How to care for Camellia sinensis bonsai
Today's sharing: tips on how to care for Camellia sinensis bonsai and the planting methods and cultivation techniques for Camellia sinensis, which will surely be helpful to you. Let's learn about it together!
Camellia sinensis is a small, evergreen shrub known for its flowers that combine the characteristics of both tea flowers and plum blossoms, hence the name. Its leaves are elliptical with a glossy surface. It blooms from November to January of the following year, with most flowers being white and rarely red.
Due to its compact and sturdy shape, evergreen leaves, and its ornamental value, many people cultivate it as a bonsai. Its elegant and ancient style adds more luster to living rooms and halls.
Camellia sinensis prefers a semi-shaded environment. Too much direct sunlight can burn the leaves and cause them to fall off. However, prolonged lack of sunlight can cause the leaves to lose their luster and the flower color to fade significantly. Therefore, proper lighting is particularly important for lush leaves and bright flowers.
During the hotter months of May to September, it should be placed in a shaded area to avoid direct sunlight, while also paying attention to leaf diseases caused by high temperatures. In late autumn and winter, it should be placed in a sunny indoor location. Camellia sinensis is cold-resistant, so it can survive winters in the southern regions at temperatures above 2 degrees Celsius. However, in the colder northern regions, it can only be cultivated indoors during winter.
As a bonsai, due to the limited soil, watering in the summer must be timely, preferably once a day and thoroughly, but without积水. Also, water should be sprayed on the leaves every few days to remove dust and maintain leaf cleanliness. In winter, due to less evaporation, watering should be reduced, possibly once every few days.
Camellia sinensis does not require much fertilizer and water. Fertilizing should be light, generally applying decomposed cake fertilizer once every two months. Before blooming, a bit more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be applied to enhance flower color. Additionally, during the biennial pot change, some decomposed soybean cake can be added as a long-acting base fertilizer, which also works well.
Timely pruning not only makes the Camellia sinensis bonsai look beautiful but also reduces unnecessary nutrient consumption, allowing nutrients to concentrate, resulting in larger flowers and lush leaves. Generally, one bud is left on each branch, and the rest should be cut off without hesitation. Branches that have bloomed and those that are unsightly should also be removed.
The above is the specific content on how to care for Camellia sinensis bonsai, planting methods, and maintenance for your reference and operation.