Wax plum, also known as wintersweet, is one of the traditional famous flowers and trees in our country, loved by people for its unique fragrance and beautiful posture. Wax plum bonsai brings the beauty and charm of wax plum to its fullest. It is not an easy task to cultivate wax plum bonsai well. This article will introduce you to the maintenance methods of wax plum bonsai in detail, helping you to make the wax plum bonsai bloom with brilliance.
Choose the Right wintersweet VarietyThere are many varieties of wax plum, such as white plum, red plum, green plum, etc. When choosing a wax plum variety, it should be selected according to personal preferences and maintenance conditions. White plum and red plum are more cold-resistant and suitable for the northern regions; green plum is suitable for the southern regions. It is also necessary to choose wax plum varieties with vigorous growth and fewer pests and diseases.
Choose the Right Pot for BonsaiThe pot for wax plum bonsai should be a ceramic or purple sand pot with good breathability and strong drainage. The size of the pot should be determined according to the shape of the wax plum plant, generally slightly larger than the height of the wax plum. The shape of the pot should be round or oval, which is beneficial for the growth and styling of the wax plum.
Soil Selection and PreparationThe soil for wax plum bonsai should be sandy soil with good breathability and strong drainage. It can be mixed with decomposed leaf soil, garden soil, and sand in a certain proportion. The specific proportion is: decomposed leaf soil 60%, garden soil 30%, sand 10%. Some bone meal, superphosphate, etc., can be added appropriately to provide the nutrients needed for the growth of wax plum.
Watering and FertilizingWax plum prefers a humid environment but dislikes waterlogging. When watering, keep the soil moist but not too much. Watering in winter should be moderate to avoid root rot. For fertilizing, wax plum should be fertilized with a compound fertilizer once a month during the growing season, and the frequency of fertilization can be appropriately reduced in winter. When fertilizing, pay attention to the concentration of the fertilizer to avoid burning the roots.
Light and TemperatureWax plum prefers an environment with sufficient light but dislikes direct sunlight. During maintenance, wax plum should be placed in a place with sufficient scattered light. In winter, when the temperature is low, wax plum should be moved indoors for maintenance, keeping the room temperature above 5℃. In summer, it should be shaded appropriately to avoid direct sunlight.
Pruning and StylingPruning and styling of wax plum bonsai is the key to enhancing its ornamental value. Pruning should follow the principle of "thinning, shortening, binding, and adjusting," that is, thinning the dense branches, shortening the long branches, binding the branches for shaping, and then cutting to adjust. Styling can adopt traditional methods such as "one tree with three branches" and "two trees with four branches" to make the wax plum bonsai more artistic.
Pest and Disease ControlWax plum bonsai may be troubled by pests and diseases during growth. Common pests and diseases include aphids, red spiders, powdery mildew, etc. The control methods are as follows:
1. Strengthen maintenance management, keep the environment clean, and reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases;
2. Regularly spray pesticides such as pymetrozine and carbendazim to control pests and diseases;
3. When pests and diseases are found, promptly cut off the diseased branches and pest branches and burn them.
Maintaining wax plum bonsai is an art that requires patience and carefulness. Through the maintenance of the above seven aspects, your wax plum bonsai will surely grow strong and bloom beautiful flowers. In the process, you can also keep trying and exploring according to your preferences, making the wax plum bonsai a beautiful landscape in your home.