How to care for an old smoketree stump? The management experience of an old hand is worth learning from

Caring for a venerable old smoketree stump, the management experience of an old hand is worth all of us learning from.

After years of cutting and livestock gnawing, the smoketree stump is short in stature, with gnarled and twisted branches, looking venerable and easy to shape; therefore digging up old stumps is a shortcut for making smoketree bonsai. The smoketree has longer leaf stalks and larger leaves; after wiring and pruning, it is often made into a natural-style bonsai. The old hand's care and management experience is worth all of us studying carefully.

First, planting the smoketree and choosing a pot. The smoketree is usually planted in spring before budding; if it is a newly dug stump, it should be planted in plain sandy soil in a clay pot to "nurse the stock"; if it is being repotted, half of the old soil in the pot should be removed and replaced with new soil. The smoketree is not demanding about soil; humus soil as the main component, mixed evenly with an appropriate amount of sandy soil, is ready to use. The leaves of the smoketree are emerald green in spring and summer and turn red in late autumn, so the color of the pot is best a purple clay pot that harmonizes with the red and green colors. The shape of the pot depends on the tree's form: for the straight-trunk style, a round or square pot is commonly used; for the slanting-trunk and curved-trunk styles, a rectangular or oval pot of medium depth is suitable.

Second, choosing the location. Potted smoketree should be placed in a sunny, well-ventilated spot during the growing season. In the hot summer, it should be placed in partial shade. In winter, it should be moved into a low-temperature indoor space. Then proceed to watering. When watering a potted smoketree, follow the principle of watering when dry and withholding when wet; do not let water accumulate in the pot, and as long as the soil is moist, you can skip watering. In hot weather, water the ground frequently to keep the microclimate around the smoketree bonsai at a certain humidity.

Third, reasonable fertilizing. The smoketree should not be given heavy fertilizer; too much fertilizer will make the branches shoot up abruptly and the leaves grow larger, affecting its appearance. Besides applying some base fertilizer at planting, applying a decomposed organic liquid fertilizer once in late spring and once in early autumn is sufficient.

Fourth, focus on shaping the smoketree stump. The smoketree grows relatively fast; prune once in spring when it buds, removing overly dense branches and branches that affect the shape, and some branches should be properly wired so that the foliage is sparse in some places and dense in others, appropriately spaced; if the foliage is too dense, it will affect the beautiful form of the ornamental branches and trunk. The last point is preventing pests and diseases. Common pests and diseases of the smoketree include powdery mildew and caterpillars, which should be controlled promptly.

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