Detailed Explanation of Bonsai Cultivation Techniques: Master Planting and Care Methods

As people's living standards gradually improve, more and more people like to grow bonsai at home, such as fruit trees, vegetables, etc. So what are the bonsai cultivation techniques?

1. Flower pot selection

For planting bonsai, the flower pot is generally best chosen as an unglazed clay pot, which benefits root growth, has good drainage and air permeability, and is low in cost. The specific size depends on need, and the shape is mainly round.

2. Potting soil selection

For bonsai plants, garden soil, sandy loam soil or leaf mold can generally be used in combination with vermiculite and perlite. The specific choice can be decided according to the plant's growth condition.

3. Seedling selection and planting

Plant in pots before spring sprouting, and choose plants that are growing vigorously and have not suffered damage from pests or diseases. Before potting, the roots should be moderately pruned, dead roots cut off, injured lateral roots trimmed neatly, and overly long lateral roots shortened, so as to encourage the growth of fibrous roots, while trying to avoid excessive pruning of fibrous roots. After pruning, spray the roots with carbendazim. When planting, fill gravel particles into the pot's drainage hole to ensure both air permeability and drainage and to prevent the potting soil from spilling out. If a late spring cold spell occurs, plastic film can be appropriately used as cover to ensure the growing temperature and avoid frost damage.

Every 2 to 3 years, the pot should be changed promptly once, replacing the soil with new nutrient soil, because the nutrients in the potting soil will be leached away due to absorption by the bonsai and frequent watering. After turning the old soil out of the pot, the old roots on the surface layer of the soil and the large roots affecting the bonsai's shape should be removed. When potting, avoid causing secondary damage to the root system, pay attention to observing the growth condition after potting, and adjust promptly.

4. Management techniques

(1) Fertilizer and water management: Due to the limitation of the bonsai pot, root growth is restricted, and the nutrients in the pot are far from sufficient to meet the needs of growth, so special attention must be paid to the management of water and fertilizer. Apply base fertilizer when planting, pay attention to observation, and topdress promptly once nutrient deficiency symptoms are found. During the vegetative growth period, nitrogen fertilizer can be topdressed; during the reproductive growth period, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be topdressed. Following the principle of applying less but more frequently, combined with foliar spraying of fertilizer, to ensure the supply of nutrients.

(2) Pruning and shaping: Different types of shapes are created according to the bonsai, such as the natural round-headed shape, pagoda shape, double-branch antler shape, three-branch cup shape, weeping willow shape, dragon-curved shape, etc. When controlling the crown and shaping, it is necessary both to provide ornamental value and to avoid fruit drop. The shaping and pruning measures generally adopted include pinching, girdling, ring barking, twig twisting, etc. Avoid too large a spreading angle and rampant growth of water sprouts, which would cause loss of nutrients. Through thinning, heading back, and renewal pruning and other means, an ideal shape is created. To increase the aged appearance of the bonsai, a grafting knife can be used to carve different lines on the tree body. Binding can also be used to fix the tree shape. In addition, chemical treatment can also be carried out, such as with chlormequat, paclobutrazol and other agents to dwarf the plant and enhance its ornamental value.

(3) Flower and fruit management: During the growth period of the bonsai, it will bloom and bear fruit, so pollination should be carried out in a timely manner. Generally, artificial pollination can be used to increase the fruit-setting rate. For bonsai with a large number of flower buds and many fruit sets, measures such as flower thinning and fruit thinning can also be taken.

(4) Pest and disease control: During the growth period of the bonsai, various pests and diseases will appear, so prevention and control measures should be prepared in advance according to the plant's growth condition. For those that have already developed pests or diseases, timely targeted treatment should be applied.