bonsai so it becomes thick and sturdy?
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">1. Soil selection</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">The banyan likes a sunny, well-ventilated, warm and humid environment. When the weather is hot in summer, it should be shaded appropriately, and water should often be sprinkled on the ground to keep the microclimate at a certain humidity. In the north, in late autumn or early winter, the banyan bonsai should be moved indoors to overwinter.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">2. Light requirements</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">The banyan likes sunny, warm and humid, well-ventilated places, and can be shaded appropriately when the weather is hot in summer. In northern winters it should be moved indoors to overwinter, with the room temperature at around 8°C. The banyan is not afraid of sunlight and is also fairly shade-tolerant; even when displayed indoors for a long time, its leaves will not turn yellow, and in winter it should be given more sunlight.</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">3. Fertilization method</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">During the growing season, apply a dilute decomposed organic liquid fertilizer once a month, and apply “alum fertilizer water” once each in May and August every year. Do not fertilize the banyan too much. Too much fertilizer makes the branches grow leggy and the leaves enlarge, which is instead unattractive. Do not fertilize when the weather is hot in summer or in winter.</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">Because the banyan grows fast, once it is growing normally you can apply a foliar topdressing once a day, using decomposed human or livestock urine or rotted fertilizer as topdressing; base fertilizer can also be applied when repotting, and sufficient fertilizer can make the trunk grow thick and sturdy. If the potting soil is fertile, there is no need for topdressing; instead, during the summer and autumn growing season, a nutrient solution can be sprayed on the leaves to make the branches and leaves dense and emerald green, giving people a sense of beauty.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">4. Watering method</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">The banyan is a tropical plant and likes plenty of water and fertilizer. It is highly adaptable and can grow in stone cracks and also in water, but a grown banyan should keep its potting soil moist, and water must not accumulate in the pot; in summer, watering twice a day is appropriate.</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">The banyan likes moisture, and during the growing season it should be watered frequently to keep the potting soil at a certain humidity, but water must not accumulate in the pot. In winter the temperature is low and evaporation is reduced, so watering should be appropriately reduced. The banyan likes moisture, and during the growing season the potting soil should be kept moist; in summer, besides watering into the pot, water should also often be sprinkled on the ground to keep the local microclimate at a certain humidity. But water must not accumulate in the pot. In winter, water less; if the potting soil is moist, there is no need to water.</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">5. Shaping method</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">Because the banyan has many aerial roots, it is suitable for the exposed-root and claw style and the multi-trunk leafy bonsai. When making these two kinds of bonsai, in the first year first cultivate its root base and build its vigor; after it grows vigorously, then raise the roots and repot into a shallow pot.</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">Because the banyan grows fast and has well-developed roots, it can be made into a root-on-rock style bonsai. Before planting, bend the tree with metal wire into curved shapes of varying sizes, plant it at an angle in a soil pot, and after 2—3 months of cultivation, when the aerial roots have increased and the crown has taken shape, take the sapling out, remove all the potting soil, and attach the sapling to the chosen stone. At this point, note that the banyan and the bent tree and stone should have a consistent orientation, and the roots should be embedded into the stone crevices as much as possible. Wrap the roots firmly with cotton cloth strips or metal wire, and place it in a tall large pot to cultivate. The root-on-rock bonsai can, according to the tree's vigor, be created as far as possible into forms such as root-embracing-rock, rock-piercing, and rock-hugging styles.</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">6. Repotting method</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">A banyan bonsai of young tree age should be repotted once every 2 years, and an old-stump bonsai once every 3-4 years, with the time preferably from late April to early May; repotting is not easy in winter. Remove 1/2 of the old potting soil, cut off dead roots and short roots, shorten overly long roots, thin out some overly dense roots, add some new potting soil with a certain fertility, and plant the banyan well. Sometimes the opportunity of repotting is used to change the tree's shape, or to change it into a pot with higher ornamental value.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">7. Propagation method</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">a. Banyan propagation by cuttings</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">Choose thick, sturdy branches, cut them for planting, and insert them into a loose, breathable, slightly acidic mixed soil of stone powder, river sand, and coal cinder, to a depth of about 3 cm; water thoroughly and then move to a cool, wind-sheltered place for care. For those planted in the ground, use a cover to shade the sun. If taking cuttings in early spring, when the temperature is relatively low, it is best to cover with a plastic bag to maintain a constant temperature and facilitate survival. Normally the soil should be kept moist, without water accumulation. The banyan first sprouts and then roots; when the sprouts grow to 5—6 cm, gradually let the cutting material see sunlight, and after its sprouts and roots grow strong, transplant it into a pot.</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">b. Banyan propagation by division</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">The banyan has the characteristic of rooting and sprouting quickly; you can choose stump material with crooked trunks and ancient, unusual forms suitable for bonsai, divide and transplant it from each plant, retain as many aerial roots as possible, and after one to two years of careful cultivation, once aerial roots have grown, it can be cultivated into shape according to the grower's conception.</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">8. Pest and disease control methods</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">The banyan has relatively few pests and diseases; poor ventilation and light or excessive nitrogen fertilizer may trigger powdery mildew, which can be sprayed with a 500-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder. Among insect pests, scale insects occasionally occur, which can be sprayed with a 1500-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate. Alternatively, shallowly bury an appropriate amount of carbofuran granules in the potting soil and then water thoroughly for quick effect. (Does the above content on how to grow a banyan bonsai solve your problem? You are welcome to leave feedback and discuss below.)</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">9. Precautions</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">a. Banyan pruning and shaping is mostly done during the dormant period; during the growing season the sap flows quickly, and after pruning more white viscous sap flows out, which is unfavorable to the plant's growth. The banyan can be bent and tied in all four seasons; when bending and tying during the growing season, take care not to damage the bark, so as to avoid sap flowing out.</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">b. During the banyan's growing season, keep the potting soil moist at all times, and pay special attention to raising the air humidity; in dry air the leaves will scorch at the edges, turn yellow, and gradually fall off.</p>
<p style="text-indent:2em;">c. When displayed indoors, the banyan should be placed in a ventilated spot with bright scattered light; when displayed outdoors, it should be appropriately shaded in spring and summer, and can receive more sunlight in winter. In winter the room temperature should preferably be kept at 5—8°C, the potting soil should be prevented from becoming too dry or too wet, and once a week the leaves should be washed with warm water close to room temperature to keep the leaves clean and bright green. If the winter room temperature is too high, open the windows for ventilation; otherwise, after the plant is moved outdoors the following spring, it will drop a large number of leaves.</p>
Banyan is a typical representative of tropical woody plants. It grows quickly and lives long, its crown is large and easy to shape, and it has few pests, making it a good greening tree species. Ji Han of the Jin Dynasty wrote in "Plants of the South": the banyan leaf is like that of the hemp tree, its fruit like that of the holly, its trunk twisted and climbing, its shade covering ten mu, so people rest beneath it; moreover its branches are numerous and its leaves dense and fine, its soft branches like vines, hanging down and gradually entering the ground, and where the vine tips are tended by hand, they put forth roots and nodes, or a single large tree may have four or five roots, while its side branches join with those of neighboring trees. This shows that the banyan is easy to plant, easy to keep alive, and easy to cultivate. So how do you grow a banyan bonsai so that it becomes thick and sturdy?
1. Soil selection
The banyan likes a sunny, well-ventilated, warm and humid environment. When the weather is hot in summer, it should be shaded appropriately, and water should often be sprinkled on the ground to keep the microclimate at a certain humidity. In the north, in late autumn or early winter, the banyan bonsai should be moved indoors to overwinter.
2. Light requirements
The banyan likes sunny, warm and humid, well-ventilated places, and can be shaded appropriately when the weather is hot in summer. In northern winters it should be moved indoors to overwinter, with the room temperature at around 8°C. The banyan is not afraid of sunlight and is also quite shade-tolerant; even when displayed indoors for a long time, its leaves will not turn yellow, and in winter it should be given more sunlight.
3. Fertilization method
During the growing season, apply a dilute organic liquid fertilizer once a month, and apply “alum fertilizer water” once each in May and August every year. Do not fertilize the banyan too much. Too much fertilizer makes the branches grow leggy, and the leaves enlarge, which is actually less attractive. Do not fertilize when the weather is hot in summer or in winter.
Because the banyan grows fast, once it is growing normally you can apply a foliar topdressing once a day, using decomposed human or livestock urine or rotted manure as topdressing; base fertilizer can also be applied when repotting, and sufficient fertilizer can make the trunk grow thick and sturdy. If the potting soil is fertile, there is no need for topdressing; instead, during the summer and autumn growing period, a nutrient solution can be sprayed on the leaves to make the branches and leaves dense and emerald green, giving people a sense of beauty.
4. Watering method
The banyan is a tropical plant and likes plenty of water and fertilizer. It is highly adaptable and can grow in stone cracks and also in water, but a grown banyan should keep its potting soil moist, and water must not accumulate in the pot. In summer, watering twice a day is appropriate.
The banyan likes moisture, and during the growing period it should be watered often to keep the potting soil at a certain humidity, but water must not accumulate in the pot. In winter the temperature is low and water evaporates less, so watering should be reduced appropriately. The banyan likes moisture; during the growing season the potting soil should be kept moist, and in summer, besides watering into the pot, water should also often be sprinkled on the ground to keep the local microclimate at a certain humidity. But water must not accumulate in the pot. In winter, water less; if the potting soil is moist, there is no need to water.
5. Styling method
Because the banyan has many aerial roots, it is suitable for the exposed-root and claw style and for multi-trunk bonsai. When making these two kinds of bonsai, first cultivate its root base and build up its vitality in the first year, and after it grows vigorously, raise the roots and repot into a shallow pot.
Because the banyan grows fast and has well-developed roots, it can be made into a root-over-rock bonsai. Before planting, bend the tree with metal wire into curved shapes of varying sizes, plant it slanting in an earthen pot, and after 2-3 months of cultivation, when the aerial roots have increased and the crown has taken shape, take the sapling out, remove all the growing soil, and attach the sapling to a chosen stone. At this point, note that the banyan and the bent tree-and-stone should have a consistent momentum, and the roots should be embedded in the cracks of the stone as much as possible. Wrap the roots tightly with cotton cloth strips or metal wire, and place it in a tall large pot for cultivation. The root-over-rock bonsai can, according to the tree's form, be created as far as possible into forms such as embracing-rock, penetrating-rock, and clinging-rock.
6. Repotting method
A banyan bonsai that is not very old should be repotted once every 2 years, and an old-stump bonsai once every 3-4 years, with the time preferably from late April to early May; repotting is not easy in winter. Remove 1/2 of the old potting soil, cut off dead roots and short roots, shorten overly long roots, thin out some overly dense roots, add some new growing soil with a certain fertility, and plant the banyan well. Sometimes take the opportunity of repotting to change the tree's styling, or to replace it with a pot of higher ornamental value.
7. Propagation method
a. Banyan propagation by cuttings
Choose thick branches, cut them for planting, and insert them into a loose, breathable, slightly acidic mixed soil of stone powder, river sand and coal cinder, to a depth of about 3 cm; after watering thoroughly, move them to a cool, wind-sheltered place for care. For those planted in the ground, use a cover to shade them. If cuttings are taken in early spring when the temperature is lower, it is best to cover them with a plastic bag to maintain a constant temperature and facilitate survival. Normally the soil should be kept moist, without water accumulation. The banyan first sprouts and then roots; when the sprouts have grown to 5-6 cm, gradually let the stock see sunlight, and after its sprouts and roots have grown strong, transplant it into a pot.
b. Banyan propagation by division
The banyan has the characteristic of rooting and sprouting quickly. You can choose stock with twisted trunks, extremely ancient and peculiar, suitable for bonsai, and divide and transplant from each plant, retaining as many aerial roots as possible; after one to two years of careful cultivation, once aerial roots have grown, it can be cultivated into shape according to the grower's conception.
8. Pest and disease control methods
The banyan has relatively few pests and diseases. Poor ventilation and light transmission or excessive nitrogen fertilizer may cause powdery mildew, which can be sprayed with a 500-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder. Among insect pests, scale insects occasionally occur, which can be sprayed with a 1500-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate. Or shallowly bury an appropriate amount of carbofuran granules in the potting soil and then water thoroughly for quick effect. (Does the above content on how to grow a banyan bonsai solve your problem? You are welcome to leave feedback and discuss below.)
9. Points to note
a. Banyan pruning and shaping is mostly done during the dormant period; during the growing period the sap flows quickly, and after pruning more white sticky sap flows out, which is unfavorable to the plant's growth. The banyan can be bent and tied in all four seasons; when bending and tying during the growing period, be careful not to damage the bark, so as to avoid sap flowing out.
b. During the banyan's growing season, keep the potting soil moist often, and pay special attention to raising the air humidity; in dry air the leaves will scorch at the edges, turn yellow, and gradually fall off.
c. When displayed indoors, the banyan should be placed in a ventilated spot with bright scattered light; when displayed outdoors, it should be appropriately shaded in spring and summer, and can receive more sunlight in winter. In winter the room temperature should be kept at 5-8°C, the potting soil should be prevented from becoming too dry or too wet, and once a week wipe the leaf surface with warm water close to room temperature to keep the leaves clean and bright green. If the winter room temperature is too high, open the windows for ventilation, otherwise after being moved outside the following spring it will drop a large number of leaves.