How to Make and Care for a Peony Bonsai
Today's tip sharing: Explanation on making a peony bonsai, how to create and care for a peony bonsai, let's follow the editor to take a look!
Peony Bonsai Making and Care
Soil Preparation
Peonies are deep-rooted flowering plants with fleshy roots and fewer fibrous roots. As a bonsai, the limited volume of the pot causes a relative reduction in the root nutrition area, leading to a nutritional imbalance between the underground and above-ground parts, which can affect the normal growth and development of peonies. Therefore, scientific soil preparation is crucial. According to the characteristics of peonies, the soil should be loose, fertile, with a high content of humus and long-lasting fertilizer efficacy. Based on our research, a relatively ideal formula is a mixture of humus soil, horse manure, garden soil, and furnace slag in a ratio of 2:1:2:1, mixed evenly and matured with human waste for a month before use.
Peony Variety and Tree Trunk Selection
Peony bonsai is strict in its variety requirements and should choose varieties with a higher flowering rate, moderate growth, and easy shaping, such as "Zhusha Lai," "Zhaofen," "Huhong," "Qinglong Wu Mo Chi," "Zhihong," etc. Additionally, although "Sheng Dan Lu" has fewer flowers and larger growth, it grows robustly with strong branches and a natural tree shape, making it suitable for bonsai material.
For the selection of peony tree trunks, from the perspective of rapid shaping, those with suitable shapes or ancient and dignified main trunks and older seedlings should be chosen. Natural tree trunks with good shapes are ideal.
Potting Time
The timing of potting directly affects the root development of the tree and the normal flowering the following year. Practice has shown that potting in the middle and late September is more suitable.
Shaping
Peony wood is brittle and prone to breakage, making it difficult to process. ① For the main trunk, try to follow its natural curve. When potting, plant it at an angle, first wrapping the bending area with string or bast, then inserting a wire of corresponding thickness (12-18 gauge) at a 45-degree angle, wrapping it in the same direction as the intended twist to make it tighter. Alternatively, use a hemp rope for arch-shaped traction, operate in stages, and gradually bend it to achieve the shaping goal. ② For branches (small branches), mainly pruning is done. The layering of the tree, the retention of branches and buds, etc., should consider the relationship between density and emptiness and the spatial layout to achieve the desired effect. ③ Root treatment: Exposed roots can be balanced with the center of gravity of the tree canopy, creating a sense of power like tiger paws or eagle claws. The exposure of roots can be done by gradually washing away the potting soil year by year. Peony leaves are large and can be controlled by regulating water and fertilizer and spraying dwarfing agents.
Pot Surface Treatment (Rock Placement and Moss Distribution)
Rocks such as Taihu stones and bamboo shoots stones are best for placement, which can be placed horizontally or vertically, paying attention to the harmony and balance of the entire work. Moss distribution can enhance the aesthetic appeal and provide moisture retention and insulation.
Management
Watering: Due to the limited water retention of the small pot and less soil, watering must be done in a timely manner to ensure normal growth. After potting, water thoroughly once, and then water once a week depending on the soil moisture. Excessive watering can cause the branches and leaves to grow excessively, and long-term waterlogging can cause root rot. Especially in summer and autumn, watering should be controlled and done only when necessary.
Fertilizing: The nutrients in the pot are limited, and only timely fertilizing can ensure normal growth. Liquid fertilizers must be matured and diluted with water before application, and solid fertilizers can be evenly applied by making holes in the pot and watering at the same time. Additionally, pay attention to using thick fertilizers in winter and light fertilizers in spring and autumn, and try to apply thin fertilizers or foliar fertilization in summer.
Attention to Overwintering and Summer Care: In areas with severe winter cold, the bonsai can be placed underground, surrounded by soil to enclose the roots, and the surrounding soil can be removed in mid-to-late March of the following year for normal management. In the hot summer, move the bonsai to a shaded shelter and ensure good drainage and ventilation, spray the branches and leaves and the surrounding area daily to increase humidity and ensure water during the peony bud differentiation period.
Disease and Pest Control: Before potting, cut off the remaining branches (except if needed for the bonsai), diseased roots, and bad roots, and disinfect the wounds with 0.1-0.3% lime sulfur. For pot soil disinfection, mix in furan dan insecticide and fungicide (0.5 kg/m³), and spray lime sulfur or carbendazim once before germination in spring and after defoliation in autumn each year. When scale insects are found, spray with 25% diammonium phosphate at 800-1000 times before waxing and 80% diazepam at 1000-1500 times after waxing, then brush off with a brush.
The above comprehensive method for making and caring for a peony bonsai is hoped to be a starting point for solving your plant problems.