What to Do About Pests and Diseases in Bonsai? Home Gardening Prevention and Control Methods

In our soil-digging life, besides beautiful flowers and plants, there exists a group of uniquely shaped characters - yes, they are bonsai. But rather than calling bonsai a plant, it is more like a pot of artwork. It uses plants and rocks as basic materials to present natural landscapes within a pot. This is what we often call "one pot, one scene."

But growing bonsai is just like growing plants - the most feared problem is pests and diseases! So how should you prevent and control them? Let's see what the professionals say!

A bonsai's "tantrums" are just like human emotions. Just as sprouting, leafing out, blooming and fruiting are its unchanging laws, the occurrence of pests and diseases is also a free variation within its specific growing environment.

This small, ever-thriving world of bonsai is endlessly varied. How to prevent and manage pests and diseases is also a required course in enjoying bonsai. By reading it and understanding it, isn't it easier to get along with it?

This humble woman is not talented, and to this day I still seem very unprofessional when facing questions about care, my cultivation is not up to standard, please bear with me. But I can look up information while learning and treat everyone at the same time!

To help everyone grow bonsai well, to gain something while enjoying it, and to be in beauty as much as possible, with beauty within it, I have specially compiled this - "About the Prevention and Control of Bonsai Diseases and Pests," excerpted from "Creative Small Potted Plants." I hope it helps you!

|Prevention

Usually, prevention work should be done well. If measures are taken after pests and diseases occur, it is already too late. During the growing season from spring to autumn, spray 1-2 times according to the specific conditions in the book. While spraying, also do a good job of cultivation and management.

If potted plants are placed in a place with poor ventilation, pests and diseases are easily triggered.

In addition, leaves with poor growth are easily attacked by pests and diseases. When placing, transplanting, pruning, watering and fertilizing, pay more attention and cultivate and manage the potted plants in an appropriate way.

|Spraying

Before spraying, to prevent pets and valuable ornamental pots from getting sprayed with the solution, protective work should be done in advance. Try to spray in windless, cool mornings and evenings. Spraying during the hotter daytime may sometimes cause phytotoxicity (such as after the agent volatilizes into the air, etc.).

In addition, spray from the upwind side toward the downwind side, and the agent should be sprayed evenly to all places, including the undersides of leaves and the inner sides of branches.

Remember, when spraying for prevention purposes, if there are places not sprayed, pests and diseases will begin to breed and spread from those places. Do not think that spraying once is enough to relax; after 4-5 days you should spray again. Please note that you must strictly follow the agent's usage instructions when spraying.

|How to Choose Agents

Home gardening-specific agents are divided into two major categories: insecticides and fungicides. Insecticides are further divided into two major categories: contact insecticides that kill pests by directly spraying them on the pests, and systemic translaminar insecticides that kill pests by letting the roots absorb the agent's components.

When using agents, first carefully confirm the cause of the damage, then choose the appropriate agent. There are also agents that can both prevent and eliminate pests and diseases. When purchasing, please read the instructions carefully.

To prevent the occurrence of pests and diseases, potted plants should be placed in a well-ventilated location - whether this is done is crucial. (I may have said this hundreds of times)

To keep leaves from overlapping, leave sufficient spacing between pots. Properly pruning branches so they do not appear crowded is also important.

Main diseases and pests that should be given more attention.

Chojubai Red Flower No. 1, Golden Maple, Double-petaled Hime Rose