June Snow Bonsai Care Methods and Photo Appreciation
June Snow (Serissa japonica) is a flowering plant that blooms in early summer in June, with flowers as pure white as snow, and people with vivid imaginations gave it such a descriptive and romantic name. June Snow, which grows in the wild, has now been introduced into homes by clever horticulturists, and June Snow bonsai has become an indoor ornamental plant. How do you make a June Snow bonsai?
June Snow is an evergreen small shrub in the Rubiaceae family, mainly distributed in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Taiwan, China, and other places in our country. Because its flowering period is in June, from a distance it looks like a scene wrapped in silver snow, like a wondrous sight sent from heaven, so people call it June Snow.
Growth Habits
June Snow grows in the south and likes a warm and pleasant environment. In South China it is an evergreen plant, and in Southwest China it is a semi-evergreen plant. June Snow loves sunlight and is also shade-tolerant. It dislikes fierce winds and scorching sun, and likes light shade. June Snow has strong drought tolerance and is not strict about soil requirements.
Bonsai Care
1. Propagation method: June Snow bonsai is made by division propagation in March in spring, or by cuttings propagation from April to October.
2. Soil requirements: Choose a relatively shallow round, oval, or square purple clay pot or glazed pot. Darker-colored pots can create a color contrast with the June Snow flowers and make them more ornamental. The soil should be a loose, fertile, well-drained, breathable sandy loam rich in organic matter. It can be prepared by mixing humus soil, pine needle soil, and peat with 40% sand or rice straw ash.
3. Bonsai shaping: When making a June Snow bonsai, it needs to be processed and shaped to make it better looking, more beautiful, and more artistic. The methods often used are the “stored-wood trunk-cutting method” and the “combination of pruning and wiring method” for processing and shaping. During the growing period, operations such as pinching, bud removal, and branch removal should also be carried out to maintain its graceful shape. When repotting, pruning the roots into exposed roots can also make the June Snow bonsai look better.
4. Environmental control: During the growing period, water more to keep the pot soil in a stable moist state. It must not be dry for a long time or waterlogged. In summer, appropriately spray water on the leaf surface. In winter, reduce watering, aiming for the pot soil to be moist but slightly on the dry side. As for fertilizing, in April to May each year apply 2-3 times a 0.5% concentration phosphorus-potassium fertilizer solution, and in the depths of winter apply 1-2 times a thin organic fertilizer. During the growth period, place June Snow in a place with good light and ventilation. In the north, it needs to be grown indoors in winter.
5. Pest and disease control: June Snow bonsai has relatively few pests and diseases, with occasional occurrences of aphids and snails. Once they occur, timely targeted control should be carried out. For aphids, use essential balm diluted 500--600 times, or neutral laundry detergent mixed with water at 150 times and spray to kill them; for snails, appropriately broadcast an 80% metaldehyde granular formulation on the surface of the pot soil to poison them, or spray with 58% fenitrothion? emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times.
When the pot soil becomes compacted and too wet, or when water accumulates in the pot for too long, root rot can occur, and attention should be paid to preventing and controlling it. When the pot soil is compacted, repot and change the soil in time, and take care not to let the pot soil remain too wet for a long time. Never allow water to accumulate in the pot. At the early stage of the disease, use 12% copper octanoate? emulsifiable concentrate at 600--1000 times, or 50% root rot cure at 800 times to drench the roots and spray the leaves. Spray (or drench) once every 3--5 days, for 3--4 consecutive times. For severely affected plants, take them out of the pot, replace with new culture soil, wash the roots clean, cut off the diseased roots, soak the roots in the above-mentioned agents for 30 minutes, and then replant them in the pot. Generally, the plants can be saved this way.
June Snow Bonsai Photos
The methods for making June Snow bonsai and the photo appreciation are introduced here for everyone. Do not just enjoy the beautiful June Snow photos; be sure to firmly remember the methods described in the text and treat the pure and lovely June Snow in your home well.