Complete Guide to Growing and Bonsai-Making for Snow-in-June

Snow-in-June [Latin scientific name: Serissa japonica (Thunb.) Thunb.], an evergreen small shrub in the family Rubiaceae, can reach a height of 90 cm and has an unpleasant odor. The leaves are leathery with short petioles. The flowers are solitary or several clustered at the tips of small branches or axillary, the corolla is pale red or white, the style is long and prominent, and the flowering period is from April to July.

In June it opens fine white flowers; the tree is very small with sparse branches and leaves. It likes light shade and fears the sun; it is often found under leafy trees in deep mountains. It is divided and planted in spring, or propagated by cuttings during the yellow plum rain season, and is best watered with weak tea. It is not strict about temperature; in South China it is evergreen, and in Southwest China it is semi-evergreen. It has strong drought resistance and is not strict about soil. For pot cultivation, a moist culture soil that contains humus, is loose and fertile, and has strong permeability and slight acidity is suitable, and it will grow well.

I. The Legend of Snow-in-June

Before her death, Dou E once said that she was dying from injustice, and that the heavens of June would bear witness for her and would send snow. Sure enough, when she died, heavy snowflakes fell from the June sky. Later, people used "June snow" to describe "the injustice of Dou E." However, as history progressed, Snow-in-June was mostly used by lovelorn men and women or literati to describe a mood like falling snow, both cold and drifting with romantic catkins.

II. Common Varieties of Snow-in-June

The number of Snow-in-June plants cultivated in North China is growing, and landscaping departments have transported in quite a few from the south. Two types are commonly seen on the market: one is the clumping type, with slightly red flowers in a trumpet shape, which is an inferior variety; the other is the single-trunk small-tree form, with pure white double flowers, which is a superior variety.

III. Medicinal Value of Snow-in-June

The roots, stems, and leaves of Snow-in-June can all be used as medicine. Mild, slightly pungent, cool. It soothes the liver and relieves depression, clears heat and drains dampness, reduces swelling and draws out toxins, stops cough and transforms phlegm. It is used for acute hepatitis, rheumatic waist and leg pain, carbuncles and malignant sores, snake bites, diarrhea due to spleen deficiency, childhood malnutrition, leukorrhea, eye opacity, intestinal abscess, and rabies.

IV. Flower Language of Snow-in-June

1. A supporting role, but indispensable

2. True fondness, care, purity!

3. Pure and innocent, longing

4. Joy, watching over love

5. Missing someone, pure and innocent, dreams, true fondness

V. Key Care Points for Snow-in-June

In summer, when temperatures are high and the air is dry, in addition to daily watering, use clear water in the morning and evening to sprinkle the leaf surfaces and nearby ground to lower the temperature and increase air humidity. The plant should be placed under a shade shed, and must never be kept for long periods under strong direct sunlight. After the beginning of autumn, as temperatures drop, gradually control the amount of watering and water once every 2 to 3 days.

In winter, move it into a cold room or indoors where the temperature does not fall below 0°C to overwinter, and water once every 20 to 30 days; if the room temperature is above 15°C, it remains evergreen and does not drop its leaves, so water once every 7 to 10 days, and maintain moist air and give it sunlight exposure. During severe cold, it must absolutely not be allowed to freeze, otherwise it is likely to die. Before taking it outdoors each March, repot it with leaf mold soil, and use hoof and horn pieces as base fertilizer at the bottom of the pot.

Water and fertilizer management: During the growing season, water frequently to keep the potting soil moist. It should not be too dry or too wet for long periods, and absolutely avoid water accumulation in the pot or loss of water in the potting soil. In summer, spray water on the leaf surfaces 1-2 times a day; in winter, appropriately reduce watering frequency, and keeping the potting soil moist but slightly on the dry side is sufficient. From April to May each year, apply 2-3 times a 0.5% concentration phosphorus-potassium fertilizer solution; in the depths of winter, apply 1-2 times a dilute organic fertilizer solution; do not fertilize in other seasons. Avoid applying concentrated fertilizer.

Light and temperature requirements: During the growing period, it is best kept in a place with ample sunlight, warmth and humidity, and good ventilation. In summer and early autumn, shade it by 50%-70%, and avoid scorching sun. In winter, in the south it can overwinter outdoors; in the north it should be moved indoors, and it is best to keep the room temperature at 5-12°C.

Repotting and pruning: Repot once every 1-2 years, in spring from February to March or during late autumn, remove all old soil, and appropriately prune the roots. Root raising can be carried out together with repotting to form exposed roots and increase ornamental value. Each year, from after half-leaf fall in winter to before bud break the following spring, carry out one shaping and pruning session: shorten long branches and leggy branches, thin out overly dense fine weak branches, and cut off diseased and insect-damaged branches as well as other messy branches that affect the ornamental appearance; during the growing season, promptly pinch tips, remove buds, and remove side shoots to maintain a beautiful shape. The healthy branches cut off can be used for cutting propagation.

Pest and disease control: Snow-in-June bonsai has relatively few pests and diseases, with occasional occurrences of aphids and snails. Aphids can be killed by spraying a 500-600 times diluted essential balm solution; snails can be killed by spraying a 1500 times diluted 58% Fengleiji emulsifiable concentrate. Root rot sometimes occurs; at the initial stage, use a 600-1000 times diluted 12% copper abietate emulsifiable concentrate, or an 800 times diluted 50% Genfuling solution, to drench the roots and spray the leaves for control, spraying (drenching) once every 3-5 days, for 3-4 consecutive applications.

VI. Making Snow-in-June Bonsai

The branches and trunk of Snow-in-June are soft yet tough and can withstand wiring, and it is divided into styles such as straight trunk, twisted style, and cascade style. If the pot is tall, it can be trained into a cascade style. Cascade style is further divided into semi-cascade, full cascade, and small cascade according to the degree of slant. So-called semi-cascade means the trunk basically extends horizontally out of the pot rim. Full cascade means the trunk should hang down 45 degrees below the pot rim. Small cascade generally means the trunk hangs down about 30-40 degrees.

Sources of stock material: Carry out division propagation in March of spring, and cutting propagation (branch cuttings or root cuttings) from April to October. If protected-ground (seedbed) propagation is used, cuttings can be taken from November to January of the following year. In the southeastern and central provinces and regions of China, wild tree stumps can also be dug up in the field for cultivation and processing.

Processing and shaping: The "grow wood and truncate the trunk method" can be used for processing, and the "combination of pruning and wiring method" can also be used for processing and shaping. Wiring is often carried out from after half-leaf fall in winter to before bud break in spring; the trunk and main branches are wired with metal wire, and the small branches are shaped by fine pruning.

Transplanting and potting: It is best to transplant and pot from February to March, and it can also be done during the plum rain season and late autumn. Choose a relatively shallow round, square, or oval purple clay pot or glazed pot; the pot color should be somewhat darker to form a contrast with the flower color. The potting soil should be a sandy loam rich in organic matter, loose and fertile, and with good drainage and air permeability. It can be mixed using leaf mold, pine needle soil, and peat with 40% sand or rice husk ash added.

VII. Key Points for Making Snow-in-June Bonsai

1. Collecting stumps: conventional method.

2. Cuttings: conventional method, can be done in all four seasons. Generally it takes shape in three years and becomes a landscape in five years.

3. Pruning: conventional method. Snow-in-June has strong sprouting ability, grows quickly, and tolerates pruning; except in winter, it can be done frequently as needed.

4. Wiring: The branches of Snow-in-June are soft and benefit from wiring. In the early stage, pull and wire the framework well, set the trunk and main branches, and grow them out to thicken.

5. Root raising: The roots are a major feature of Snow-in-June and must be treated carefully; organize, prune, and raise the roots once every year.

6. Stone placement: Snow-in-June has a well-developed root system with exposed roots and claws. During the maintenance stage, arranging the roots and placing stones is very important. The design plan and stone selection must be done carefully, because once the landscape is formed, it is difficult to revise.

7. Pot choice: Because Snow-in-June plants are low, with tender green filling the branches and white flowers covering the tree, dark-colored shallow pots are mostly used.

8. Combined planting: Binding Snow-in-June together for combined planting can quickly form a style like southern banyan trees or the large potted trees of Japan and Taiwan, China.

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