How to care for Liquidambar styraciflua bonsai
For many girls, the knowledge of how to care for Liquidambar styraciflua bonsai and the maintenance and management of Liquidambar styraciflua bonsai in the field of green plants and flowers, let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
Liquidambar styraciflua is also known as styrax or sacred styrax. There are more than a hundred varieties of Liquidambar styraciflua. According to the size of the leaves, they can be divided into large leaves, medium leaves, and small leaves; according to the shape of the leaves, they can be divided into two-angled, five-angled, chicken foot, and filamentous leaves; and according to the color of the leaves, they can be divided into evergreen red, spring and autumn red, and green leaves with embedded creamy yellow spots. Some Liquidambar styraciflua sprout red and turn green as the leaves age, so the color changes of Liquidambar styraciflua leaves throughout the year are also diverse. In autumn, placing the Liquidambar styraciflua bonsai and evergreen bonsai together creates an interesting contrast of red and green, making it look vibrant. The Song Dynasty poet Zhao Chengde composed an ode to the Liquidambar styraciflua, which says: "Yellow, red, purple, green on the rocks, near and far, high and low among the pines and bamboos; the mountain color should not age after autumn, the sacred styrax is just preserving its youthful appearance." This beautiful poem vividly describes the changes of Liquidambar styraciflua leaves throughout the four seasons, making people feel as if they are there in person.
Tree Shape Creation
There are many wild Liquidambar styraciflua, and making bonsai often involves digging old stumps or young trees from the mountains. The new branches of Liquidambar styraciflua are long and soft, which can be tied into famous bonsai styles. The common styles include straight trunk, slanted trunk, curved trunk, double trunk, waterside, and forest styles. The shaping of Liquidambar styraciflua is mainly through pruning, with tying as a supplement. Liquidambar styraciflua leaves are large and not suitable for shaping into clouds or cloud shapes, but often pruned into a natural style with coordinated heights and proper density. After frost, the leaves turn red, bright and eye-catching, making them delightful.
Planting and Potting
Liquidambar styraciflua should be planted in late winter, from February to March, before sprouting. Before planting, the branches and roots should be pruned, and half of the old soil should be removed and replaced with new soil. At the bottom of the pot, apply decomposed soybean cake as a base fertilizer. Liquidambar styraciflua prefers loose, fertile, and moist soil and grows poorly in barren areas. For planting Liquidambar styraciflua, it is common to use a mixture of 2/3 humus soil and 1/3 sandy soil. Since the leaves of most Liquidambar styraciflua turn from green to red after frost in deep autumn, it is important to avoid using red or green glazed pots when potting. For forest-style Liquidambar styraciflua bonsai, you can choose white marble or marble shallow pots, process the pot soil into a natural mountainous shape, and place a few turtle pattern stones or Yingde stones on the appropriate spots on the pot surface. Adding a few small figures of people or animals will make the bonsai more vibrant.
Care and Management
Care location. Liquidambar styraciflua prefers a shady and cool environment and avoids direct strong sunlight, so the bonsai should be placed under a shade or other trees for care. Placing it in strong sunlight or on a balcony often leads to leaf burning. Since indoor ventilation is poor, Liquidambar styraciflua bonsai should not be placed indoors for more than a week, otherwise it will be harmful to growth. In the north, the bonsai should be moved into a low-temperature room in winter. In the south, the pot should be buried in the soil facing the sun to safely survive the winter.
Watering. Liquidambar styraciflua has large leaves and evaporates water quickly, so it should be watered frequently during the growing season. On hot days, water should be sprinkled on the ground to maintain the humidity of the microclimate. In winter, when Liquidambar styraciflua enters dormancy, it should be watered less frequently, only watering when the potting soil is dry.
Fertilizing. Before sprouting in spring and when the leaves expand, Liquidambar styraciflua should be fertilized with a thin organic liquid fertilizer that has been decomposed, but do not fertilize on rainy days. In August and September, fertilize with a thin organic liquid fertilizer. Do not fertilize during the winter dormancy period.
Shaping. Liquidambar styraciflua has a strong germination ability, and new shoots often grow on the trunk. Any buds or dense branches that are not needed for shaping should be pruned promptly, which can save nutrients and benefit ventilation and light transmission. The best viewing period for Liquidambar styraciflua is when the new leaves have just unfolded. If all the leaves are removed at the end of summer and a thin organic liquid fertilizer is applied, new leaves can grow in about 20 days, adding another best viewing period.
Preventing Diseases and Pests. Liquidambar styraciflua mainly suffers from powdery mildew and pests such as tussock moths and aphids, which should be promptly controlled.
The above[] introduces how to care for Liquidambar styraciflua bonsai and the complete content of its maintenance and management. Have green plant enthusiasts understood it?