Why are pine and cypress bonsai so popular in the bonsai market?

The Editor-in-Chief thinks this may be related to the humanistic tradition deep in Chinese bones. Ancient poets and scholars have always praised the proud, towering character of pine and cypress, and grouped them together with the symbolic bamboo and plum as the "Three Friends of Winter".

The Analects says: Only when the year turns cold do we know that the pine and cypress are the last to wither. Because of their beautiful symbolic meaning of eternal youth and longevity, pine and cypress bonsai are extremely popular.

In this article, the Editor-in-Chief wants to chat with fellow gardening friends about the highly favored Podocarpus bonsai!

Podocarpus

It grows as a small tree or shrub, with short, densely growing leaves, graceful branches and foliage, ancient yet vigorous, with a striking posture.

In the growing season it sprouts new shoots, and its tender green new leaves dot the dense green foliage, quite beautiful. It is a first-class material for making bonsai, and especially the top choice for making miniature bonsai.

Podocarpus bonsai

Podocarpus seedlings are usually obtained by artificial propagation methods such as sowing, cuttings, and grafting.

There are also wild Podocarpus in the mountains and fields, generally growing in rock crevices. Fellow gardening friends can choose to dig up Podocarpus with short, small plants, ancient and elegant branches and trunks, and graceful posture.

Editor-in-Chief's tip: The cutting time for Podocarpus is in mid-March in early spring or during the plum rain season in June-July.

Making a Podocarpus bonsai

One

The front and back tree forms of the Podocarpus before making it. This Podocarpus has been in a pot for several years. It is material that has been cultivated for years without pruning, but it already has an initial form.

Two

After deciding on the front, prune away excess branches such as leggy shoots.

Three

Use metal wires of different sizes to wire and reshape the branches.

The choice of metal wire depends on the thickness of the branch. It should not be too thick, or it will not match the branch, nor too thin, otherwise it cannot play a role in shaping.

Four

The tree's appearance after two rounds of trimming and styling finally looks somewhat presentable.

Five

Comb through the root system, cut off hard roots that hinder pot matching, and keep fibrous roots to promote growth.

Six

The effect after matching with a pot: the curved trunk and evenly distributed branch pads, arranged with a rectangular purple clay pot, make the overall tree look dignified and steady.

Editor-in-Chief's tip: Next, the Podocarpus must be pruned every year for 1-2 years, slowly observing it, styling it, and adjusting its form.

Note this, fellow gardening friends who like Podocarpus, please read "Part Two: Styling and Care Techniques for Podocarpus Bonsai".

The Editor-in-Chief doesn't know whether the explanation was clear or detailed enough. For fellow gardening friends who didn't quite understand, the Editor-in-Chief has specially written an acrostic poem for you. It may not be well written, but it can help you find the Editor-in-Chief.

More wonderful articles are all in an acrostic poem:

A gentle breeze caresses, flowers remain ever present

Strolling in spirit through the southern slope of Nanshan

Searching for wonders and clever finds at Bronze Bird Terrace

Planting red and green up in the blue clouds

--Come challenge: a four-line acrostic with hidden beginnings and endings. Connect the first characters + connect the last characters, and you can get an eight-character motto to summon the Editor-in-Chief's true self! When you come, remember to say: "Editor-in-Chief, your secret has been cracked by me!"