Bonsai is a culture that requires special skills in growing dwarf plants with a unique appearance. There are several varieties of bonsai, but the most common is Benjamin. Each variety requires care and growing conditions. If everything is done correctly, then you can get the original tree even from ficus.
Bonsai Crown Formation
Bonsai are indoor plants that need constant pruning. This provides visual appeal and the ability to control growth. There are various forms of bonsai.
Bonsai Garden
Important! To trim, you need a special set of tools.
How to form a bonsai yourself (krone):
- Each shoot should have no more than 6 pairs of leaves. You can start from the top, as here they remove the maximum number of extra shoots.
- Be sure to trim too long, dry, clumsy, damaged and colorless branches.
- Remove the processes that are turned in the direction of growth towards the trunk.
- Scissors should remove excess leaves if there are places with thick formation on the branches.
Crown Forming Options
The formation of bonsai is also in a beautiful bend of the trunk, branches. This can only be achieved with wire. The shoots and the trunk are pulled by a rigid wire. As it grows, the shape of the wire changes, which will direct the growth of the branches, as well as their shape. Skills and hours of practical experience are required.
Pot selection
As the crown grows, the aerial part can make the plant heavier. As a result, the fulcrum shifts. If you initially choose the wrong pot, then the tree will tilt over time or the roots will open.
How to choose a bonsai pot:
- They prefer special pots made of ceramics that are specially made for growing bonsai.
- If there is no desire to choose a standard capacity for planting, get a shallow ceramic pot.
- The capacity should be shallow, but large in diameter. This will allow the roots to grow in all directions.
- The presence of drainage holes is mandatory. They are designed to remove excess moisture and additional root attachment.
- You can purchase a special bonsai planter with the same characteristics as a special bowl.
Perfect pot
The uniqueness of such containers lies in the design. There are trendy cups that fit perfectly into the high-tech style interior. Others are made in retro style, reminiscent of an old bowl. Japanese-style containers create an oriental flavor.
Soil Selection for Indoor Bonsai
Soil for bonsai should pass air well, but be dense so that the roots of the plant can be fixed. If you grow bonsai in the garden, home care remains unchanged.
Additional Information! A special substrate for growing bonsai is called acadama.
The soil for bonsai is prepared independently. At the same time, take into account that for each type of bonsai they use their own substrate:
- conifers (thuja): sand and turf land in a ratio of 2: 3;
- flowering species: turf land + humus + sand in a ratio of 7: 1: 3;
- hardwood (juniper): turf land + sand in a ratio of 7: 3.
Soil for wood
At the bottom of the pot must have a layer of drainage. Expanded clay crumb is usually used. How to care for a bonsai?
Home Care Bonsai Rules
Bonsai - a tree, home care which is not difficult, if you give him enough time. In order not to provoke problems with the growth of any breed, it is initially worth choosing the right place and setting the correct temperature regime.
Tree care
Where to put a bonsai
An ideal place for a plant would be a windowsill. It is important to consider:
- When installing the flowerpot on the windowsill of the western window, it is worth placing it on the right.
- On the windowsills on the south side placed on the left.
- It is permissible to place the pot on a coffee table or shelf near the window, but on the same principle as on the windowsill.
- The plant must be rotated 180 ° relative to the light side of the window 4 times a week.
- You need to fully open the window, removing curtains or blinds in the daytime. In winter, additional illumination from fluorescent lamps is installed.
- You can not install the plant close to objects that emit heat - radiators, table lamps, fireplaces.
The choice of location is most responsible
Air temperature
Bonsai, care of which requires the correct temperature regime, will normally develop exclusively in the climatic conditions familiar to its breed:
- Subtropical rocks remarkably tolerate room conditions in terms of temperature conditions. The optimal indicator for them would be 18-25 ℃ above zero. In winter, you need to place it in a cool room with a temperature of +15 ℃.
- Tropical species can withstand higher temperatures in summer, and in winter they are installed indoors with a temperature of +18 ℃.
- Deciduous and coniferous species (for example, tea tree) in the summer feel normal at any temperature. In winter, flowerpots are transferred to a room with a temperature not exceeding + 10 ℃.
Temperature changes
On a note! In the summer, it is allowed to carry bonsai crops to the balcony in order to increase the flow of oxygen.
Watering
In the process of caring for the plant, watering problems often arise. There are several reasons. A small amount of soil in pots or pots leads to the fact that moisture from them quickly evaporates, the soil dries up. Abundant (excessive) watering can also cause problems with the root system. It is necessary to adhere to a clear irrigation regime.
Watering is important for bonsai
Additionally, it is recommended to use special watering tools so that the root zone of the plant is not exposed. Apply a watering can of a special design or drip irrigation.
Note! In the summer season, you need to spray the aerial parts from the spray gun every day. Instead of spraying, you can increase the humidity in the room.
Water the bonsai flower exclusively with melt water. If not, then use well-defended water instead. The temperature at the time of watering should correspond to room temperature.
One way to water
Fertilizer
You can grow a miniature tree only by restricting fertilizer application. But to leave the substrate without top dressing is also impossible. To support the growth and development of the plant, the following recommendations are followed:
- In the spring, make the minimum dose of nitrogen fertilizers. Such top dressing activates growth.
- In summer, a complex fertilizer is used, which includes nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
- In autumn, it is worth using a minimum dose of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.
Fertilizers for active growth
Flowering or fruiting species require additional top dressing. Microclimate indicators are important for the development of culture. During the appearance of fruits or ovaries, potash fertilizers are applied.
Root system care
The root system of the plant is quite vulnerable. Mainly because of this, growing bonsai is considered problematic. To avoid difficulties with development and growth, you should do everything possible so that the root is stable and protected from negative influences.
What do we have to do:
- To strengthen and form mulch, moss is planted on top of the root system.
- At the base of the root system, a stone is often laid around which lateral shoots will form over the surface of the soil.
- As the roots grow, they are pruned and shortened. Doing this while the shoots are still quite thin. In appearance, you can easily determine which process is to be removed.
Root care
The root bonsai root system is maintained in the same way.
Transfer
It is recommended to transplant a tree after 2-3 years. The procedure is carried out in early spring (March-April). But some breeds prefer replanting in the autumn season. The principle of choosing a container and substrate is the same as during the first landing.
Transplanting is an infrequent but important element of bonsai care
Using a special tool, they cut off the root system, after removing excess soil from the shoots. Set the plant in a new substrate and slightly press down the soil around the trunk. For greater stabilization during the rooting period, you can put a stone under the trunk.
Diseases and pests affecting bonsai at home
Before you grow bonsai in a room or garden, you should make sure that the plant is not affected by pests and diseases. Garden bonsai especially requires protection. Indoor bonsai can also be attacked.
Pests and diseases can harm the plant
Yellow bonsai leaves
The main cause of leaf discoloration is chlorosis. How to care for the plant so that the leaves do not turn yellow? The measures are as follows:
- increase the amount of light;
- adjust the watering mode;
- produce timely top dressing;
- follow cropping patterns during crown formation;
- set normal humidity.
Aphid
Aphids are small green bugs that are located on the bottom of platinum leaf. They are removed with cotton wool soaked in ammonia, and the crown is sprayed with a special solution to combat aphids.
Flecked aphid
A more dangerous kind of aphid, the fight against which is reduced to treating the plant with a stronger chemical.
Shield
Scale is revealed by the presence of growths at the base of the root and on thin branches. The growths are removed with a needle and sprayed with insecticide.
Bark beetle
You can identify the pest by the presence of small holes in the cortex. The beetle is located under the bark and causes great damage to the plant. It is necessary to remove the affected branches and spray the plant with a special substance. During the growing season, increase the dose of fertilizing.
Powdery mildew
It affects the leaves, appearing in the form of a white coating. In this case, leaf plates can die and fall. This is a fungal disease that requires cardinal solutions. Remove all affected leaves. The foliage is sprayed with fungicide.
Bonsai - culture in miniature
Growing bonsai at home is a painstaking work that requires some skills. Initially, it is worth creating comfortable conditions for the growth and development of the plant - to produce the correct watering, establish a normal temperature regime and choose a suitable place in the house. This is a boost even for a beginner grower.
