How to Grow Longan as a Bonsai: Growing This Brain-Boosting Fruit

Longan is a relatively sweet fruit, and it is not cheap on the market. The common way to grow longan is in open fields, but have you ever seen longan grown as a bonsai? It looks beautiful when it grows, and once it fruits, it will be laden with fruit. Let's take a look at the specific growing conditions and methods.

1. Longan Growing Conditions

1. Soil requirements

Compared with many fruits, longan really does not have high soil requirements for growing conditions, and it can grow normally in dry, acidic and poor soil. However, if the field has sandy loam on the surface and clay on the bottom layer, the longan grown in such a plot will have extremely low yield and a short lifespan, which will directly reduce the farmer's economic benefits.

Longan is usually suitable for planting in loose and fertile soil with good drainage, a deep soil layer and good permeability. Fruit growers can first plow the land before planting, then apply organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer. In this way, the longan you plant is more likely to have a high yield.

2. Temperature requirements

Longan likes a warm climate. For example, areas with no frost in winter or only short periods of light frost are suitable for longan growth. Strictly speaking, the annual average suitable growing temperature for longan is 21 to 23°C, and in January it is 12 to 16°C, and in winter it must not be lower than minus 1°C.

If the temperature is below zero degrees, then longan seedlings are very likely to be frozen to death. Even at minus 4°C, adult longan plants will be damaged by freezing. Therefore, before planting longan, it is recommended that everyone first judge whether the ambient temperature in your area is suitable for normal longan growth.

3. Water requirements

Longan is a fruit that is both drought-tolerant and moisture-loving, but it is also tolerant of waterlogging. Therefore, throughout the entire growth stage of longan, there are different water requirements. Generally, from autumn shoots to spring shoots, longan needs less water.

This can also effectively avoid the sprouting of winter shoots, accumulate more nutrients, and be more conducive to flowering and fruiting the following year. Longan needs more water in summer, in July and August. During this period, it must not lack water. Once it lacks water, it will affect the growth of the longan root system, thereby affecting the yield and quality of longan.

2. What Is the Method for Growing Longan as a Bonsai?

1. Clean the longan seeds

Clean the longan seeds thoroughly, and do not leave residue on them, because if there is residue, it is very easy for them to rot during soaking.

2. Soak the seeds

Put the cleaned longan seeds in a bowl, add water (if possible, it is best to use mineral water or cooled boiled water, because tap water easily spoils) and soak for about a week. Change the clean water on time every day, and when you see the longan pits have cracked open, you can take them out for planting.

Sometimes gardening friends will find that after soaking for a week, the seeds still have not cracked. In this case, you can continue to wait. Of course, it is also possible that there is a problem with the seeds. It is recommended to choose fresh longan seeds.

3. Make a small potted plant

After seeing the longan seeds crack open, you can pot them to make a small potted plant. Ordinary flower-growing soil can be used, and attention should be paid to air and water permeability (anyone who has grown flowers knows this). Plant the longan seeds evenly in the pot, with the cracked part facing up. It should be explained here that because the small potted plant we want to make is mainly for ornamental purposes, if the density is too low, the ornamental value will be poorer, while if the density is too high, the later growth of the longan will be restricted, so gardening friends need to balance this relationship! Of course, after enjoying the seedlings, you can also transplant them into other pots.

4. Later care

After potting, you can decide whether to cover with a layer of insulating film (plastic bag, cling film, etc.) according to the average temperature. If the daily average temperature can reach above 22°C, there is no need to cover it. If the temperature is lower, then covering with a layer of insulating film is very beneficial for germination and growth.

As for the care location, if covered with soil or cling film, it can be placed appropriately in light. If not, it is best to care for it in diffused light.