree leaves and stems. It is the main component that promotes cell division and protein production.

Phosphorus stimulates cell division, is responsible for budding and has a positive effect on root growth and development. Protects against diseases.

Potassium helps fight microorganisms that cause disease, promotes fruiting and flower development.

Bonsai food must contain these substances. IN flower shops hard to find suitable option, which contains all substances in the required proportions. Therefore, we recommend mixing fertilizers yourself in the following proportions:

• In the spring, when the growth period is more intense, add more nitrogen. The optimal ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is 12:6:6, respectively;
• in summer, nutrition should be more balanced, so components are added in equal proportions - 10:10:10
• In autumn, less nitrogen is required, the optimal ratio of components is 3 parts nitrogen and 9 parts each of phosphorus and potassium.

If the bonsai is grown from flowering tree– focus on adding potassium in a proportional ratio of 12:6:6

Indoor bonsai plants are fertilized all year round, and street ones - from early spring to mid-autumn. Young trees are fertilized once every 2 weeks, older bonsai can be fed once every 4-6 weeks. Flowering bonsai should not be fed during the flowering period or immediately after it. When feeding, remember that it is better to apply less fertilizer than to “overfeed” the plant.

When winter comes, inexperienced gardeners who have miniature trees outside make a huge mistake - they bring them indoors. warm room. This behavior causes the tree to constantly grow, which takes too much energy and depletes resources. By depriving the plant of its natural “rest”, all efforts can be wasted. A tree that grows outside needs to be properly prepared for wintering:

1. Clean branches from dirt and pests.
2. Move the trees to an elevated, lighted, draft-free spot in the garden.
3. At temperatures below -10 0 C, move the plant to an unheated room.
4. Make sure the soil is not too wet.

Bonsai is an amazing art and painstaking work that begins with the selection and search of seeds and never ends. Like all living things, bonsai requires care and thanks its owner for his kindness with green leaves, bizarre shapes and a unique sophistication of the image.

To reinforce the material, watch a good video on growing bonsai from seeds. There is a lot to learn from the author!

Growing bonsai from seeds - features of agricultural technology

Pine bonsai is a classic bonsai species both in Japan and around the world.

In total there are about 120 species of pine. All of them are more or less suitable for growing bonsai, but 4 types are mainly used.

The following types of pine are used to grow bonsai:

• Japanese black pine,
• Scots pine,
• Japanese white pine.

Japanese black pine

Japanese black pine is most often used due to the fact that it with the right content, has a beautiful bark, tolerates well bad conditions, does not require nutrient-rich soils.

In Japan, many self-respecting bonsai enthusiasts believe that a person cannot become a master without growing black pine bonsai. The Japanese grow black pine bonsai as a tribute to its origins. ancient art. Despite the popularity of black pine, it should be noted that if you choose this particular species, you may encounter two problems:

• The tree's needles have grown too long (wrong location, watering and fertilizing),
• Slow growth ( biological feature plants).

Black pine is well suited for growing in gardens.

Black Pine Bonsai

Black pines tolerate poor conditions well and can survive in nature on barren, rocky soils. Black pine needles are dark gray-green, 7 -15 cm long. The bark is purplish-gray in color and cracks as the tree ages and resembles rock.

Mountain pine.

Mountain pine has a hardy nature and can withstand adverse weather conditions and temperature changes without changing the color of its needles. Mountain pine will withstand frosts and scorching summers. At proper care mountain pine will produce dense, dense butcher's broom, and bushy branches that can be pruned and shaped into different styles. young tree begins its life with a purplish hue, and when it blooms, it produces beautiful soft purple flowers.

Mountain pine grows in Central Europe. The species itself is very diverse and botanists divide it into a number of subspecies and varieties. IN favorable conditions mountain pine forms dense dense shrubs or small trees. Mountain pine needles are paired, 2-5 cm long, dark green and slightly twisted. The pine tree blooms with purple flowers.

Mountain pine bonsai.

Scots pine

Scots pine is the easiest and most flexible species to grow bonsai. Where other pines can “be capricious and rebel,” Scots pine will obligingly take any shape and preserve it well.

Scots pine is native to Western and Northern Europe. Its needles are paired, blue-green or yellow-green, 5-7 cm long. The bark becomes scaly and red-brown with age.

Scots pine bonsai

Japanese white pine

Japanese White Pine is unusual and has completely unique white needles. White pines are often grafted onto black pine trunks.

White pine is a conical or columnar tree, often with a spreading crown. White pine is native to Japan. White pine needles are 2-6 cm long, dark green in color with a whitish-blue inside.

Japanese white pine bonsai

Rules for caring for pine bonsai.

Location.

Whether you are growing your bonsai indoors or in your garden, you need to place the tree in a sunny location. When growing any type of pine in full shade, you will encounter the problem that the needles will be too long, which is unacceptable for pine bonsai.

Pines need a lot sunlight during spring, summer and autumn. With a lack of sun, pine bonsai often experience branches dying. The tree is quite resistant to winter frosts, but is afraid of cold winds. You can read .

Watering.

You should not water your pine bonsai abundantly; it is better to do it in small doses, but regularly. Ensure good drainage! The soil should be kept moist throughout the season.

Feeding.

It is necessary to feed a little every month.

Transfer.

It is necessary to replant the pine bonsai in the spring, until the buds begin to swell. This needs to be done every two to three years. A young tree needs to be replanted, usually at 4–5 years. Mountain pine can be replanted in the summer. When replanting a pine bonsai, there is no need to wash the roots and try to wash away the old soil; on the contrary, it is recommended to leave some old soil, as it contains fungi that are beneficial for the growth and health of the pine tree.

Reproduction.

It can be propagated in two ways: from seeds in April or by cuttings during the summer.

Pruning and shaping pine bonsai.

Pine is considered one of the most difficult trees to form a bonsai due to the fact that the very principle of pruning a pine bonsai is not similar to the principles of pruning other types of bonsai. This is due to the fact that most plants grow throughout the season, producing new shoots and leaves. Pine, on the other hand, experiences one growth spurt in the second half of spring.

It should be understood that pine has its own growth zones, the characteristics of which determine the intensity of pruning.

Zone 1 is the most active. These branches grow faster and more actively than others.

Zone 2 medium strength.

Zone 3 is the least active zone.

It is necessary to understand that the formation of pine bonsai must be carried out with early age tree. Old pine trunks are impossible or very difficult to bend; they will break.

Pine trees tolerate pruning well if done carefully and no more than once a year. Pruning should not be too radical, otherwise the tree may die. Pruning should be done in the fall to reduce sap loss. If you need to completely delete a branch, do it in early spring, since the “scars” will heal faster with spring growth. All pruning wounds should be treated and sealed.

Formation of the crown of a pine bonsai.

Formation is carried out using wire. There are several opinions about when to start forming a pine bonsai. Somebody think best time late autumn and winter, when the tree is less active. Other bonsai enthusiasts recommend shaping in the summer, when any damage can be repaired as the tree is in its growth phase. However, due to the fact that in the active phase pine branches tend to quickly increase in thickness, when applied in spring or summer, we risk getting a damaged trunk and branches by autumn. When applying wire in the fall, we can leave it on the tree until next summer without risking anything.

Kidneys.

In order to give the pine the desired appearance, it is necessary to perform simple manipulations with the buds annually. Pine buds most often occur in groups. To give the tree the desired look, you can leave only the necessary buds. Remembering the growth zones and the fact that the upper branches grow faster than the lower ones, follow simple rule: leave the most developed buds on the lower branches and the least developed ones on the upper ones.

Pruning pine bonsai - upper branches

Pruning pine bonsai - lower branches

Candles.

In the spring, the buds that you have saved will stretch into candles, the size of which cannot always be predicted. These candles can also be trimmed depending on your needs. The rule is still the same. Candles growing in the first zone of the tree should be cut back much more than candles from zones 2 and 3. You should not prune all the candles at once. Do this for 2 – 3 weeks. Candles from zone 1 are reduced by ½ or 2/3. Candles from zone 3 – no more than 1/3.

Plucking Needles

Plucking needles is a necessary procedure for pine bonsai. This action allows air and light to penetrate the outer needles, ensuring the health and strength of the inner shoots and branches. This also helps spread the growth energy throughout the tree. Plucking the needles is another way to control the height and width of your pine bonsai.

Plucking of needles is carried out from mid-July to autumn. We pluck out both old and new needles in accordance with their position on the tree. The more needles on a branch, the more active it is; By reducing the number of needles on the active branch, we will redistribute the energy to less active zones.

The picture (from left to right) shows how the needles should look after plucking:

Plucking pine bonsai needles

1. In zone 3. On the lower branches (leave more);
2. In zone 2.
3. In zone 1. We leave fewer needles at the top.

On healthy tree Bonsai can be left with only 4 pairs of needles on the upper branches, 6 or 7 pairs on the middle level and 8-12 on the lower branches.

Trimming needles

It often becomes necessary (especially if you are dealing with black pine) to reduce the length of the needles in order to refine the image of the tree. You can reduce the length of the needles by reducing the amount of water and fertilizer in the spring, but not all bonsai masters like this method, as it makes the entire tree weak.

A new technique becoming popular these days is one that helps reduce needle length by limiting the time a tree has to grow its needles before growth slows or stops for the winter. The technique is as follows: shoots grow freely in spring and summer. In mid-late summer, all the needles of this year are cut off. The tree is trying to grow new needles - and it succeeds, but the needles will be shorter since there is half as much time left until winter.

This technique should only be performed on fully formed pine wood. Needle trimming should be considered the last stage of pine bonsai development.

Synonyms: red pine, dense-flowered pine, dense-flowered pine, Japanese pine, Japanese red pine, Japanese umbrella pine, tanyosho pine, chi song, pin rouge du Japon, japanische Rotkiefer, pino rosso del Giappone, aka-matsu, me-matsu, sonamu, japansk tall, Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zuccarini.

Species of the genus from the Pine family. It grows naturally in China in the provinces of Shandong, Liaoning, Jiangsu, Heilongjiang, Jilin, in Japan (Shikoku, Honshu and Kyushu), Korea and in Russia (southern Primorsky Krai).

Grows on rocky cliffs, slopes and cliffs (0-500 m above sea level) and sandy soils and sea coasts (0-600 above sea level). Sometimes it reaches 2300 m above sea level. Grows in groups, groves, sometimes singly. It is easily flammable, but has a high regenerative ability. It was first described in Europe by Siebold and Zuccarini in 1842. It was listed in the Red Book of the USSR and the RSFSR.

It consists of trees up to 30 m in height. The trunk reaches 1.5 m in diameter. Growth is moderately fast, at 10 years it reaches 3 m in height. The bark is orange-red, red-brown or brown-yellow, flaky, scaly.

Japanese red pine. Illustration from Siebold and Zuccarini's book Flora Japonica, Sectio Prima, 1870.

Trees are highly flammable, but are naturally renewable. The crown is umbrella-shaped, wide, very dense, spreading.

The needles are located on shortened shoots, 2 in a bunch, 5-15 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter, pointed, straight, rough along the edge, hard, dark green in color, giving a fluffy appearance to the tree. The color does not change in winter. The buds are slightly resinous.

The cones are erect or pendulous, ovate or ovate-conical, 3-5.5×2.5-4.5 cm, dark yellow-brown or brown-yellow, open when ripe. Seed scales are thin, appressed, broadly rhombic, flat or curved at the apex, rarely pyramidal and slightly ribbed.

Seeds are ovoid or elliptical, 3-7 mm long and 3 mm wide; wing 1-2 cm × 5-7 mm. Pollination occurs in April-June. The seeds ripen in the second year, in September-October.

Forms: "Umbraculifera", Pinus densiflora var. Densiflora, Pinus densiflora var. Ussuriensis Liou & Q. L. Wang, Pinus densiflora var. Zhangwuensis S. J. Zhang et al.

Frost resistance zone: 5 (frost resistance limit between -28.8°C and -23.3°C)

Location: photophilous. Demanding on soil and air moisture. Grows well in well-drained loam or sandy loam. Resistance to urban conditions is average.

Landing: Plants need to be replanted within 5 years. The distance between seedlings is not less than 4-6 m, the depth is 0.8-1 m. The root collar must be placed at ground level. If the soil is sandy, it is recommended to mix upper layer soil with peat and clay in a ratio of 2:1:2. During planting, it is recommended to add nitroammophoska or humus soil and during the first 2 years after planting, add 30-40 g/sq.m. m of mineral fertilizer.

Reproduction: propagated by seeds or layering.

Usage: wood is used in construction and furniture making. It was the most popular building material in Japan during the Muromachi and Edo periods. Widely used as decorative tree in Japan, Europe and North America. IN landscape design used as a tapeworm and group plantings, as well as in heath and Japanese gardens. Widely used in bonsai technique. It is one of the most decorative 2-coniferous pines.

Synonym: Japanese pine Thunberg. Natural habitat is the coastal areas of Japan (Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu), South Korea and northeastern China. This species is very similar to another species of black pine that can be found in Europe.
In Japan, the Japanese black pine tree, called Kuro-matsu (黒松), is a national symbol because it has special significance in the Shinto religion and represents DURABILITY.
The Japanese call the thick, cracked bark of a pine tree Kame-no-ko, that is, “turtle shell.”
Some specimens of Japanese black pine bonsai are in the collection of the Japanese Emperor. Many of these trees have been passed down from generation to generation. Their age reaches 500-700 years. They truly have some kind of magical power.

Bonsai Japanese pine

This is medium height evergreen tree, which is often found in Japanese gardens. The average height of the tree is 25 meters, but in parks and gardens it can reach a height of 40 meters. In youth it has a conical shape, and over the years the crown takes on a pyramidal shape.
The bark on the trunk is scaly and very cracked. With age, it becomes black, thickens and even turns into cork growths at sites of mechanical damage.
The needles are very long and thick (from 7 to 12 cm), dark green in color, prickly to the touch, and grow in pairs. The needle buds have a beautiful silky hue. The needles are concentrated at the tips of the branches.

Lighting: loves bright lighting.

Humidity and soil: Japanese black pine is fairly drought tolerant and responds well to sandy, well-drained soils.

Reproduction: very good germination from seeds. Reproduction through cuttings and grafting is very difficult.

Usage.
Japanese black pine tolerates strong coastal winds and salt spray from the sea. It was this tree that was used to strengthen sand dunes. If you have a coastal plot on the seashore, our tree will help not only strengthen the shore, but also add a certain flavor to the home landscape.

Bonsai Growing Guide.

All pine trees and Japanese black pine in the first place are classic material for bonsai. Both professionals and beginners can experiment here. A special highlight of the Tree offered to you is the large cork growths of bark. . Interestingly, the bark grows thicker on the side facing the light. Therefore, if you decide to grow a bonsai, do not forget to periodically turn the seedling.
Bonsai teachers value the Japanese black pine for its longevity of being evergreen. And its resistance to pruning makes it very suitable material for beginners.

Irrigation and fertilizers.

Under natural conditions, pine trees live on poor sandy soils. But we should not forget that they have deep roots to obtain moisture. Therefore, when growing bonsai, do not forget to neglect watering. But at the same time, you need to ensure that excess water leaves through the drainage. Also avoid constant flooding so that the roots do not suffer from excess water. Otherwise, it will lead to rotting of the root system.
From time to time you can allow the soil to dry out, but only as an exception.
You should use a watering can with holes as thin as possible for the water to penetrate better into the soil. And do the watering slowly.
There is no need to spray the leaves or maintain high humidity artificially, as there is a risk of getting fungal diseases.
Fertilize regularly with high-quality fertilizers, especially during active growth, that is, in spring and autumn. During winter and hot summer, fertilizer application should be reduced, because there is practically no plant growth in these conditions. To reduce needle size, use more phosphorus and potassium and less nitrogen.

Replanting black pine.

It is better to replant every 3-5 years at the end of summer and beginning of autumn, when growth stops and the buds have not yet swelled. When the seedlings are still young, replanting can be done every 2-3 years; for old trees, replanting is recommended after 10-15 years.

Wiring (crown formation)
Wiring can be done at almost any time of the year, except spring, but preferably, immediately after you have pinched the candles and have clean adult needles, optimally during the dormant period (autumn-winter). And only on healthy trees.
If you have had a transplant, you need to wait at least 3 months for the transfer.

Memo
Don't forget that a tree loses needles every 2-3 years. And this is not a reason to worry.
However, sometimes the leaves turn yellow or Brown color the following reasons:

• improper drainage, in this case the bonsai should be replanted in autumn or early spring (whichever comes first);
• too hot, especially in summer. Move the pot to a ventilated but sunny place;
  - lack of nutrients;
• incorrect substrate mixture with clay or too much salt deposits, so it must be replanted as soon as possible, as in the case of poor drainage;
• also do not mistake for fungal diseases a special fungus that lives in symbiosis (mycorrhizae) in the roots, has White color and a unique special smell;
• If you need urgent transplants due to the extreme weakness of the tree, then it is better to plant directly in the garden soil, at least for a year.

In order to know where to start, you need to start.
We offer you plant seeds from the Californian nursery A. The kit includes:

• plant seeds;
• ready prepared soil (again from California);
• MINI GREENHOUSE, subsequent exploitation is possible (especially useful for those who grow bonsai from seeds);
• instructions in English (original) and translation into Ukrainian and Russian.

Price per set: 150 hryvnia .

Delivery of goods: New mail, Intime, + your postage payment. Residents of the city of Dnepropetrovsk or its guests can purchase goods at (address and directions on the website)

Contact phone numbers: 096 – 30-60-198, 099 – 795-91-24.
There will be questions– please leave them in the comments. Our specialists will try to find the best answers to all your questions.

Evergreen coniferous plant with small needles. This plant has long been used for bonsai formation. It is of great value in bonsai culture due to its small and compact needles, durability, interesting shapes, etc.
Location: sunny or partial shade, in summer it is recommended to take it out into the fresh air. In winter we put it in a cool, bright place; the recommended temperature is 0-+15.
Watering: moderate in winter as the top layer of soil dries out slightly (it becomes lighter). Abundant, in summer, in hot weather. It is advisable to regularly spray the plant 1-2 times a day. The frequency of watering depends on temperature, air humidity, presence of wind, sun, etc.
How to water correctly?
1. In winter (temperature 0-+ 12 degrees) check the bonsai daily for the presence of moisture in the soil, if the top layer has changed significantly in color, dried out, brightened, the base of the trunk (at the border of the earth and the beginning of the trunk (the root base is dry)) then pour it abundantly together with the crown of a tree using a watering can or in the shower with cool water, but not cold (ice) You can determine the frequency of watering experimentally by checking the plant daily. This can be 1 time a day, 1 time every 2 days, 1 time every 3 days, etc. if it doesn’t dry out and after a week then don’t water it, wait for it to dry out slightly
2. In the spring, when dormant buds awaken, they are lighter than the main needles, increase the frequency of watering, most likely once a day, water the tree and crown and soil well, if the air is dry, spray the crown 1-2 times a day
3. In summer, water abundantly in the morning and evening. If it rains or is cool, check that the top layer of soil has dried out. If the heat is intense, in the very heat we check the pot for overheating with the palm of our hand and pour cool water over the plant from top to bottom until the pot and substrate cool, even if the top layer of soil is wet. The frequency is about 2 times a day - determined locally by the gardener. (Outdoor maintenance of bonsai).
4. In autumn, we reduce the frequency of watering, guided by the above factors.
5.Water the bonsai should be carried out together with the crown: the crown and the surface of the soil are shed abundantly, excess water flows out. We do the watering several times until the tree is completely saturated with moisture. You can water from a watering can with a fine strainer. In this case, we spill the soil until water begins to flow through the drainage holes (and not a few drops, but pour out abundantly).
CORRECT WATERING IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CONDITIONS IN CARE OF BONSAI!!!
Feeding: in moderate quantities, from March to October, slowly decomposing organic fertilizers
Soil: akadama or a mixture of akadama, kiriu
We carry out replanting once every 3-4 years in the spring or as needed (determined by the master)
Formed bonsai are replanted every 3-4 years.
PESTS AND DISEASES
Cypress may be affected spider mite, aphids, mealybugs. For prevention, treat 2 times a month with Fitoverm (Fitoverm + Aktara) or other complex insecticides, spraying the entire crown in a proportion of 2 ml per 1 liter of water