A Detailed Guide to the Latest Maintenance and Management Methods for Chinese Pistache Bonsai
Because the leaves of Chinese pistache contain a relatively high level of volatile aromatic oils, they can release a rare and unusual olive fragrance into the air, and the leaves can also adsorb and absorb large amounts of harmful gases such as SO2 and coal smoke from the air. As an indoor bonsai, placed on a desk, windowsill, balcony, and other such places, it can effectively purify and freshen the air and benefit people's physical and mental health.
As long as you follow the methods below, after years of cultivation, shaping and careful maintenance of Chinese pistache (usually 6 to 8 years), you can create an ornamental bonsai with an excellent crown.
Chinese pistache likes light, loves warmth, and fears severe cold; seedlings tolerate sun. A finished bonsai should be placed in a spot with ample sunlight, good ventilation and humidity. In summer, it must not lack water or be exposed to scorching sun; in winter, it should be moved into a greenhouse or an enclosed balcony in a building with good insulation to overwinter, and in normal times care should be taken to keep the potting soil moist.
During the growing period, fertilizer and water management should be strengthened, applying a thin cake fertilizer or decomposed human manure and urine once every 20 to 30 [days]. In each growing season, attention should be paid to pinching the tips of the seedlings to limit height and promote their development toward a short, sturdy form.
The bonsai should be pruned promptly in autumn and winter. According to different ornamental requirements, methods such as thinning, short pruning and renewal pruning should be used to cut off excess side branches, parallel branches, crossing branches, overly dense branches, leggy branches and dead branches, highlighting the main trunk and strengthening the ornamental branches, so that it has a higher artistic style.
Chinese pistache is dioecious, so when making a bonsai, attention should be paid to matching female and male plants in proportion. Male buds can also be grafted onto female branches, combined with artificial pollination, to increase the fruit-setting rate and seed-setting rate, so that the same bonsai can simultaneously achieve the multiple effects of foliage viewing, flower viewing (female and male inflorescences), fruit viewing and trunk viewing.
Chinese pistache has strong stress resistance, tolerates drought and barren soil, and has low soil requirements; it is deep-rooted, strongly wind-resistant and strongly sprouting; it is relatively resistant to sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride and coal smoke. The volatile aromatic substances contained in the leaves and bark have strong insect-repellent and insecticidal effects, and it rarely suffers from diseases and pests.