Deciduous Tree Chinese Hackberry (Celtis sinensis) Sapling Prices, Planting Methods and Timing, and Bonsai Care
Chinese hackberry is also called Huangguo hackberry, white hemp seed, hackberry, hackberry elm, hackberry tree, and sand hackberry. It is a deciduous tree in the order Rosales, family Cannabaceae, genus Celtis, and can reach a height of 20 m.So how much does one Chinese hackberry sapling cost? When should it be planted? How is it planted? How is a bonsai cared for? According to the Jiangsu nursery base, 15CM saplings are priced at around 1500 yuan; 18CM saplings at around 1800 yuan; 22CM saplings at around 2500 yuan; and 30CM saplings at around 5500 yuan. Chinese hackberry sprouts in February in spring and sheds its leaves in October in autumn, blooms in March, and its seeds mature in August and September. Its evergreen period throughout the year is 210 to 240 days.
When should Chinese hackberry be planted?
It is best planted in autumn and winter, when the aboveground and underground growth and metabolism of the Chinese hackberry tree are weak or stopped and it is dormant. The survival rate is highest at this time, planting and transplanting during this period have the least effect on the Chinese hackberry, and management is relatively easy.
How is Chinese hackberry planted?
1. Chinese hackberry saplings are mainly obtained by sowing. In South China and East China, sowing can be done from January to May. It is recommended to sow directly in the field, in rows and lines. Use 8 to 10 jin of Chinese hackberry seeds per mu. The soil should be fertile and breathable and good for drainage and irrigation; saline-alkali soil cannot be used for planting. First soak the seeds in water for 2 days to promote germination, then take them out and dry them, and then sow. A row spacing of 40 cm is suitable. Germination begins in about 10 days, and emergence is basically complete in 20 days. The first thinning is done at 35 days, with a seedling spacing of 8 to 10 cm being best. Keep about 30,000 seedlings per mu, and they can grow 1 to 1.3 m tall in the same year.
2. Chinese hackberry likes sun and tolerates shade. On fertile land it can grow into a finished product in 5 years. It also tolerates drought and poor land, and can survive in mildly saline-alkali land. Seedlings of the current year are very thin and weak, and their trunks and tree shapes are poor, so they are not suitable for fixed planting. They need to be divided and cut back once and grown for 2 years. For dividing seedlings of the current year, a plant and row spacing of 40×70 cm is recommended. After dividing, they can grow for 2 years to reach 2 to 3 cm and a height of 3 to 4 m. At this point, a batch of Chinese hackberry saplings with straight trunks and beautiful tree shapes has been cultivated. For later fixed planting and growth promotion, you can consult us by phone, or we can teach you on site. During the seedling period, pay attention to pruning and shaping to grow a straight and full main trunk, and the branching point is recommended to be between 2.8 and 3 m.
3. Habits of Chinese hackberry
Chinese hackberry does not have very strict requirements for land. Except for low-lying waterlogged land where it cannot be planted, it can be planted on other land. Chinese hackberry can adapt to different soils, including slightly acidic, slightly alkaline, neutral, and calcareous soils. In order to make Chinese hackberry grow tall with luxuriant branches, it is better to choose loose, fertile, well-drained land for planting before planting.
4. Planting techniques for Chinese hackberry
(1) Chinese hackberry is usually planted mainly by seed propagation. Seeds can be collected when the fruit is ripe. After harvesting, they should be piled for after-ripening. In March of the following spring, drilling can be carried out. Loose, fertile soil is best for the seedbed. Then cover with soil and straw. They sprout and emerge in about 30 days. Note that during the growth period, timely cultivating and weeding are necessary, along with proper watering and fertilization management, to prevent weeds from competing with the trees for nutrients.
(2) Transplanting can be carried out from after leaf fall in autumn to before sprouting in spring. Large trees need to be transplanted with a soil ball at a ratio of 1/7. Small and medium seedlings do not need to be transplanted with a soil ball; dipping the roots in mud slurry is sufficient. The planting standard for depth can be that the soil ball is level with the ground surface.
5. Daily care of Chinese hackberry
(1) In summer, the temperature is higher every day and evaporation is greater. After new branches survive, in order to make the newly grown tender branches and leaves grow well, according to the condition of the Chinese hackberry, in addition to spraying the branches and leaves, water once in the morning and once in the evening to keep the soil moist. For watering, especially grasp the principle of watering thoroughly when watering. However, if there is heavy rain due to weather, prevent waterlogging in time. In winter, do not forget watering either; you can choose to water at noon when it has not frozen.
(2) Fertilizer must keep up during the growth period of Chinese hackberry. In order to make Chinese hackberry grow tall and large, fertilization should mainly be phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, once every half month is enough, and frequent application of thin fertilizer is better; for ground planting, you can dig a deep pit beside the seedling and then bury the fertilizer in the middle, which is best. In autumn, apply one additional application of decomposed organic fertilizer, with the purpose of laying a good foundation for growth in the following year.
How is a Chinese hackberry bonsai cared for?
1. Placement environment: Since Chinese hackberry likes light, the bonsai should be placed in a sunny courtyard or balcony. If the bonsai needs to be placed indoors, choose a windowside with sufficient light and relatively good air circulation. Because plant leaves need sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis, only by giving sufficient light can Chinese hackberry keep its leaves full and luxuriant.
2. Water and fertilizer management: Chinese hackberry tolerates dryness, so its bonsai should not be watered heavily. Control the watering frequency to once a day in spring, once each in the morning and evening in summer, and about once every five days in winter. Note that in summer, watering should be avoided at times when the temperature is high (around two in the afternoon), because at this time the transpiration of the plant is extremely strong, which will cause a large loss of water and lead to the withering of Chinese hackberry. As for fertilization, apply nitrogen fertilizer or potassium fertilizer once each in spring and summer every year, to make Chinese hackberry grow more robust and enhance its ornamental value.
3. Pruning and shaping: Because of its vigorous growth, we can often prune the Chinese hackberry bonsai to achieve a satisfactory shaping effect. In the shaping process, the method of thick wiring and fine pruning is often used. When new branches are about 7cm long, prune most of their leaves and remove their buds to maintain the shape.
4. Pest control: Pests are also an important factor that often affects the healthy growth of Chinese hackberry. To prevent and control pests, diluted dimethoate or dichlorvos solution can be sprayed on Chinese hackberry. However, attention should be paid to the concentration when preparing the pesticide, to prevent damage to the vitality of the Chinese hackberry itself.