How to grow a Distylium bonsai? A detailed guide to the latest care methods

There are many varieties of Distylium. Those commonly used for making bonsai include the bayberry-leaf Distylium, whose leaves are thinly leathery, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, with sharp tips and a few fine teeth on the upper half of the margin; the Chinese Distylium, whose leaves are thicker, elliptical or obovate, 3 cm to 7 cm long and 1.5 cm to 3 cm wide; and the Chinese fine-leaf Distylium, whose leaves are small, with dense branches and foliage, a neat tree shape and dark green leaf color, and whose twigs are slightly zigzag, making it very suitable for bonsai.

Distylium likes a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight, tolerates partial shade and is slightly cold-hardy. A bonsai that has already been trained can be kept outdoors during the growing season in a bright, well-ventilated spot. Usually keep the potting soil moist, avoid drought, and frequently spray water on the leaves so the foliage stays dark green and glossy; apply a diluted, well-rotted liquid fertilizer once a month.

In summer, when temperatures are high, avoid exposure to the scorching sun, so as not to cause the leaf margins to scorch and wither. Because it grows vigorously and has strong sprouting ability, it should be pinched and topped frequently, and branches that affect the tree shape should be cut away, so the bonsai stays compact and attractive.

In winter, move it to a cold room to overwinter, with the temperature kept at 0°C to 10°C. Do not water too much, and let the plant go dormant to benefit growth the following year.

Every spring before budding, reshape the plant once, cutting away overly dense branches, overly long branches, diseased and pest-damaged branches, and other branches that affect the beauty of the tree shape, to encourage new branches and leaves and improve the ornamental value of the bonsai.

Because Distylium is a foliage tree species, the flower clusters should be removed promptly during the flowering period, and it should not be allowed to bloom and bear fruit, so as to ensure normal leaf growth. Repot once every 2 to 3 years in spring. The potting soil should be rich in humus, fertile and loose, with good drainage and aeration.

Notes:

1. Carry out daily care according to its habits, with abundant water and fertilizer, high temperature and high humidity, and half-shade to half-sun management;

2. Prune after the new leaves have grown to dark green. It can be reshaped 3-4 times a year, and fertilizer should be applied before branch training and shaping;

3. Never let it lose water, otherwise growth will suffer: in mild cases branches wither, and in severe cases the trunk dies.