How to Make a Chaenomeles speciosa Bonsai and Key Care Points

Bonsai Making

Old Stump Propagation

Old stumps that have grown for many years, with exposed roots and claw-like roots, ancient and uniquely shaped, can be propagated to make bonsai.

Transplant from after leaf fall in autumn to before bud break in spring. When transplanting, keep more of the original soil, cut off the main root, keep more lateral roots and fibrous roots, and prune the branches and trunk. After cutting off the branches not needed for the design, first plant it in a larger clay pot or in the ground to "nurse the stock". When it is cold in winter, pay attention to cold protection and maintain a certain level of air humidity, but the soil must not become waterlogged. After it survives, pay attention to cultivating the transition branches and main framework branches so that the skeleton is graceful and the transition between branches and trunk is natural.

Shaping and Pruning

Chaenomeles speciosa is suitable for making bonsai in different forms such as formal upright style, slanting style, double-trunk style, curved-trunk style, cascade style, exposed-root style, forest style, and multi-trunk single-base style.

For the shaping of young trees, wiring is the main method and pruning is supplementary. Process the trunk into an attractive zigzag form, but the artificial traces must not be too heavy. The retained branches should not be too dense; sparse and open is better, making it fresh and elegant. For old stumps that have grown for many years, shape them according to the tree's vigor and create different styles of bonsai. The crown can be made into a neat round pad shape, or a natural, unrestrained style can be adopted, using both pruning and wiring to make the branches and leaves luxuriant.

Key Care Points

Pruning and Shaping

After leaf fall in autumn or before bud break in spring, carry out one pruning and shaping session. Cut off dead branches, diseased and pest-damaged branches, water sprouts, crossing branches, overlapping branches, and other branches that affect the tree shape, so as to maintain the beauty of the tree shape and the internal ventilation and light penetration. Shorten the tops of old branches that flowered the previous year, so as to concentrate nutrients and produce more flowering branches.

Soil

Repot once every spring. The potting soil should be loose, fertile, rich in humus, and a sandy soil with good drainage and aeration. Place some decomposed cake fertilizer, animal hoof and nail, bones, etc. at the bottom of the pot as base fertilizer.

Light, Water and Fertilizer

Chaenomeles speciosa likes a warm, humid environment and plenty of sunlight. During the growing season, it can be placed outdoors in a sunny, well-ventilated place for care.

Water according to the principle of "do not water until dry, and when watering, water thoroughly", avoiding water accumulation in the potting soil. When the air is too dry, spray water on the plant to increase air humidity, which is beneficial to plant growth. Apply a diluted decomposed liquid fertilizer or compound fertilizer once every half month. In October each year, bury decomposed cake fertilizer in the flower pot to promote the plant's growth and flowering the following year.