The Care and Management of珍珠黄杨 Bonsai
The core content of this article: the creation of珍珠黄杨 bonsai, the care and management of珍珠黄杨 bonsai, very good small knowledge of experience, it is recommended to collect!
珍珠黄杨 is a typical high mountain evergreen species with fine and solid wood, glossy leathery leaves, slow growth, and low water consumption. Cold resistance, drought resistance, and shade preference are its most significant characteristics.
Years of research and practical experience have shown that the main reason for the difficulty of珍珠黄杨 surviving after being moved from the wild is the sudden change in its special living environment.
Like other living organisms,珍珠黄杨 has formed its own unique growth inertia in its long ecological history. That is, in a specific natural environment, it is accustomed to adjusting the adaptive functions of cell tissues according to its own needs and methods, absorbing external nutrients to maintain its life growth. Changing this inertia can easily lead to poor growth or even death. This is almost the same as the "high altitude reaction" and "unsuitable for local conditions" commonly seen in humans.
Generally speaking, depending on the tree age and the degree of root damage, wild珍珠黄杨 may not show significant changes in branches and leaves within several months to even two or three years after transplanting, as long as appropriate water and careful care are provided. The younger the tree, the stronger the vitality of the root cells, and the higher the chance of survival. However, even if it survives, it often shows slow recovery in spring, long dormancy period, sparse and weak branches and leaves, and often in a僵 but not dead state. The older the tree, the faster the roots shrink, although the nutrients in the trunk can still maintain the leaves from immediate withering, but it is ultimately difficult to change the fate of death. If new roots occur, attention should be paid to controlling water and providing appropriate lighting to benefit root protection and strengthening, and avoid fertilizing in a hurry.
As a unique and globally endangered precious species in China, due to the influence of natural conditions, species characteristics, and human destruction, the distribution range and growth quality of the wild population of珍珠黄杨 are showing a trend of annual decline. Protecting and cultivating natural resources and achieving the sustainable development of ornamental plant industries should become our common concept.
After nearly 18 years of domestication and selection,珍珠黄杨 has experienced a process from high mountains to the foothills and then to the plains in terms of regional distribution, from delicate to rough in terms of cultivation methods, and completely adopts the cultivation mode under open-air natural conditions, having withstood the tests of winter snow, summer sun, and rain and drought. It has strong adaptability. Its species characteristics, growth status, stress resistance, and cultivation techniques are significantly different from those of wild珍珠黄杨.
Long-term and large-scale cultivation experiments under extreme conditions have shown that for the care and management of well-raised珍珠黄杨 bonsai, as long as the following points similar to those of other trees are mastered, maintaining its normal growth state is not difficult.
I: Potting - Avoid direct sunlight in summer
Potting珍珠黄杨 can be done in any season, with the dormant period or the plum rain season being the best. The soil for potting should be dominated by humus soil, paddy soil, or mountain soil, slightly acidic, neutral, or slightly alkaline. If you are not satisfied with the local soil, you can mix the soil brought by the plant with one-third orchid soil or vermiculite, peat, etc. You can also add a small amount of soybean cake or soybean meal to the soil to ferment and volatilize into slow-release fertilizer for the plant's slow absorption. For ground-planted plants with well-developed roots, some main roots can be cut and some fibrous roots can be removed when potting, avoiding their compression in the pot. When potting, first fix a screen or tile at the bottom hole of the pot, then place the plant, fill in the cultivation soil, and water thoroughly.
Initially, after repotting in summer, it should be placed in a shady and well-ventilated place. In spring and autumn, more sunlight should be provided.
II: Watering - Water when dry, and water thoroughly when watering
Watering is a major measure for the care of珍珠黄杨 bonsai. After potting, the plant should be watered sufficiently or soaked, and then follow the principle of not watering when dry and watering thoroughly when watering (soaking). Dryness refers to the soil surface starting to appear dry and white, not completely dry.
When trees are planted in pots, the soil and the water it contains are limited. If water is not supplemented for a long time, the trees will lose leaves and even wither due to lack of water. Generally, when placing珍珠黄杨 indoors, watering should not be too frequent. If the pot soil is too wet for a long time, lacks ventilation and sufficient sunlight, it can easily cause root hypoxia and rot. The frequency of watering should be determined by seasonal changes, weather warmth, and soil permeability. Watering can be done by foliar spraying, root irrigation, or soaking the pot for several minutes, taking care not to pour "half-water" that makes the pot surface wet and the inside dry. If you often go out and can't water, you can use 2-3 cotton threads or yarns, with one end threaded into the pot and the other end soaked in water in a pot, cup, or other container, using the self-absorption principle of water. In winter, water evaporates slowly, so 1-2 roots immersed in water are enough, while in summer, it can be increased appropriately, depending on your local climate conditions.
III: Fertilizing - Light application of concentrated fertilizer
The soil in the pot of a bonsai is limited, and so is the nutrient content. Attention should be paid to the supplement of fertilizers. But since珍珠黄杨 grows relatively slowly, fertilizing does not need to be too much or too frequent, twice a year in early spring and at the beginning of autumn is suitable. For珍珠黄杨 bonsai, nitrogen-based fertilizers are mainly used. For plants with a diameter of about 20 cm, 20 soybeans or soybean cakes can be soaked and fully decomposed, then diluted and applied to the pot soil.
When applying other liquid fertilizers, do not make them too concentrated to avoid root damage. Plants that have just been potted or repotted should not be fertilized in a hurry.
IV: Pest and Disease Control - Deal with them when seen
Pearl yellow cypress has few pests except for the occasional occurrence of yellow silk caterpillars in spring and summer. The symptoms of damage are yellowing of local leaves, which can be controlled by catching or spraying with common pesticides such as dichlorvos.
If diseases occur in珍珠黄杨, refer to the disease characteristics of瓜子黄杨. If black spots appear on the leaves or small branches wither, it may be shoot blight or leaf spot disease. You can spray with a broad-spectrum fungicide solution such as carbendazim or mancozeb for 3-4 times at 5-7-day intervals.
V: Pruning - Master the season
Pearl yellow cypress has a strong branching ability and can sprout new buds everywhere. If left to grow naturally without inhibition, it will certainly affect the tree shape and reduce its ornamental value. Therefore, it is necessary to prune in time to maintain a beautiful tree shape and proper proportions. But remember: pruning should be done after the plant enters the dormant period in autumn. Pruning during the growing season in midsummer can easily lead to branch shrinkage.
Pinching: For branches that grow too fast, you can pinch off the tender tip to inhibit their height growth and promote the development of lateral branches.
Removing flower buds: For older plants, some bead-shaped flower buds often appear on the branches or branch ends after August each year. If there are too many, remove the ones on the branches and leave the ones on the branch ends to enjoy the flowers. This can avoid consuming too much nutrients and ensure the plant has lush branches and leaves.
Pruning: Pearl yellow cypress often produces new branches at the base of the trunk. To maintain its aesthetic shape, it is necessary to remove them appropriately. The pruning method depends on the tree shape, such as trimming into a flat shape for a cloud-like造型. Generally, unattractive dead branches, parallel branches, and crossed branches should be pruned.
VI: Repotting - No need to be too frequent
Pearl yellow cypress has well-developed roots and strong root germination ability after pruning. After growing in the pot for a year, the fibrous roots can densely cover the bottom of the pot. If the pot is not repotted and the old roots are not pruned for several years, it will be difficult for water to penetrate and drain, and fertilizers will not be easily absorbed, affecting the normal growth of the plant. At this time, repotting should be considered. The pot can be the original one or a slightly larger one, depending on the size of the tree. Changing the soil can improve the aeration and permeability of the soil, increase soil nutrients, and benefit the healthy growth of the plant, enhancing its ornamental effect. Pruning old roots can promote the germination of new roots, improve root vitality, and facilitate nutrient absorption.
The soil and method used for repotting珍珠黄杨 are similar to those for potting, and the time for repotting can be determined based on the following aspects:
Generally, miniature bonsai should be repotted every 1-2 years, medium-sized bonsai every 2-3 years, and large bonsai every 4 years or so. Repotting can be determined based on the growth of the roots. When the pot soil is neither dry nor wet, turn the pot upside down and tap the bottom with your hand to remove the plant and soil together, checking the soil compaction and root distribution. If the soil is compacted and the roots are densely covering the bottom of the soil block, it indicates that repotting is necessary.
Repotting can be done at any time of the year, with early summer after the new branches have sprouted or the plum rain season being the best.
VII: Placement and Protection - Appropriate sunlight
Pearl yellow cypress prefers shade and should be placed in a well-ventilated and lighted area indoors. In high temperature and humidity conditions in summer, it is best to place it outdoors or on a balcony in the morning, evening, or during rainy days. Long-term shading and poor ventilation can make the plant's branches and leaves weak. Pearl yellow cypress has strong cold resistance and can withstand severe cold of about minus 20 degrees Celsius, but for new branches that sprout in late autumn or early spring, attention should be paid to insulation, preferably placing them indoors to prevent frost damage.
VIII: The leaf color of珍珠黄杨 changes with the seasons, and more sunlight during the dormant period can make the leaves turn red, otherwise, they will remain green.
The above-sharing small experience of caring for and managing珍珠黄杨 bonsai green plants and flowers, hoping to bring help to your life!