Podocarpus bonsai pruning methods for branches and leaves and soil selection

Podocarpus bonsai is generally shaped like a small tree or shrub, with short and dense leaves, an ancient yet vigorous plant, and a beautiful posture. When new branches sprout during the growing season, the tender green new leaves dot among the dark green foliage, which is very wonderful. So how should Podocarpus bonsai be pruned, and what soil should be used to plant it?

How to prune branches and leaves of Podocarpus bonsai

1. Thinning

1. That is, cutting the branches off from the base.

2. When thinning, first cut off diseased and pest-infested branches, and burn them immediately to prevent the spread of diseases and pests.

3. Second, promptly cut off branches that hinder the appearance.

4. Generally, for two parallel branches that are very close to each other, one should be cut off; for stacked branches and opposite branches, one of each should be cut off;

5. For whorled branches, keep only one and cut off all the rest;

6. Water sprouts, upright branches growing from the main branches, drooping branches, and reverse branches should all be cut off. For forked branches and crossing branches, one fork should be cut off; for small branches sprouting on tree species with strong sprouting ability, except for leaving one branch at a position lacking branches to slowly induce a replacement branch, all should be cut off as early as possible to avoid consuming nutrients and affecting the tree's vigor.

7. The thinning of branches in stump bonsai must also comply with the requirements of artistic shaping. All excess branches that do not meet the shaping requirements should be cut off entirely.

2. Shortening

1. That is, cutting long branches short.

2. During shaping, after thinning out excess branches, the retained shaping branches should be shortened to encourage the shaping branches to sprout 2 to 3 times a year.

3. Shortening once for each sprouting will rapidly increase the branching order of the shaping branches and can make each branch order shrink very short without elongating the branches.

4. Therefore, shortening is an effective measure for controlling growth and maintaining dwarfness in stump bonsai, and it is also an important means for making the stump take on the form of a large tree and take shape early.

3. Retrenchment pruning

1. That is, carrying out retrenchment pruning on perennial branches.

2. For stump bonsai plants with a relatively good stump posture but a large canopy and long main branches, it is impossible to meet the shaping requirements of stump bonsai by relying only on shortening and thinning of one-year-old branches.

3. Through retrenchment pruning, a large tree can be made smaller, which is beneficial to stump bonsai shaping.

4. For some tree species with strong sprouting ability, the amount of retrenchment pruning can be greater, that is, cutting the branches and leaves clean and retaining only the skeleton of the stump, so as to stimulate new branches to sprout below the cut.

What soil to use for Podocarpus

Podocarpus bonsai likes well-drained soil, so use granular soil made of 50% clean cinder particles plus 50% humus particles, and pay attention to disinfecting the soil.

When to repot Podocarpus

1. Generally, it should be repotted once every two years.

2. Podocarpus is a plant with a relatively developed root system and strong growth ability, and it remains green throughout the year, so it consumes a large amount of nutrients during its growing period.

3. If it has already been grown for two years, a large number of Podocarpus roots may have grown in the pot, and the soil fertility will also be exhausted.

4. When repotting, it is best to choose spring and autumn.

How to repot Podocarpus

1. When repotting Podocarpus, the soil can be replaced. The soil can be a mixture of leaf mold soil, mountain soil, pond mud, and so on. These soils can be prepared in a certain proportion, and some fully decomposed fertilizer can be added. The prepared soil is best placed under the sun to be exposed, which plays a role in disinfection.

2. When repotting, first take the Podocarpus out of the pot, preferably with the old soil. After taking out the plant, part of the old soil can be removed, and then the overly long roots and rotten roots should be properly pruned. Overly dense branches can also be properly pruned.

3. Put new soil in the pot, then place the plant into the pot, let the root system spread out, and cover with soil. Note that the soil should be placed 2cm below the pot rim. After repotting, water thoroughly, then place the pot in a cool and ventilated place, and carry out normal care after the plant has recovered.

Podocarpus is also called small-leaf Podocarpus. Because the plant is beautiful and the shape is quite attractive, it is often used to make bonsai, and the effect is very good. In household cultivation, attention should be paid to raising it according to the growth habits of Podocarpus bonsai, and the branches and leaves should be pruned frequently so that the shape of Podocarpus can be more beautiful.