A Detailed Guide to the Latest Methods for Making and Caring for Apple Bonsai

Apple bonsai, as the name suggests, is the cultivation of apples into the form of bonsai for people to admire, with extremely high ornamental value. Moreover, apple bonsai takes the sound of “ping” from apple, symbolizing peace. It can be both viewed and eaten: a delight to the eye and sweet and refreshing to the taste, truly a fine gift. Now let us take a look at how to make and care for apple bonsai!

Variety Selection

When selecting materials for apple bonsai, you should choose varieties with characteristics such as a dwarfed tree body, thick roots, short branches, small leaves, large and brightly colored fruit, a late ripening period, easy flower formation and early fruiting, a high fruit-setting rate and self-pollination fruit-setting rate, and strong resistance to disease and adaptability to the potted environment.

Choosing Pots and Mixing Soil

For apple bonsai, choose a clay pot, wooden bucket, or wooden box with a mouth diameter of 40 cm, a bottom diameter of 35 cm, and a height of 30 cm with drainage holes. The nutrient soil formula is 6 parts fertile mature soil, 2 parts river sand, 1 part decomposed sheep manure, and 1 part rotted leaves and fermented horse hoof fertilizer, mixed evenly in proportion and sifted.

Potting at the Right Time

Choose seedlings that are robust, have plump buds, and are free from pest damage, and pot them in early to mid-April. When planting, soak the roots in 5-degree lime sulfur mixture for disinfection, and cut off necrotic roots. First put a small amount of nutrient soil into the bottom of the pot, place the seedling in, spread the root system evenly, bury the soil and firm it, and water promptly to ensure survival.

Fertilizer and Water Management

For apple bonsai, apply 0.2% quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer once before and after budding. Starting in May, apply liquid fertilizer once about every 10 days, mainly 200-times-diluted organic cake fertilizer, supplemented by inorganic liquid fertilizers such as urea, diammonium phosphate, and ammonium sulfate at 0.2% each. During the fruit enlargement period, carry out foliar spraying with 0.3-0.5% urea and 3-5% plant ash extract. When autumn shoots grow vigorously and the fruit is nearing maturity, apply 200-times-diluted organic liquid fertilizer once every half month. When new shoots stop growing and the fruit ripens, according to the plant's growth condition, apply fertilizer once about every 10 days, mainly 200-times-diluted organic liquid fertilizer, combined with 0.2% inorganic nitrogen fertilizer. The soil should be watered thoroughly after drying out. During the budding period, flowering period, and fruit enlargement period, replenish water in time. In June, to promote flower bud differentiation, appropriately control water. In the rainy season of July to August, water less.