How to grow a Chinese arborvitae (Thuja sutchuenensis) bonsai? Detailed explanation of cultivation techniques

Dig up the Chinese arborvitae stump around the Start of Spring. After digging it up, treat and wrap the root system, then trim away the excess and rotten roots before potting it up; do not bury the roots too deep when potting. In the year of planting, place it in a partially shaded spot, and water it so that it stays on the slightly dry side; at the same time, also control longhorn beetles and other pests.

When making a Chinese arborvitae bonsai, you can refer to the following methods:

1. Layered sand storage method in a pot

Fill half a pot with sand, and after trimming the stump, plant it into the pot in the posture it will take for its future formal potting. Make square or round frames (materials: wooden boards, linoleum or plastic sheeting, etc.), and according to the form of the trunk, stack them in layers from large at the bottom to small at the top until the filled sand covers the stump head. Fill the topmost frame with sand up to 1 cun below the upper rim, to allow for watering. Water thoroughly to keep the sand moist. Generally, miscellaneous hardwood stumps can be expected to sprout in half a month to one month in spring once the weather has warmed. If, after removing the upper frame to check the stump head, there are sprouts, do not restore the frame. If no sprouts are seen, then restore the frame and continue to grow the sprouts. This method is suitable for getting stumps with few and short large branches to survive.

2. Layered sand storage method on the ground

This is largely the same as the above method, except that no pot is used; instead, it is done on the ground or with moderate digging down. Filling with sand, planting the stump, watering and checking are all the same as in the pot, so there is no need to repeat them. If the stump is relatively straight, the frame in the pot or on the ground can be just a single-layer tube, without layering.

3. Half-wrapped stump burial method

After obtaining a newly collected stump, soak it in water for at least 2 hours, bury its lower half in the ground, and wrap the upper half in plastic sheeting to retain moisture. The wrapping must be tight with no exposed openings to prevent water loss. With this kind of care, it is easy to check whether the stump needs supplementary watering or whether it has already sprouted. If it lacks water, water it again promptly; once there are sprouts, the plastic sheeting can be partly opened for moderate ventilation. This method is suitable for getting stumps that retain some large branches to survive.

4. Full burial method above and below ground

The lower half of the new stump is below ground, and the upper half above ground is completely buried in loose sandy soil for moisture-retaining care; the covering sand can also be appropriately removed to check the moisture and whether it has sprouted. This method is extensively managed and is suitable for getting huge stumps to survive slowly.

5. Full burial under the soil method for keeping alive

The new stump is buried entirely in the soil, and after burial one simply waits for it to survive and sprout before lifting it out. This method is suitable for getting especially huge stumps to survive.

Besides being used to make bonsai, Chinese arborvitae is also very good as a material for root carving and as a greening tree species. In addition, everyone should be reminded that when caring for Chinese arborvitae, pruning must be done according to the different tree ages.