How to care for the June Snow bonsai
This article introduces how to care for the June Snow bonsai and the correct methods for maintaining the June Snow plant in the aspect of green plants and flowers. It's some great tips worth collecting!
Among the small bonsai plants, I strongly recommend the June Snow plant. June Snow is also known as白马骨 (Bai Ma Gu),满天星 (Man Tian Xing), 日日春花 (Ri Ri Chun Hua), and other aliases, all of which are plants with tiny star-like flowers. The plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family of evergreen small shrubs and often blooms small white flowers in summer, thus earning the name June Snow. The plant is most beautiful when its flowers are in full bloom.
Due to its graceful posture, sparse branches, and elegant appearance, the plant is crafted into a miniature bonsai. In the design of gardens, June Snow is an excellent ornamental plant for flowers and leaves, as well as a good choice for bonsai. It is also one of the five famous trees in the Lingnan bonsai style. With the continuous popularity of bonsai in China, every country has June Snow plantations.
The plant thrives in warm and humid environments, loves sunlight, and is shade and drought-tolerant, but it is not cold-resistant. Therefore, we need to ensure proper insulation during the winter. The plant also has the characteristic of being easy to prune, which simplifies the shaping process. It does not require high-quality soil and can survive in neutral to slightly acidic soil, but it should not be planted in alkaline soil. The plant enjoys fertilizer, and regular fertilization can promote better growth.
For planting June Snow, we perform the division propagation in March during spring. From February to October of the following year, we can carry out cutting propagation. Both stem cutting and root cutting are possible. If we want to protect the seedbeds for propagation, we need to do the cutting from November to January of the following year. After completing the cutting, we need to pay attention to shading, insulation, and moisture retention to ensure the survival rate of the plants.
After the plant grows for two to three years, we need to start the shaping process. This is usually done from the semi-defoliation period in winter to before the spring sprouting. Typically, we use metal wires to bind the main stem and branches of the plant, while the smaller branches need to be pruned carefully. The plant's branches are very soft and can be easily bent into shapes. Tools are needed for shaping, and the shaping process usually takes two to three years. Once the shaping is complete, the wires can be removed.
How to care for the June Snow bonsai
During the shaping process, we usually repeat the shaping several times to ensure that the plant is truly shaped. We must prevent the plant from being injured by the wire and not let the metal wire affect the plant's growth and aesthetic appearance.
In the Lingnan region, we can dig up and plant the June Snow, which greatly reduces the time needed for planting. This saved time can be used for more detailed shaping work.
The above is the complete content on how to care for the June Snow bonsai and the correct maintenance methods. Green plant enthusiasts might find it useful for reference.