How to Care for a Fraxinus Bonsai
Main text introduction: This article will discuss how to care for a Fraxinus bonsai and the maintenance of Fraxinus bonsai, including topics related to green plants and flowers. Detailed content will be shared below.
Fraxinus is a valuable tree species, which is suitable for garden and courtyard decoration as a bonsai, possessing very high ornamental value. It has strong adaptability, and daily maintenance not only benefits the plant's growth but also shapes the bonsai. Let's talk about what to pay attention to in the maintenance of a Fraxinus bonsai and how to do it.
I. Growing Environment
1. Temperature
Fraxinus is cold and heat tolerant, with a high temperature tolerance limit of 43°C and a low temperature tolerance of -21°C. There is 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, and the potting soil should only be slightly moist. When watering, first pour water to near the edge of the pot, and then water again after the surface water has seeped down. It's best to water in the morning at 8 or 9 o'clock, preferably not at night, and accumulated water should be removed during rainy days.
Water every 3 to 4 days in spring and autumn, water once a day in the morning or evening during the cooler summer, with an increased amount of water, and water once a week in winter. The actual watering time and amount should be determined based on the dryness of the potting soil, as different pots have different drainage and aeration properties. The best water sources are river, well, or rainwater, and washing rice water can also be used, but the water quality should not be polluted.
3. Light
Fraxinus enjoys sunlight but is also somewhat shade-tolerant. Growth is better in ample sunlight, and when new branches are thick and the new leaves are purplish-red, it indicates that the plant has sufficient water, fertilizer, and light, otherwise, it is insufficient.
4. Pot and Soil
After the bonsai is formed, the potting soil can be reduced by half and then filled with coal cinder.
5. Fertilizing
No need for too much fertilizer, before the plant grows into 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, fertilizing 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, during which new buds of Fraxinus can be pinched and prominent long branches can be cut to maintain the shape of the bonsai. In late August, after a brief dormant period, the new buds of Fraxinus 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 unnecessary roots and branches, and paying attention to treating wounds after pruning. A healing agent can be applied 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 changing the "frog leg" branches to "hanging拐" branches.
2. Repotting
Young plants need to be repotted according to their size, and mature plants generally need to be repotted every 2 to 3 years.
III. Diseases and Pests
Fraxinus 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, which requires preventive measures. Use a 400-fold dilution of ferrous sulfate solution to water the roots once a week, for 3 to 5 weeks.
Common pests are flower thrips, which can be controlled with chemicals such as a 800-fold dilution of敌杀死 solution. Cottony cushion scale and red wax scale often appear on trees that are not growing well, mostly in early summer and autumn, and can be controlled by spraying a 2000-fold dilution of 20% cypermethrin.
The above sharing on how to care for a Fraxinus bonsai and the maintenance of Fraxinus bonsai is for everyone to learn and understand!