How to care for Acer buergerianum (Trident Maple) bonsai
Today's introduction on how to care for Acer buergerianum bonsai and the management of its potted cultivation, including knowledge about flowers and plants, is as follows:
Acer buergerianum is a deciduous tree of the Aceraceae family, native to China. Its branches and trunks are sturdy and elegant, with dense and beautiful leaves. New branches and leaves have a reddish tint, and in autumn, the leaves turn from green to yellow and then to bright red, which is very beautiful and has high ornamental value. It is widely distributed in the mountains of Hubei and is a good material for making tree-stump bonsai.
1. Morphological characteristics and ecological habits of Acer buergerianum
The bark of Acer buergerianum is dark gray and peels off in flakes. The leaves are inverted ovate-triangular, simple, opposite, 6-10 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, usually lobed with three triangular lobes, apex acuminate, margin entire or slightly serrated; the leaf color is dark green, the underside has white powder and fine pubescence; the corymbs are terminal, pubescent, flowers are yellow-green, blooming after the leaves unfold, flowering period is from mid to late April; the ovary is densely pubescent, the samaras are brownish yellow, the wings open into an acute angle, 2.5-3.0 cm long, the small nutlets are prominent with venation, and the fruit ripening period is September to October. Acer buergerianum is a positive plant that prefers sunlight but can tolerate some shade, is cold-resistant and can tolerate moist conditions, prefers a warm and humid climate with good ventilation and loose, fertile, well-drained neutral to acidic soil. It grows relatively fast, has strong germination ability and is tolerant to pruning, with a robust and developed root system and strong suckering ability.
2. Selection of materials for bonsai
(1) Tree-stump collection and cultivation. The tree-stump materials of Acer buergerianum are mostly collected in the mountains. The collection time is from late autumn to early spring, when the trees stop growing and enter dormancy, or before the trees start to germinate in early spring. During the collection process, the main roots must be cut off, as many lateral and fibrous roots as possible should be retained, and the tree-stump should be heavily pruned according to its shape. The wounds of the roots should be smoothed and treated with 1500 times of naphthyl acetic acid or 911 root-promoting hormone before applying mud slurry for planting. The collected Acer buergerianum tree-stumps need to be nurtured for 1-2 years, preferably in loose, fertile, well-drained loamy soil, with the roots deeply buried to ensure close contact with the soil to prevent the decay of large roots. After planting, water thoroughly and maintain good ventilation. During high summer temperatures, a shading shed should be set up or the trunk should be wrapped with straw rope to reduce evaporation before root formation, and water should be sprayed frequently to promote root growth and new bud formation. Do not remove buds or prune branches within two years, and apply generous water and fertilizer for raising.
(2) Seedling cultivation. Acer buergerianum is mostly propagated by播种 ( seeding ). In the Wuhan area, the seeds mature from September to October, and seeds that are brownish yellow or brown and plump should be selected for sowing. The sowing time is divided into autumn sowing and spring sowing, with the seeds stored in moist sand during the winter for spring sowing. The seeds are sown in drills in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy soil, with a depth of 2-3 cm. After 2-3 years of natural growth, the seedlings are transplanted with the soil around the roots to a suitable seedbed from late February to early March. After transplanting, strengthen water and fertilizer management to cultivate high-quality and strong seedlings for bonsai production.
3. Bonsai creation
(1) Tree-stump bonsai creation. After a period of nurturing, the Acer buergerianum tree-stump can be transplanted into a pot of appropriate size for processing and shaping. According to the shape of the tree-stump, it can be made into different forms of bonsai such as straight-trunk, horizontal-trunk, waterside, cliff, and deadwood styles. The principle of creation is to use artistic methods to shape the roots, trunk, and branches from bottom to top, first the main trunk and then the branches, through pruning and wiring to create a lines优美的 bonsai work. During the pruning process, attention should be paid to the reasonable distribution of branches to avoid the formation of intersecting and overlapping branches. The climate in the Wuhan area is warm and humid, and Acer buergerianum grows fast, so the creation method focuses on pruning with wiring as an辅助. Acer buergerianum branches are brittle, and the most suitable time for wiring is when the branches are just lignified, as they are more flexible and less likely to break. Since the leaves of Acer buergerianum are relatively large, during the creation process, they should not be pruned in a flat or dumpling shape but should be pruned and pulled to form a natural, flowing style with varying heights. Depending on the form, stones, animals, moss, etc., can be added to achieve a natural and artistic effect.
(2) Root-raising style bonsai creation. Acer buergerianum has a developed root system and can be used to create root-raising style bonsai by cultivating the main and lateral roots. The steps involve planting 2-3-year-old seedlings from seed propagation in tall containers or slightly thicker PVC pipes and strengthening water and fertilizer management to promote root growth. In autumn and winter, the seedlings are removed from the containers, the soil is removed, and the roots are adjusted and re-planted, leaving 10-15 cm of the root neck exposed to gradually adapt to the external environment. This process is repeated 2-3 times. At the same time, the upper part of the Acer buergerianum is pruned and wired for shaping. When the exposed roots reach 30-40 cm, they are planted in a suitable shallow purple sand pot in spring or late autumn, and excess or dead roots are cut off. Later-stage cultivation and care should pay attention to the coordination and unity of the branches and roots.
(3) Rock-attached style bonsai creation. Rock-attached bonsai is an art form that combines trees and unusual stones, creating a harmonious and integrated bonsai arrangement. The stones and tree-stumps complement each other, giving a sense of natural beauty. Acer buergerianum has a strong healing ability and is suitable for creating rock-attached bonsai. The creation time is in spring after Acer buergerianum has started to germinate, using 4-5-year-old seedlings that have been root-trained and shaped. The roots are整理 ( tidied ) and tied with hemp rope to the selected stone, planted in a suitable shallow purple sand pot, with the roots embedded in the stone crevices for shaping. Stones with vertical stripes and wrinkles, such as Yingde stone, stalactite stone, sandstone, and turtle pattern stone, are suitable. If the stone is unstable, it can be glued to the bottom of the pot with cement. During creation, attention should be paid to the proportion of the height of the桩胚 ( seedling stock ) to the stone, and the root distribution should be close to nature. The roots and stone must fit perfectly to achieve the best ornamental effect of the rock-attached bonsai. The exposed roots should be evenly wrapped with moss and kept moist, and gradually removed after they have survived.
4. Maintenance management
(1) Water and fertilizer management. The principle of watering for tree-stump bonsai is "do not water until dry, and water thoroughly when watering." In daily maintenance, water should be补充 ( supplemented ) to the Acer buergerianum tree-stump in time to keep the potting soil moist. During high temperatures and dry seasons (July-September), water should be applied twice a day in the morning and evening, and at other times, water can be applied every few days or longer depending on the moisture of the soil and the growth of the branches and leaves. The principle of fertilization is timely and moderate, with a thin liquid fertilizer applied every 15-20 days during the growing season, preferably on sunny mornings. High temperatures, rainy days, and the plum rain season are not suitable for fertilizing. Care should be taken to avoid洒 ( spilling ) the liquid fertilizer on the leaves to prevent fertilizer damage. During the dormant period in winter, apply thoroughly decomposed cake fertilizer or other organic fertilizers in the holes.
(2) Shaping and pruning. Acer buergerianum has a strong germination ability, and during the growing period, it is necessary to remove buds and pinch the tips of long branches, thin branches, and branches that affect the tree shape and internal ventilation and lighting. Weak, diseased, pest-infested, and intersecting branches should be cut off in time to maintain a beautiful shape.
(3) Repotting and changing soil. After 3-5 years of maintenance, the Acer buergerianum bonsai should be repotted and the soil changed, preferably during the dormant period, in early spring or late autumn. When changing the soil, cut off the old roots, retain the new roots, remove the old soil, and use the original pot or a slightly larger pot, adding acidic loam rich in humus to ensure good soil ventilation and drainage, and do a good job of shading and moisturizing.
(4) Pest and disease control. The main diseases of Acer buergerianum are brown spot and powdery mildew, which mainly affect the leaves. Brown spot causes irregular reddish-brown spots on the affected leaves, which can lead to premature leaf fall and seriously affect the plant's growth and ornamental value. During the onset of the disease, spray 50% methyl thiophanate 800-1000 times liquid, once every 7 days, for 2-3 consecutive treatments. Powdery mildew causes white powdery mold spots on the front or back of the affected leaves, seriously affecting photosynthesis. During the onset of the disease, use 15% myclobutanil 1000 times liquid or 1% Bordeaux mixture for control. The main pests are tussock moths, bagworms, and longicorn beetles. Tussock moths and bagworms eat the leaves, and control can be achieved by spraying 80% diazinon 800-1000 times liquid. Longicorn beetles bore into the branches and trunks, and control measures include manual capture and chemical control. If longicorn beetles are found, they should be captured in time. If there is sawdust-like dung at the base of the tree, inject 40% dimethoate emulsion 5-10 times liquid into the burrow and seal the hole with wet mud to achieve obvious insecticidal effects.
(5) Method for promoting red leaves. The most beautiful time for Acer buergerianum bonsai is when the new leaves are fresh and red and during the deep autumn when the leaves turn from green to bright red. To enhance ornamental value and effect, an artificial method of removing all old leaves to promote new leaves can be used. If you want to see red leaves during the "National Day" holiday, the latest time for leaf removal cannot be later than August 20th. After leaf removal, strengthen fertilizer and water management, in addition to nitrogen fertilizer, apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to delay the leaf-falling time and make the autumn red leaves more beautiful.
5. Conclusion
Acer buergerianum bonsai is a living artwork. To create a high-value ornamental Acer buergerianum bonsai, it is necessary to follow its growth habits, use the right materials, and master the principles of coordination and control during the creation process. At the same time, attention should be paid to the selection of materials for Acer buergerianum tree-stumps. Due to the impact of environmental protection, excessive collection of ancient tree-stumps is not allowed, and we should pay more attention to the cultivation of young seedlings.
The above is a specific introduction to how to care for Acer buergerianum bonsai and the management of its potted cultivation, for reference by netizens.