Lantern flower bonsai making tutorial, creating unique artistic greenery at home

Choose the right lantern flower variety, prepare materials for planting, trim branches, water and fertilize, provide light and temperature, and prevent and treat diseases and pests.

Lantern flowers, scientifically known as Bougainvillea, are named for their lantern-like flowers and have been very popular ornamental plants in recent years. Creating a bonsai out of lantern flowers not only allows for the appreciation of their unique colors but also the charm of bonsai art. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the creation of a lantern flower bonsai, helping you to create a unique artistic greenery at home.

Choose the appropriate lantern flower variety

Before creating a lantern flower bonsai, it is important to select the right variety. There are currently many common varieties of lantern flowers in the market, including red, pink, white, and more colors. Choose according to personal preference, and it is more suitable for making bonsai to choose a variety with sturdy branches and lush leaves.

Prepare materials for creation

The materials needed to create a lantern flower bonsai include:

1. Specialized bonsai pot: Choose a shallow dish-shaped or cylindrical pot suitable for the growth of lantern flowers.

2. Decomposed leaf soil, coarse sand, pearl rock, etc.: Used for the preparation of cultivation soil.

3. Scalpel, scissors: Used for trimming branches.

4. Watering can, spray bottle: Used for watering.

Planting lantern flowers

1. Mix decomposed leaf soil, coarse sand, and pearl rock in a ratio of 2:1:1, filling 1/3 of the bonsai pot.

2. Clean the roots of the lantern flower, place it in the cultivation soil, making sure not to bury it too deep, so that some roots are exposed.

3. Fill the cultivation soil, gently compact it, and stabilize the lantern flower in the pot.

Trimming branches

1. After the lantern flower has grown for a period, start trimming the branches. When trimming, be sure to retain the main branches and cut off the long branches, weak branches, and crossed branches.

2. After trimming, use the scissors to trim the branches into the desired shape, such as round balls, rectangles, etc.

Watering and fertilizing

1. Watering: Lantern flowers prefer a humid environment, so keep the soil moist during the growing period. When watering, be careful not to splash water on the leaves to avoid causing diseases.

2. Fertilizing: Apply a compound fertilizer once a month to promote the growth of the lantern flower.

Light and temperature

1. Light: Lantern flowers prefer a sunny environment, so place them in a well-lit area such as a balcony or courtyard.

2. Temperature: Lantern flowers prefer a warm environment, with a growth temperature of 20-30℃ being suitable.

Prevention and treatment of diseases and pests

1. Observe the growth of the lantern flower and deal with diseases and pests in a timely manner.

2. Biological pesticides or chemical pesticides can be used for prevention and control, but be careful not to use pesticides excessively.

Although the process of making a lantern flower bonsai is somewhat tedious, as long as the correct method is mastered, it can be easily created at home to add a unique artistic greenery. Let's get our hands dirty and experience the fun of making a lantern flower bonsai!