How much do Chinese juniper (dragon juniper) seedlings cost? Plus bonsai making and care methods
Dragon juniper is one of the important landscaping tree species, relatively widely planted, its roots and branches and leaves can both extract cedrol and cedarwood oil, the branches and leaves can also be used as medicine, having the effects of dispelling wind and dispersing cold, promoting blood circulation and diuresis, and is a plant resource with important economic value. So how much do dragon juniper seedlings cost? How do you make a bonsai and care for it?
1. How much do dragon juniper seedlings cost?
The price of dragon juniper seedlings is directly related to their size. Currently on the market, dragon juniper seedlings are divided into 40 cm tall dragon juniper seedlings, 50 cm and above, 80 cm and above, 1 m and above, 1.2 m and above, 1.5 m and above, 1.8 m and above, 2 m and above, and 2.5 m and above dragon juniper saplings.
Prices range from 0.7-1.5 yuan per plant, and the specifics must be negotiated with the seedling nursery.
2. How do you make a bonsai from dragon juniper seedlings and care for it?
If you want to use dragon juniper for bonsai, you generally choose old stumps of Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis), oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis), hinoki cypress, or dragon juniper with ancient, gnarled and twisted branches. Through 3-5 years of growing out and rejuvenating, once the branches have basically grown to the right thickness, graft true juniper (shimpaku) onto them; in this way the bonsai takes shape quickly and has high ornamental value. Generally, the material for making medium and large dragon juniper bonsai is a semi-formed tree stump of about ten years old purchased from a nursery, with a trunk diameter of about 7c to 12cm; such a stump takes shape quickly and the trunk and branches transition naturally.
1. Potting
Generally use an earthenware pot or a lower-quality purple clay pottery pot. The soil should be rich in organic matter and well-draining. When transplanting seedlings with a trunk diameter of about Zcm, it is fine whether or not they have a soil ball, but for tree stumps with a trunk diameter of 4cm or more, it is best to transplant with a soil ball, because the cut wounds on the base are large and many roots are damaged; a soil ball can protect the remaining roots from damage and help increase the survival rate.
2. Shaping the dragon juniper
The shaping time for dragon juniper is from March to May or September to December; it is not suitable to shape it when it is too hot or too cold. Pruning and wiring of dragon juniper should be done in spring and autumn, but heavy pruning and wiring for styling are best done in spring. When pruning, keep the branch distribution in line with the designer's requirements, cut off the spare branches retained at planting and the branches sprouting from the main trunk, then carefully wire and prune each branch pad in detail. The branch and trunk shaping technique for dragon juniper bonsai adopts the traditional cloud-cluster or semicircular style of junipers. The branches and trunk are given a natural style, with cascading branches, floating branches, curved branches, and bent branches interspersed among them as required by the design concept. At the same time, pay attention during care to using water washing to gradually expose the robust, serpentine thick roots, so as to display the simple, ancient and vigorous majesty of junipers.
3. Finished styling
After 2-3 years of care, the processed and shaped mature stump has basically settled into its tree form, and the roots, trunk and branches have all matured. Branches that do not meet the requirements of the bonsai design concept are wired or cut off, and together with repotting, the planting angle and root distribution are adjusted again.
4. Care and management
① Fertilizing
Although dragon juniper is highly adaptable, long-term lack of fertilizer causes the leaves to gradually change from emerald green to pale green, affecting its ornamental value. Fertilizing should be done 2-3 times in spring and autumn, and it is best to alternate organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer.
② Be diligent about pinching buds
The terminal buds of dragon juniper branches grow vigorously, and letting them run wild affects the ornamental value. Once the terminal buds are removed, the lateral buds of the branches will grow evenly, and the leaves of the corresponding branch pads will become denser and more uniform. After long-term pinching of terminal buds and forcing of lateral buds, the leaf pads of a dragon juniper bonsai can rival those of Chinese juniper (Sabina chinensis).
③ Light
Whether in spring or summer, placing it in a sunny, warm, humid and well-ventilated place allows it to grow normally and rather vigorously.
④ Repotting
During the stump-growing stage, it is generally better to repot once every two years; for a finished dragon juniper bonsai, repot about once every 3 years...