How to make a kumquat bonsai look beautiful? Teaching you the correct watering method

The kumquat is a relatively easy tree to grow, not only for its beautiful appearance, but also because of its auspicious meaning, it is deeply loved by the broad masses of the people, but when making a kumquat bonsai, we must understand the plant's growth habits, how can we make a beautiful pot of kumquat bonsai?

How to make a kumquat bonsai look beautiful

Cultivation of young seedlings

Kumquat cultivation can be obtained by sowing, cuttings, grafting and other methods. Grafting is generally carried out in May-June, and after grafting it can bear fruit in one to two years. Sowing is best done in March-April each year; when sowing, cover with 1-2 cm of soil and cover with plastic film. After the seedlings emerge, gradually lift the film, remove the film after hardening off, and stop fertilizing in autumn to prevent the seedlings from growing excessively and affecting overwintering. During the growth of the seedlings, attention should be paid to pinching off the tips to promote thickening growth.

Potting and planting

Choose seedlings with well-developed roots and robust growth, and pot and plant them before spring sprouting. Choose a flower pot with a diameter of 20-25 cm, and place a piece of broken tile over the drainage hole. The growing medium can be made from leaf mold mixed with compost, or use horse manure soil. After potting, leave a 3 cm rim to facilitate watering. 7-10 days after planting, the seedlings can grow new roots; at this time, apply diluted manure water as fertilizer. Generally, the pot can be changed once every 2-3 years; when repotting, add 40-50 grams of cake fertilizer or pomace as a base fertilizer, in autumn, after the autumn shoots turn green.

How to water potted kumquat

For kumquat, it is only necessary to properly control the amount of watering during the flower bud differentiation stage; water only when the upper young leaves are slightly wilting, in order to control excessive vegetative growth of the plant and promote flower bud differentiation. After flower bud differentiation is complete, gradually restore the amount of watering. During the flowering period and fruit-setting period, it is not suitable to water heavily; only after the fruit is stable should normal watering be carried out, but there must be no standing water in the pot to avoid fruit drop.

Flower and fruit thinning Because the root system of potted kumquat is inhibited, although there is no shortage of nutrients in the pot, the root system's nutrient supply to the plant is still limited, and fruit drop is unavoidable. It is better to adopt the method of actively thinning flowers and fruits, so as to avoid wasting nutrients. The number of fruits to keep should be determined according to specific circumstances. Generally, within the same leaf axil, sometimes 2—8 flower buds are produced, and one can be selected to keep; on each branch keep 2 to 8 flower buds, and keep 1 to 2 fruits.

Pinching and pruning Kumquat sends out new shoots multiple times a year, all of which can form flower buds. When the spring shoots grow to 5—6 leaves, pinch them to promote flower bud differentiation, more flowering, and more fruiting. Carry out one pruning before the spring shoots sprout, so that the sprouted branches are robust and the shape is good.

Avoid spraying water during the flowering period Prevent rain during the flowering period, and do not spray water on the flowers that are blooming; this is not conducive to pollination and easily causes flower rot.

Avoid insufficient light Kumquat likes a warm, humid and sunny environment. If placed indoors in a place with insufficient sunlight for a long time, the plant will grow weakly, affecting flower bud differentiation and fruiting.

Avoid soil alkalization Kumquat likes acidic soil. In the north, for potted plants, water once a week with fertilizer water, or apply potassium dihydrogen phosphate as a top dressing, or combine fertilization once a week with 200—250 times vinegar water irrigation, which is beneficial for dark green leaves, luxuriant growth, and more fruiting.

The feng shui role of potted kumquat

Feng shui studies believe that trees are divided into two categories: auspicious and inauspicious. There are two standards for classifying the inauspicious:

One is to classify based on whether there is toxic gas or toxic sap. For example, the flowers of oleander are toxic, and the floral fragrance easily makes people drowsy and reduces bodily functions, so it is an inauspicious tree and not suitable for planting.

The second is to judge auspiciousness or inauspiciousness by the shape of the tree, such as “big trees are strange, causing qi pain and reputation ruin”, “the tree bends and hunches, both wealth and descendants decline”, “the tree resembles a lying ox, living in a humble dwelling brings much illness”, etc. Any tree with an irregular, unrefined appearance and abnormal development is inauspicious. This point is probably the effect of psychology or the traditional humanistic aesthetic concept.

As for auspicious trees, they are determined according to plant characteristics, implied meanings, and even homophones, and in real life people tend to agree with this view, such as palm, orange tree, pagoda tree, banyan, jujube, pomegranate, which are plants that increase auspiciousness.

Planting trees, flowers and plants can create a four-symbol pattern of “green dragon on the left, white tiger on the left, vermilion bird in front, black tortoise behind”, that is, plant large trees behind the house, medium trees on the left and right sides, and low shrubs or grass in front. This method conforms to people's psychological need to seek a “feng shui treasure land”.

The orange tree has a very good implied meaning, so it is suitable for planting.

Can potted kumquat be eaten

Kumquat is mainly for potted ornamental purposes, and the fruit is sour, so it is generally not eaten.

Potted kumquats are all non-toxic and edible, and generally after years of cultivation, they are deliberately made to taste bad to eliminate the danger of being picked. Its flavor is relatively pure, but because it is too sour——it is hard to put in your mouth!

Teach you a way to eat it: take 4-5 ripe kumquats, peel them and remove the seeds (their juice is especially bitter), press them with a stainless steel spoon and rinse with cool boiled water to remove the residue and take the juice, add 20-50 times cool boiled water and an appropriate amount of sucrose, mix well and it is ready to drink.

Every time I see kumquats I find them especially cute. The small kumquats hang on the tree like little gold ingots. What is fascinating is not only their appearance, but also their implied meaning. Keeping a good orange tree at home symbolizes auspiciousness and good fortune, and no plant should have its feng shui role overlooked.