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 arose at the end of the 8th century, in China, and was the main decoration of the imperial court. Since that time, many styles have arisen that differ in the structure of the trunk and crown. Bonsai trees are outdoors, 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 is made available thanks to the article.
Trees for bonsai - types and features
Some people mistakenly believe that bonsai is some kind of culture, characterized by dwarf size and bizarre shape. Actually it is not. Bonsai can be grown from almost any tree. The main condition is to know which culture is suitable for creating a harmonious miniature copy.
- Juniper, irga, spruce and rhododendron 8-20 cm.
- Barberry, field and rock maple, privet, mountain pine 20-30 cm.
- Scotch pine, American maple, birch, hazel, elm 30-70 cm.
- Linden, larch, ash, ash-leaved or plane-leaved maple, oak, beech, black pine 60-100 cm.
- Wisteria, chestnut, black pine, plane tree, elderberry, acacia 100-130 cm.
Seeds of the tree you like can be purchased at the botanical garden, a specialty store, or collected in a city park. A good option for beginners - buy seed in China. Seeds from trees such as spruce, pine, fir, oak or euonymus are ready for planting after harvest.
Seeds of other plants must be 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, Japanese cherry (sakura) is an ideal material for creating bonsai. From the seeds of Japanese sakura, you can create real masterpieces that can amaze with amazing shapes. In order for the plant to germinate properly, the seeds of this tree are stratified.
In essence, stratification is a process that mimics winter conditions in order to improve seed germination. There are several ways to stratify plants:
- cold stratification. It is necessary for seeds that need ripening: pine, arborvitae 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 the temperature drop in nature is produced.
- Warm stratification. Used to "awaken" the seeds. planting material placed in warm water for several hours or days. You can also place the seeds not in a liquid, but in a medium with high humidity: Wrap with damp cloth or place in wet coco substrate.
- Combined stratification. It is applied to the seeds of maple, cedar, sakura, which germinate for a long time. 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 in bonsai cultivation.
In addition to stratification, the seeds should be disinfected so that the plants are not afraid of the occurrence of fungal formations. To do this, you can use a solution of manganese.
This tool perfectly disinfects the seeds before planting. The seed is soaked in pinkish water. Seed disinfection 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
Coarse-grained sand, which is steamed before use, is considered the best soil for seeds. This is a kind of disinfection that will not allow the plant to die. 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 should be made into 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 a miniature tree is grown can be of different shapes and depths. Rectangle, oval, circle or polyhedron, deep or flat - the choice is really big. 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 cascading style bonsai, a narrow and tall pot is suitable, and the tall crowns of the plant will better emphasize deep, but not wide containers.
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, in which there are many nutrients, high level moisture and good air circulation. However, such land is rarely used in its pure form. Firstly, in its pure form, it is only in one of the prefectures of Japan, and secondly, a high concentration of nutrients does not always favorably affect bonsai, especially during the period when the tree is shaped.
The substrate for bonsai must meet several criteria: retain moisture well, contain useful material and provide access to oxygen to prevent souring or rotting of the roots. A good substrate is mixed from granular clay, humus and sand, in the ratio that is suitable for each type of plant.
- Type of tree and soil used.
- Deciduous trees. Sod land and sand, in a ratio of 7 to 3 (3 parts of sand and 7 parts of turf).
- Blooming bonsai. The mixture is prepared from sod land, sand and humus, in a ratio of 7:3:1.
Coniferous bonsai. Four parts of sand and 6 parts of sod land.
You can prepare the soil yourself at home. Sod land can be dug up in the meadow. One has only to remove the top vegetation layer, and the top 20 centimeters of the earth can be used for growing bonsai.
Before use, the earth must be cleaned by sifting through a large sieve. Sand should be taken river, coarse-grained. It will make the soil looser, which will improve air circulation, and it holds moisture better. Before use, all these components should be disinfected by heating in the oven. Humus should be purchased at a specialized store or ordered via the Internet.
Features of sowing seeds and plant care
Landing is carried out in spring, summer or early autumn in peat pots, which are filled with a mixture of sand and peat, in a ratio of one to one. If there is no place to buy peat, then you can buy soil for cacti and mix it with coarse sand. Such a substance will be a complete replacement. Observe the following sequence of actions.
- Pour the mixture into the pot so that there is another 3 cm left to the edge.
- Add 1 centimeter of cleared sod land, press down with a wooden circle.
- Place the seeds on the prepared surface and cover them with a layer of sand. The layer thickness is not more than two seed diameters.
- Press down again with a wooden circle, remove it and pour water over the sand (no more than 80 ml).
- Cover with plastic wrap.
Place the seed pot 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 damp, but not wet.
When the first sprouts have made their way, pierce the polyethylene to provide air access. After the first shoots appear, remove the film from the pots and transfer to a lighted room. Keep plants out of direct sunlight. After 2-3 months, it is worth cutting off the tap root by 2/3, this process is called the formation of seedlings.
Fertilizers are added to the ground where the seedlings ripen. It is necessary to transplant seedlings into a separate form after the sprout grows by 10 centimeters. During this period, the sprout can be accustomed to the sun's rays and at the same time not stop forming the desired shape.
According to this scheme, you can grow sakura bonsai or Japanese pine . But some types of trees need a special approach.
Features of agricultural technology of Japanese and red maple
This tree begins to shed its seeds in autumn. To grow bonsai from maple seeds, they need to be stratified for 120 days. The best time for landing is April or May. To make sprouts appear faster, the seeds are soaked for 1-2 days in hydrogen peroxide. This measure will speed up the germination process and protect the plant from diseases.
Bonsai from seeds of all types of maple, especially red, must be grown in partial shade - direct Sun rays. The land for growing this species should be fertilized once a month in order to achieve right level acidity. In winter, feeding is excluded.
Features of lemon bonsai agricultural technology
Growing a plant from lemon seeds is not difficult. Stratification is not needed in this case. Seeds for planting are extracted directly from the fruit. It should be ripe, but without external damage. You can plant several seeds at once.
- Prepare the pot and soil as described above.
- At the bottom of the container, make 1-2 cm of drainage.
- Fill to the top with prepared soil.
- Place the lemon seeds to a depth of 1.5 cm.
- Wrap the pot with foil.
The room where the seed container will be stored should be at least 18 0 C. Remove the film at intervals of 2-3 days and lightly moisten the surface with water. Do not over-moisten so that the resulting roots do not rot.
Features of agricultural technology of cedar
Cedar seeds are the easiest to grow bonsai and are suitable for beginner gardeners. Stratification seed has two stages.
- Lasts 6 days. Seeds are placed in water with a temperature of 25-30 0 C and changed every two days.
- The stratification period is 60 days. Seeds are taken out of the water and mixed with disinfected river sand and peat. This substance with seeds is moistened and periodically mixed until the first sprouts 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 planting in a pot. Cedar love a lighted place, but does not tolerate direct sunlight.
An exception is a young bonsai from Japanese cedar seed. It will grow best in a shady area.
Features of agricultural technology of Japanese pine
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 germinated, but not yet ripe bonsai seedlings. When the first leaves appear, you can take the container into a bright room. With an accelerated process of photosynthesis, the sprouts will get stronger faster. The formation of the crown can be started as soon as the plant reaches 5 cm in height.
Watering, feeding, 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 effectiveness of watering is reduced. There are two main ways of watering: irrigation and immersion.
- The plant is watered with water from a special kettle.
- A pot with a tree is placed in a bowl of water and taken out after a few minutes.
It is better to water with rainwater, but if it is not there, let it stand for two days with tap water.
Remember, bonsai die without water. Even if its leaves are green, but there was no watering for a long time, the roots are most likely dead.
In summer, watering should be done more often and pour more water.
Feeding is important when growing bonsai, especially at the time of crown formation. The tree is fertilized every 2-3 weeks, and once a month it is necessary to apply fertilizer based on algae. The most important fertilizer components are potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.
Nitrogen is responsible for the growth and development of the leaves and stem of the tree. 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 from diseases.
Potassium helps to fight microorganisms that cause diseases, promotes fruiting and flower development.
These substances must be present in top dressing for bonsai. IN flower shops hard to find suitable option, which contains all the 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, apply more nitrogen. The optimal ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is 12:6:6, respectively;
- in summer, nutrition should be more balanced, so the components are added in the same proportions - 10:10:10
- in autumn, less nitrogen is required, the optimal ratio of components is 3 parts of nitrogen and 9 parts of phosphorus and potassium each.
If the bonsai is grown from flowering tree- Emphasize the addition of potassium in a proportional ratio of 12:6:6
Indoor bonsai plants are fertilized all year round, and street - from the period of early spring to mid-autumn. Young trees are fertilized every 2 weeks, older bonsai can be fed every 4-6 weeks. Blooming bonsai should not be fed during the flowering period and immediately after it. When top dressing, remember that it is better to apply less fertilizer than to "overfeed" the plant.
When winter comes, inexperienced gardeners who have miniature trees on the street make a huge mistake - they bring them into warm room. This behavior causes the tree to constantly grow, it takes too much energy and depletes resources. Depriving the plant of natural "peace", you can put all efforts in vain. A tree that grows on the street needs to be properly prepared for wintering:
- Clean the branches of dirt and pests.
- Move the trees to an elevated, well-lit, and draft-free area in the garden.
- At temperatures below -10 0 C, transfer the plant to an unheated room.
- Make sure the soil is not too wet.
Bonsai is an amazing art and painstaking work that begins with the selection and search for seeds and never ends. Like all living things, bonsai requires care and thanks its owner for the kindness of green leaves, bizarre shapes and unique sophistication of the image.
To consolidate the material, watch a good video clip on growing bonsai from seeds. The author has a lot to learn!
Growing bonsai from seeds - features of agricultural technology
Pine bonsai is a classic type of bonsai 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.
For growing bonsai, the following types of pine are used:
- japanese black pine,
- common pine,
- Japanese white pine.
Japanese black pine
The most commonly used Japanese black pine 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 lovers believe that a person cannot become a master without growing black pine bonsai. The Japanese grow black pine bonsai as a tribute to the origins of this ancient art. Despite the popularity of black pine, it should be noted that by choosing this particular species, you may encounter two problems:
- The tree has grown too long needles (wrong location, watering and top dressing),
- 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 the wild on barren rocky soils. Black pine needles are dark gray-green, 7-15 cm long. The bark is purplish-gray in color, with age the tree cracks and resembles rocks.
Mountain pine.
Mountain pine has a hardy character, accepts adverse weather conditions and temperature changes without changing the color of the needles. Mountain pine will withstand frost and scorching summer. At proper care mountain pine will produce a dense, dense needle, and dense branches that can be cut and shaped into different styles. young tree starts life with a crimson hue, and when it blooms, it produces beautiful pale 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. Pine blossoms with purple flowers.
Mountain pine bonsai.
Scotch pine
Scotch pine is the easiest and most malleable species for growing bonsai. Where other pines can "act up and rebel" Scotch pine will obligingly take any form and keep 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.
Scotch pine bonsai
Japanese white pine
Japanese White Pine is unusual and has quite 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 - 2-6 cm long, dark green in color with a whitish-blue inner side.
Japanese white pine bonsai
Rules for the care of pine bonsai.
Location.
Whether you grow bonsai indoors or in the garden, it is essential to place the tree in a sunny location. When growing any type of pine in full shade, you will run into 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, bonsai pine trees often die off branches. The tree is quite resistant to winter frosts, but is afraid of cold winds. You can read .
Watering.
Do not water 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.
Top dressing.
It is necessary to feed a little every month.
Transfer.
Bonsai pine trees should be transplanted in the spring, until the buds begin to swell. This should be done every two to three years. A young tree needs to be transplanted, as a rule, for 4 - 5 years. Mountain pine can be transplanted in summer. When transplanting pine bonsai, it is not necessary to wash the roots and try to wash out the old soil, on the contrary, it is recommended to leave a certain amount of the old soil, as it contains fungi that are beneficial for the growth and health of the pine.
Reproduction.
You can propagate in two ways: from seeds in April or cuttings during the summer.
Pruning and shaping pine bonsai.
Pine is considered one of the most difficult trees to form bonsai due to the fact that the principle of pruning 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, releasing new shoots and leaves. In pine, one growth spurt is observed 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 must be understood 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.
Pines tolerate pruning well if done carefully and no more than once a year. Pruning should not be overly radical, otherwise the tree may die. Pruning should be done in autumn to reduce sap loss. If you need to delete a branch completely, do this in early spring, as the "scars" will heal faster with spring growth. All cut wounds must be treated and sealed.
Formation of the crown of bonsai pine.
The formation is carried out using a wire. There are several opinions about when to start the formation of 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 they are applied in spring or summer, we risk getting a damaged trunk and branches by autumn. When laying the wire in autumn, we can leave it on the tree until next summer without risking anything.
Kidneys.
In order to give the pine the desired look, it is necessary to do simple manipulations with the kidneys every year. Pine buds most often occur in groups. To give the tree the desired look, you can leave only the desired 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 bonsai from pine - upper branches
Pine Bonsai Pruning - Lower Branches
Candles.
In the spring, the buds you have saved will stretch into candles, the size of which cannot always be predicted. These candles can also be cut to suit your needs. The rule is the same. Candles growing in the first zone of the tree should be pruned much more than candles from zones 2 and 3. It is not necessary to cut all the candles at once. Do this for 2 to 3 weeks. Candles from zone 1 decrease by ½ or 2/3. Candles from zone 3 - no more than 1/3.
Plucking Needles
Needle plucking is a necessary procedure for pine bonsai. This action allows air and light to penetrate the outer needles, providing health and strength to the inner shoots and branches. It also helps spread the energy of growth throughout the tree. Plucking the needles is another way to control the height and width of the pine bonsai.
Needle plucking is carried out from mid-July to autumn. We pluck 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 energy to less active zones.
The figure (from left to right) shows how the needles should look after plucking:
Plucking bonsai pine needles
- In zone 3. On the lower branches (leave more);
- In zone 2.
- In zone 1. At the top, we leave less needles.
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.
Needle cutting.
It is often necessary (especially if you are dealing with black pine) to reduce the length of the needles in order to ennoble the image of the tree. It is possible to shorten the length of the needles by reducing the amount of water and fertilizer in the spring, however, not all bonsai masters like this method, as it makes the entire tree weak.
A new technique is becoming popular these days that helps reduce the length of the needle, limiting the time a tree has to grow its needle before growth slows or stops for the winter. The technique is as follows: shoots grow freely in spring and summer. In the middle - end of summer, all the needles of this year are cut. The tree is trying to grow new needles - and it succeeds, but the needles will be shorter, since winter is half as long.
This technique should only be performed on a fully formed pine tree. Needle pruning should be considered as the last stage in the development of pine bonsai.
Synonyms: red pine, dense-flowered pine, dense-flowered pine tall, Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zuccarini.
Species of the genus from the Pine family. In nature, it grows in China in the provinces of Shandong, Liaoning, Jiangsu, Heilongjiang, Jilin, in Japan (Shikoku, Honshu and Kyushu), Korea and in Russia (south of Primorsky Krai).
It grows on rocky cliffs, slopes and rocks (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. It grows in groups, groves, sometimes singly. It is highly flammable but has a high regenerative capacity. 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 is a tree up to 30 m in height. The trunk reaches 1.5 m in diameter. Growth is moderately fast, at 10 years old it reaches 3 m in height. The bark is orange-red, red-brown or brown-yellow, scaly, scaly.
Japanese red pine. Illustration from Siebold and Zuccarini's Flora Japonica, Sectio Prima, 1870.
Trees are highly flammable but regenerate well naturally. The crown is umbrella-shaped, wide, very dense, sprawling.
The needles are located on shortened shoots, 2 in a bunch, 5-15 cm long and 1 mm in diameter, pointed, straight, rough along the edge, hard, dark green in color, giving a fluffy look to the tree. Doesn't change color for winter. The kidneys are slightly resinous.
Cones erect or drooping, ovoid or ovate-conical, 3-5.5×2.5-4.5 cm, dark yellow-brown or brown-yellow, open at maturity. Seed scales are thin, appressed, broadly rhombic, flat or curved at the apex, rarely pyramidal and slightly ribbed.
Seeds ovoid or elliptical, 3-7 mm long and 3 mm wide; wing 1-2 cm × 5-7 mm. Pollination occurs in April-June. 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: light-requiring. It is exacting to humidity of the soil and air. Grows well on drained loam or sandy loam. Resistance to urban conditions is average.
Landing: plants need to be transplanted up to 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 apply nitroammophoska or humus soil, and during the first 2 years after planting, 30-40 g / sq. m of mineral fertilizer.
Reproduction: propagated by seeds or cuttings.
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 heaths and Japanese gardens. Widely used in bonsai. It is one of the most decorative 2-coniferous pines.
Synonym: japanese pine
Thunberg. The natural habitat is the coastal regions of Japan (Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu), South Korea and northeast China. This species is very similar to another type 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 meaning in the Shinto religion and represents LONGEVITY.
The Japanese call the thick, cracked bark of a pine trunk Kame-no-ko, which means "tortoise 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 evergreen tree, which is often found in Japanese gardens. The average tree height 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 acquires a pyramidal shape.
The bark on the trunk is scaly, strongly cracked. With age, it acquires a black color, gets fatter and even transforms into cork growths at the sites of mechanical damage.
The needles are very long and thick (from 7 to 12 cm), dark green in color, prickly to the touch, grow in pairs. The buds of the needles have a beautiful silk shade. The needles focus on the tips of the branches.
Lighting A: Likes bright lighting.
Moisture and soil: Japanese black pine is quite drought tolerant, responding well to sandy drained soils.
Reproduction: very good germination from seeds. Reproduction through cuttings and vaccinations are very difficult.
Usage.
Black Japanese pine tolerates strong coastal winds and salt spray from the sea. It was this tree that was used to strengthen the sand dunes. If you have a coastal plot on the seashore, our tree will help not only strengthen the coast, but also give a certain flavor to your home landscape.
A guide to growing bonsai.
All pines and Japanese black pine in the first place, is classic material for bonsai. Both a professional and a beginner can experiment here. A special highlight of the Tree offered to you is betrayed by large cork outgrowths of the bark. . Interestingly, the bark grows thicker on the side facing the light. Therefore, if you decide to grow bonsai, do not forget to periodically turn the seedling.
Bonsai teachers value Japanese black pine for its longevity of being evergreen. And the pruning resistance makes it very suitable material for beginners.
Irrigation and fertilizers.
Under natural conditions, pines live on poor sandy soils. But we should not forget that they have deep roots to extract moisture. Therefore, in the case of growing bonsai, do not forget to neglect watering. But at the same time, you need to make sure that excess water goes through the drain. 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 let the earth dry out, but only as an exception.
You should use a watering can with holes as thin as possible for the water to penetrate the soil better. And do watering slowly.
It is not necessary to spray the leaves or maintain high humidity artificially, as there is a risk of getting fungal diseases.
Fertilize regularly with quality fertilizers, especially during active growth i.e. spring and autumn. During winter and hot summers, fertilizer application should be reduced, because there is practically no plant growth under these conditions. To reduce the size of the needles - use more phosphorus and potassium and less nitrogen.
Transplantation of black pine.
It is better to transplant every 3-5 years in late summer and early autumn, when growth stops and the buds have not yet swollen. When the seedlings are still young - transplantation can be done every 2-3 years, for old trees, transplantation is recommended after 10-15 years.
Posting (crown formation)
Wiring can be done at almost any time of the year, except for 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 transplanted, you must wait at least 3 months for posting.
memo
Do not forget that the tree loses its 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 which case the bonsai should be transplanted 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; - wrong mixture of substrate with clay or too much salt deposits, so it must be transplanted as soon as possible, as in the case of poor drainage;
- also do not take for fungal diseases a special fungus that lives in symbiosis (mycorrhiza) 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 soil of the garden, at least for a year.
In order to get started, you need to start.
We offer you plant seeds from the California nursery A. The kit includes:
- plant seeds;
- ready prepared soil (again from California);
- MINI GREENHOUSE, subsequent operation is possible (especially useful for those who grow bonsai from seeds);
- instruction in English (original) and translation into Ukrainian and Russian.
Price per set: 150 hryvnia .
Delivery of goods: New mail, Intime, + your postage. Residents of the city of Dnepropetrovsk or its guests can purchase goods at (address and location map on the site)
Contact phone numbers: 096 – 30-60-198, 099 – 795-91-24.
There will be questions- please leave them in the comments. Our experts will try to find the best answers to all your questions.
evergreen coniferous plant with small needles. This plant has long been used to form bonsai. It is of great value in bonsai culture due to 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 clean in a cool, bright place, the recommended temperature is 0- + 15.
Watering: moderate in winter as the topsoil dries out slightly (it brightens). 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 moisture in the soil, if the top layer has changed in color significantly, 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 we spill it abundantly together with the crown of a tree with a watering can or under a shower with cool water, but not cold (icy) You can determine the frequency of watering empirically by checking the plant daily. It can be 1 time per day, 1 time in 2 days, 1 time in 3 days, etc.
2. In the spring, when dormant buds wake up, they are lighter than the main needles, we increase the frequency of watering, most likely once a day, we spill 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 cool, check the drying of the topsoil. If it is very hot, in the very heat we check the pot for overheating with the palm of our hand and spill the plant from top to bottom with cool water until the pot and substrate cool, even if the top layer of the earth is wet. The frequency is about 2 times a day - determined by the place of the gardener. (Street maintenance of bonsai).
4. In autumn, we reduce watering in frequency, guided by the above factors.
5. Watering the bonsai should be carried out together with the crown: the crown is shed and the soil surface is plentiful, excess water flows out. Spilling is carried out several times until the tree is completely saturated with moisture. Can be watered from a watering can with a fine sieve. In this case, we spill the soil until the 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 BONSAI CARE!!!
Top dressing: in moderation, from March to October slowly decomposing organic fertilizers
Soil: Akadama or Akadama mix, kiriu
We transplant once every 3-4 years in the spring or as needed (determined by the master)
Formed bonsai are transplanted 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
