How to Care for a Ziziphusxylopyrus Bonsai
Today's focus is on how to care for a Ziziphusxylopyrus bonsai and an introduction to the cultivation methods of this green plant. Next, the site editor will introduce the information to netizens.
Ziziphusxylopyrus is a valuable species of tree, suitable for garden and courtyard decoration as a bonsai, with a very high ornamental value. It is adaptable, and daily maintenance not only benefits the growth of the plant but also shapes the bonsai. Below, let's talk about what to pay attention to in the maintenance of a Ziziphusxylopyrus bonsai and how to do it.
I. Growing Environment
1. Temperature
Ziziphusxylopyrus is cold and heat resistant, with a high-temperature tolerance limit of 43°C and a low-temperature tolerance of -21°C. No cooling is needed in summer, and no transfer to indoor cultivation is required in winter. However, attention should be paid to the water temperature for irrigation. When the water temperature is too low during high summer temperatures, it can cause leaf shrinkage, and the same is true in winter. The water temperature should be close to the air temperature before irrigation.
2. Water
Ensure that irrigation is only done when necessary, and the potting soil should only be slightly moist. When watering, it is best to pour water close to the edge of the pot and wait for the surface water to seep in before watering again. It's best to water at 8 or 9 am in the morning, avoiding watering at night, and accumulated water should be removed during rainy days.
Water every 3 to 4 days in spring and autumn, every morning or evening during the cooler summer months in summer, increasing the amount of water, and once a week in winter. The actual operation depends on the dryness of the potting soil, as different pots have different drainage and aeration properties. It is best to use river, well, or rainwater for irrigation, and rice washing water can also be used, but the water quality should not be polluted.
3. Light
Ziziphusxylopyrus enjoys sunlight and is somewhat shade-tolerant. It grows better under sufficient sunlight, and when new branches are robust and new leaves are purplish-red, it indicates that the plant has adequate water, fertilizer, and sunlight; otherwise, it is insufficient.
4. Pot and Soil
After the bonsai is shaped, the potting soil can be reduced by half and then filled with coal slag.
5. Fertilizing
Less fertilizer is needed, and frequent thin applications are required before the plant takes on a tree-like shape, with fertilizing every 5 to 7 days during spring and summer afternoons. Once the tree-like shape is achieved, fertilizing can be stopped.
II. Maintenance
1. Pruning and Shaping
Proper pruning is needed to maintain the shape of the bonsai. Spring and autumn are the growing seasons when new buds of Ziziphusxylopyrus can be pinched and long branches cut to maintain the shape of the bonsai. In late August, after a brief dormancy period, the new buds should also be pinched.
Newly purchased plants need to be reshaped, mainly by pruning the trunk to promote shaping, 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 infections. To maintain the shape of the bonsai, pruning should focus on thinning the branches and converting frog-leg branches into hanging hooks.
2. Potting and Soil Replacement
Young plants need to be repotted and the soil replaced according to their size, while mature plants generally need to be repotted and the soil replaced every 2 to 3 years.
III. Diseases and Pests
Ziziphusxylopyrus has a very strong resistance to diseases. However, if the potting soil is too alkaline or tap water is used for irrigation over a long period, it can lead to chlorosis, which requires preventive measures. Use a 400-fold dilution of ferrous sulfate solution to water the roots once a week, for 3 to 5 consecutive weeks.
The common pest is the flower thrips, which can be controlled by using a 800-fold dilution of敌杀死 (a pesticide) when detected. Cottony cushion scale and red wax scale often appear on plants that are not growing well, usually in early summer and autumn, and can be killed by spraying a 2000-fold dilution of 20% cypermethrin.
The above is an introduction to the methods of caring for a Ziziphusxylopyrus bonsai and the cultivation methods of this plant, which can be used as a reference suggestion.