How to Care for a White Wax Tree Bonsai
Do you know these? Detailed introduction of the small experience of caring for white wax bonsai and the planting and management methods of white wax bonsai for you below.
White wax is a precious species, suitable for garden and courtyard decoration as a bonsai, with very high ornamental value. It has strong adaptability, and daily maintenance is not only beneficial for plant growth but also for shaping the bonsai. Let's talk about what needs attention and how to care for white wax bonsai.
I. Growing Environment
1. Temperature
White wax can endure cold and high temperatures, with a high-temperature tolerance limit of up to 43°C and a low-temperature tolerance of minus 21 degrees Celsius. There's no need for cooling in summer or moving indoors in winter. However, attention should be paid to the water temperature for watering. If the water temperature is too low during high summer temperatures, it can cause leaf wilt, and the same applies in winter. The water temperature should be close to the air temperature before watering.
2. Water
Ensure that the soil is not dry before watering. The potting soil should only be slightly moist. When watering, first pour water near the edge of the pot, and after the surface water has infiltrated, water again. It's best to water at 8 or 9 am in the morning, and try not to water at night. Accumulated water should be removed on rainy days.
Water every 3 to 4 days in spring and autumn, once a day in the morning or evening during cooler summer times, with increased water volume, and once a week or more in winter. Due to different pot drainage and aeration, actual operations should depend on the dryness of the potting soil. River water, well water, and rainwater are best for watering, and washing rice water can also be used, but the water quality should not be polluted.
3. Light
White wax prefers sunlight but can tolerate shade. It grows better under sufficient sunlight, and when new branches are thick and new leaves are purplish-red, it indicates that the plant has adequate water, fertilizer, and light, otherwise, it is insufficient.
4. Pot and Soil
After the pot plant is formed, the potting soil can be reduced by half and then filled with coal cinder.
5. Fertilization
No need for too much fertilizer. Before the plant forms a tree shape, apply thin fertilizer frequently, once every 5 to 7 days, choosing a sunny afternoon in spring and summer. After the tree shape is formed, fertilization can be stopped.
II. Maintenance
1. Pruning and Bonsai Shaping
To maintain the shape of the bonsai, the plant needs to be pruned appropriately. Spring and autumn are the growing seasons when new buds of white wax can be pinched and prominent long branches can be cut to maintain the shape of the bonsai. In late August, after a brief dormancy period, new buds of white wax should also be pinched.
Newly purchased plants need to be modified, mainly by pruning the trunk to encourage the plant to form a shape, cutting off unwanted roots and branches, and paying attention to treating the wounds after pruning, such as applying a healing agent to promote wound healing and prevent disease and pest infection. To maintain the shape of the bonsai, pruning should focus on thinning branches and converting frog leg branches into hanging拐.
2. Potting and Soil Replacement
Young plants need to replace the potting soil according to the size of the plant, and mature plants generally need to replace the potting soil every 2 to 3 years.
III. Diseases and Pests
White wax has very strong disease resistance, but if the potting soil is too alkaline or tap water is used for a long time, it can cause chlorosis, requiring preventive measures. Use a 400-fold dilution of ferrous sulfate solution to water the roots once a week, continuing for 3 to 5 times.
Common pests are flower thrips, which can be controlled with insecticides such as 800-fold dilution of dichlorvos solution. Cottony cushion scale and red wax scale often appear on trees with poor growth, mainly in early summer and autumn. These pests can be killed by spraying a 20% cypermethrin solution diluted 2000 times.
This article shares how to care for a white wax bonsai and detailed introduction of its planting and management methods. Hope you all like it!