The role, environmental requirements and care methods of West Lake tamarisk bonsai

There are many varieties of tamarisk, and it also has a distinctive name called weeping tamarisk; it is a deciduous small tree. Its young branches can also be used as medicinal material, with effects in treating illnesses such as colds and rheumatic bone pain. Its branches are slender and soft, and when it blooms it also has a distinctive charm, and it has a certain ornamental value, so it is often used to make bonsai.

Tamarisk does not have very high requirements for soil. Apart from acidic soil, in which it struggles to survive, as long as neutral and other soils are sufficiently loose and moisture is sufficient, it can grow very well. However, it also needs to have its soil changed once a year, and its roots pruned. To avoid causing its death during repotting, you had best choose the appropriate time, for example February or March each year. When pruning the roots, pay attention to removing dead roots, but do not remove too many fibrous roots, otherwise its branches will die.

During planting and repotting, the choice of site is also very important, because both will cause some damage to its roots, so during this process, give it enough water, then place it in a shaded place for about 10 days. If the root damage is relatively severe, then leave it for another five days in a semi-shaded place. There are also certain requirements for temperature and sunlight: in summer it must not be exposed to the sun, and in winter give it enough warmth and sunlight, so that it will not die from environmental influences.

A well-growing pot of West Lake tamarisk bonsai is, of course, inseparable from fertilizing. It will grow well when nitrogen fertilizer is sufficient, so it is best to give it nitrogen-alum fertilizer water about once every half a month, but note that the amount each time must not be too much, while the number of waterings must be sufficient. Of course, in different seasons it should also be based on actual conditions, for example before leaf fall in autumn, apply monopotassium phosphate once.

It likes sunlight, and it is best to place it in a sunny and ventilated place; in summer it must not be directly exposed to the sun. It has requirements for moisture: the soil in the pot is best kept in a moist state, but the moisture must not be too much either; if water accumulation appears in the pot, in severe cases it will cause its death.

If you do not want to maintain the ornamental quality of the West Lake tamarisk bonsai, you need to shape and prune it. Spring and summer are when it grows vigorously, so the pruning frequency should be higher, preferably once a week. Remove unwanted new buds in time to avoid wasting nutrients. If you want to increase its ornamental quality, during its vigorous growth period you can remove all the leaves, then give it sufficient sunlight and sufficient moisture, and before long new buds will sprout.

The probability of it suffering insect pests is also relatively low. Even if there are any, they are only borers, so there is no need to worry too much; use omethoate to spray and kill them, and spraying once more after 7 to 10 days is enough. Powdery mildew is its main disease. During the period of illness, pay attention to ventilation, and spray thiophanate-methyl or chlorothalonil to prevent it.