How to Manage the Soil of Bonsai Plants
Do you know these? This is an introduction to the making of bonsai, how to manage the soil of bonsai plants. Let's get to know it together.
(One) Soil Preparation and Disinfection
1. Soil Preparation
Bonsai soil is the material basis for the growth and development of bonsai plants. It provides the necessary water, nutrients, and air for the plants and plays a role in fixing the plant. Most bonsai plants are limited by the pot, with thin and limited soil, which puts higher demands on the quality of the soil. Good soil is a prerequisite for ensuring the normal growth and development of bonsai plants. Generally, good soil should meet the following conditions: loose soil texture, rich in humus, comprehensive nutrients, good drainage and ventilation, strong water and fertilizer retention, suitable pH for the plant, and free of pests and harmful substances.
Bonsai soil is often prepared from various materials, including garden soil, leaf mold soil, compost soil, pond mud, peat, yellow sand, etc. The soil formula varies depending on the local material sources and habits. Common soil formulas include: garden soil + leaf mold soil + yellow sand + bone meal, in a volume ratio of 6:8:6:1, or peat + yellow sand + bone meal, in a volume ratio of 12:8:1. Generally, for flowering trees, it's compost soil + garden soil, in a volume ratio of 1:1, for chrysanthemum, it's compost soil + garden soil + wood ash + fine sand, in a volume ratio of 2:2:1:1, and for azalea, a small amount of yellow sand can be added to the leaf mold soil.
2. Soil Disinfection
The materials used to prepare the soil often contain harmful bacteria and虫 eggs for plants, so the soil must be disinfected before use. The main methods of soil disinfection include steam disinfection and chemical disinfection.
(1) Steam Disinfection
Use steel or rubber pipes to lead steam from a boiler into a sealed container with soil, and disinfect with steam at 100-200℃ for 1 hour. For a small amount of soil, it can also be disinfected in a high-pressure sterilizer for 15-20 minutes.
(2) Chemical Disinfection
Commonly used is formalin (40% formaldehyde), with 400-500ml of formalin solution per cubic meter of soil, mix well, cover with plastic film, seal for 2-4 hours, then spread out and ventilate for 3-4 days. It can be used after the formalin has volatilized.
(Two) Potting and Repotting
1. Potting
The process of planting a plant in a pot for the first time is called potting. When potting, first place broken pot tiles or window screen at the bottom of the pot to prevent soil from leaking out and to facilitate drainage. For shallow pots, window screen should be used, while for deeper pots, broken tiles can be used, and for even deeper pots, multiple pieces of broken tiles are needed to pad the lower part of the pot. When planting larger trees in shallow pots, it is necessary to tie the trees to the bottom of the pot with metal wire. Before blocking the bottom drainage hole, place an iron rod in the bottom of the pot and secure the metal wire through the pot hole to the iron rod to fix the wire, then use the other end of the wire to tie the roots to secure the tree.
When planting, first add a small amount of nutrient-rich soil to the bottom of the pot, place the plant roots on the soil and secure them in the correct position, then add the rest of the nutrient-rich soil, pressing the soil against the roots with a bamboo stake as you go. When adding soil to near the pot opening, leave a small space for watering. For shallow pots, no water gap is left, and sometimes the soil is piled up. The depth of planting should also be adjusted according to the shaping needs, generally slightly raising the roots above the soil surface.
After planting, water immediately, preferably with a spray bottle. The first watering must be thorough, and then place it in a windless semi-shaded area and pay attention to daily misting. Generally, new roots can grow in half a month, and then it can be transferred to normal management.
2. Repotting
The process of updating the soil of a potted plant and replanting it in the pot is called repotting.
(1) Purpose of Repotting
① Update the soil to promote plant growth and development After a certain period of growth, the roots of bonsai plants fill the entire pot and form an aging root ball, while the soil nutrients are exhausted and the soil becomes compacted. At this time, it is necessary to repot to update the soil, promote root growth, and ensure the plant's nutrients (G-Y) to avoid weak growth or death. In the process of young bonsai plants growing year by year, when the original pot is too small to affect the above-ground growth, it is necessary to repot to a larger pot and add new soil to expand the root nutrient area. In addition, when plant roots are affected by diseases and pests, it is also necessary to control the damage through repotting.
② Enhance the ornamental value of the bonsai When the bonsai is used for display and exhibition, it is necessary to replace the original earthenware pot with a high-quality pot such as a purple sand pot or a ceramic pot to enhance its ornamental value. In addition, according to shaping needs, sometimes it is necessary to replace a deep pot with a shallow pot, or change the planting position or posture of the plant, and repotting is required at this time.
(2) Repotting Cycle
The repotting cycle should be determined based on the tree species, age, size of the bonsai, and growth condition.
① Tree species: Flower and fruit bonsai consume more nutrients and should be repotted once a year. Pine and cypress grow slowly and require less fertilizer, so they can be repotted every 3-4 years. General broad-leaved trees can be repotted every 2 years.
② Tree age: Young trees grow fast and should be repotted every 1-2 years, mature trees can be repotted every 2-3 years, and old trees can be repotted every 3-5 years.
③ Size: Small bonsai have less soil volume and should be repotted every 1-2 years, medium-sized bonsai can be repotted every 2-3 years, and large bonsai have more soil volume and can be repotted every 3-5 years.
④ Growth condition: Generally, when the roots fill the entire pot, roots extend from the drainage hole or grow upwards from the edge, it is time for repotting.
(3) Repotting Time
The best time for repotting is before spring germination, but the climate varies in different regions, so it should be adjusted according to local conditions. The suitable repotting period also varies for different plant species. For example, plum trees should be repotted after flowering, and for b Buddha belly bamboo, repotting in May or September is best. If the repotting is just changing a small pot to a large one without breaking the soil ball, it can be done throughout the year.
(4) Repotting Method
① Unpotting
Do not water the plant before repotting to make the soil slightly dry. First, remove some soil from the edges of the pot, then turn the pot upside down and tap the bottom or gently tap the edge to make the plant, along with the soil and roots, come out of the pot. For trees with grafted shapes, be careful during unpotting to avoid separating the scion from the rootstock.
② Remove Soil and Trim Roots
After unpotting, use a bamboo stake to remove the top surface soil and the soil from the edges and bottom, usually about 1/3-1/2 of the original soil. While removing the soil, the roots should be pruned, removing dead, rotting, diseased, and dense roots, and shortening long roots.
③ Planting
When planting, you can choose a suitable new pot or use the original pot. For mature tree stakes, the original pot should be used without changing to a larger pot to control the growth and maintain the original tree shape. The plant can be planted in its original position or adjusted slightly. If making a raised root style bonsai, more soil should be placed in the bottom of the pot to make the roots visible above the pot opening. The other technical requirements for planting are the same as those for potting.
The above is the full content on how to manage the soil of bonsai plants. I hope it is helpful to green plant enthusiasts!