How to care for begonia bonsai
Share with everyone the topic of how to care for begonia bonsai and the cultivation techniques of potted begonia trees. Next, the editor will introduce to the netizens.
Begonias have many varieties with rich and varied colors, making them a favorite material for bonsai. Among the materials for bonsai, it is relatively easy to obtain begonias, a member of the Rosaceae family, especially for friends north of Qinhuai, where almost everyone has a pot of begonia.
In spring, as temperatures rise, begonias compete to bloom, creating a colorful scene, and butterflies follow, making it feel like being in a fairyland, living with bees, butterflies, and begonias in a serene environment.
However, begonias may not grow well, with rotting bark, falling leaves, and rust disease occurring from time to time. So, how should begonia bonsai be cared for? And what measures can be taken to solve these problems?
Humus soil with poor stickiness, Figure 1
1. Check if the potting soil meets the requirements of begonia habits
The characteristics of begonias include drought resistance, cold resistance, intolerance to waterlogging, and shade intolerance, preference for fertile water but not barren. Generally speaking, when preparing the soil, we mostly use peat soil, decomposed leaf mold mixed with decomposed organic fertilizer, and then add river sand, ceramsite, etc.
However, begonias, as plants adapted to the northern temperate climate, are special local plants, similar to cherry, grape, poplar, mountain elm, fragrant flower acacia, bitter tree,臭椿, and red catalpa. They are suitable for neutral soil in the north. If the potting soil is intentionally kept acidic, it does not adapt to begonias.
Too acidic potting soil can cause rough bark color and trigger rough bark disease, leading to dry rot disease. In the summer with high temperature and humidity, acidic humus soil can also lead to rust disease and cause defoliation.
Inadequate ventilation and high humidity cause rust disease, Figure 2
Suggestion: When the rainy season arrives, we need to check if the potting soil is too acidic and if there is waterlogging (Rosaceae plants generally fear waterlogging).
These two situations can lead to root rot, rust disease, and spotted leaf blight. If there is waterlogging, we can use general sandy mountain soil, vegetable garden soil, alluvial soil, fine river sand, and bone meal to replace 1/4-1/5 of the potting soil capacity, and replace the rest of the potting soil in the following spring.
As for the decomposed leaf mold and pine needle soil, they have too high water retention and should not be used temporarily.
Good light and ventilation, Figure 3
2.海棠 needs a suitable care position in summer
Another characteristic of begonias is their preference for light and ventilation. In the midsummer, if our begonia bonsai is still placed indoors with little light and no wind, its branches will become thin, internodes will lengthen, leaves will become papery, and new shoots will shrink.
This kind of care environment is not conducive to begonia growth and can also cause yellow leaves, especially for begonias that need to be补充 branches.
Suggestion: If possible, move it outdoors where there is strong light and good ventilation, allowing it to experience the natural elements of strong winds and heavy rain.
Begonias are drought-resistant, cold-resistant, and heat-resistant. As long as the drainage is good, they can be placed outdoors without worry. If there are no outdoor care conditions, place it near the indoor window to receive light and ventilation.
How to care for begonia bonsai
Japanese quince begonia powdery mildew, insufficient ventilation, Figure 4
3. Improper use of fertilizers and water causes leaf yellowing
Generally speaking, as long as the potting soil has good drainage, even daily watering will not cause defoliation, but high humidity can trigger leaf spot disease, anthracnose, angular leaf spot, and brown spot disease.
Brown spot disease and leaf spot disease start from old leaves, while angular leaf spot disease starts from young leaves. When it is too dry or the fertility is too high, the stipules will have irregular yellow spots, gradually turning into completely yellow leaves.
Single yellow leaves are not a concern, but in this situation, disease decreases while pest infestations increase, and there may also be root burn.
Suggestion: When it is too dry or the fertility is too high, water and leach the fertilizer quickly. For summer fertilization, there is no need to apply thin fertilizers frequently like other flowering plants.
Monthly application of decomposed organic fertilizer and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer is sufficient. There is no need to use other chemical fertilizers or foliar fertilizers, or to spread decomposed cake fertilizer or cow and sheep manure on the surface of the potting soil and let it seep through with water.
Humus soil without waterlogging, Figure 6
4. Using pinching and topping to strengthen the cultivation of shaping branches
Many begonia bonsais are not yet shaped, and some need to be supplemented with branches during the growing season. Therefore, during the peak growing season, we need to take advantage of begonias' strong germination ability to strengthen pruning and shaping.
Summer pruning mainly includes the following: first, cut off the root suckers and remove ineffective buds. Second, the spring and autumn shoots of begonias are particularly obvious. If the spring shoots are not controlled, the autumn shoots will grow longer, which is what we often call the "v Vigorous branch."
These branches are in positions where we don't need them but cannot be cut as sacrifice branches. At this time, we must pinch to control their length.
This can help support the growth of floating branches and auxiliary branches, and we should try to preserve the buds on these branches and let them grow upwards.
Third, all branches at the top position should be pinched to limit growth.
Fourth, if making a waterside or cliff-style bonsai, we need to maintain the growth requirements of large floating branches and big falling branches, that is, limit the growth of other branches' top branches and lateral branches, and do not handle the floating branches and falling branches.
If it is a dwarf begonia, we should preserve all the branch buds. Don't want to thin the dense branches and remove buds, but let the branch buds thicken the dwarf.
When to cut the dense branches? After a year of growth, those dense branches have completed their mission around the time of the beginning of winter, and they can be pruned and combed at this time.
Rust disease, Figure 7
Suggestion: If begonia bonsai needs to be bent, it is recommended that friends do it in the spring of the following year. In the hot and humid summer, the cut and sawed openings cannot be wrapped, and even with good disinfection measures, they are easily infected with rot disease.
As for the retro methods of peeling, tearing, drilling holes, and cutting the trunk, they should not be used during this season.
Insufficient light and excessive humidity of the potting soil, Figure 8
Conclusion: Regarding the diseases and pests of begonias, I want to remind you again. In terms of pests, aphids, longicorn beetles, net bugs,舟蛾, and caterpillars are not a big concern, but red spiders cannot be ignored, as they can steal the hard work of begonias for a year.
In terms of diseases, what we need to face in summer is spotted leaf blight (a general term for several diseases) and rust disease. Bordeaux mixture can prevent and treat rust disease, and it is very effective. Friends don't need to use a variety of expensive and ineffective drugs.
The above (Green Plant Addiction Network) introduces how to care for begonia bonsai and the specific content of potted begonia tree cultivation techniques. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited!