Three Fears and Four Musts in Five-Needle Pine Bonsai Cultivation
Five-needle pine bonsai is a favorite among many flower enthusiasts. Placed at home, it is not only ornamental but also helps beautify the environment to some extent. Five-needle pine bonsai is also a fairly common variety among bonsai, but do you know about the "three fears and four musts" in caring for five-needle pine bonsai?
Five-Needle Pine Bonsai
The "three fears" are:First, fear of too much fertilizer. The five-needle pine's fertilizer requirement is light fertilizer applied sparingly; only once a year, from August to October, should a dilute liquid fertilizer be applied. If spring growth is vigorous, a little may be applied; at ordinary times no fertilizer should be applied. Beginners growing pines often think it grows too slowly and want to apply more fertilizer to make it grow faster, but the result is the opposite. Second, fear of water accumulating in the pot. If watered too much, air circulation in the pot will be blocked, causing root rot and withered branches and leaves. As the saying goes, "dry pine, wet cypress" - this is the reason. Third, fear of frequent repotting. Potted plants need repotting only once every 3 to 4 years, and the time should be from late September to early October, or in February to March. But some pine growers, in order to shape the tree or choose a pot, repot at inappropriate times, and as a result the tree dies from being repotted too frequently.
The "four musts" are:First, must see plenty of sunlight; it is best to place it in a sunny, ventilated spot, and when the air is dry, spray water on the leaf surfaces twice in the morning and evening. Second, must prune, which should be done during the dormant period to prevent excessive loss of sap and damage to its vitality. Third, must keep it in winter in a ventilated, sunny, warm, humid, smoke-free room for care. Fourth, must observe frequently and promptly prevent and control pests and diseases.
Five-Needle Pine Bonsai Care Methods: Three Fears and Four Musts
Five-Needle Pine Bonsai Care: Three Fears and Four Musts
Five-needle pine (Pinus parviflora) gets its name from its five needles growing in clusters. There are many varieties of five-needle pine, among which the large-plate pine, with the shortest needles (needle length about 2 cm) and dense branches, is the most precious. Japanese five-needle pine is a plant of the genus Pinus in the family Pinaceae. It is distributed in Japan and other places, and has now been introduced and cultivated artificially.
Three fears: First, fear of too much fertilizer. The five-needle pine's fertilizer requirement is light fertilizer applied sparingly; only once a year, from August to October, should a dilute liquid fertilizer be applied. If spring growth is vigorous, a little may be applied; at ordinary times no fertilizer should be applied. Beginners growing pines often think it grows too slowly and want to apply more fertilizer to make it grow faster, but the result is the opposite. Second, fear of water accumulating in the pot. If watered too much, air circulation in the pot will be blocked, causing root rot and withered branches and leaves. As the saying goes, "dry pine, wet cypress" - this is the reason. Third, fear of frequent repotting. Potted plants need repotting only once every 3 to 4 years, and the time should be from late September to early October, or in February to March. But some pine growers, in order to shape the tree or choose a pot, repot at inappropriate times, and as a result the tree dies from being repotted too frequently.
Four musts: First, must see plenty of sunlight; it is best to place it in a sunny, ventilated spot, and when the air is dry, spray water on the leaf surfaces twice in the morning and evening. Second, must prune, which should be done during the dormant period to prevent excessive loss of sap and damage to its vitality. Third, must keep it in winter in a ventilated, sunny, warm, humid, smoke-free room for care. Fourth, must observe frequently and promptly prevent and control pests and diseases.
The five-needle pine is suited to growing in loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. When potted, if the soil is too alkaline, the needles will turn yellow and fall off, so the potting soil is best as natural mountain soil. For the potting soil ratio, mix 3 parts leaf mold, 5 parts garden soil, 1 part compost, and 1 part sandy soil as nutrient soil. Generally, repot once every 2 to 3 years, and the repotting time should be from February to March or from September to October.
The five-needle pine is a sun-loving species, and in spring, autumn and winter it should be kept in a sunny place for care; then the needles will be short and sturdy and the leaf color emerald green. Otherwise, the needles will be weak and thin and easily turn yellow. But in the hot summer, around midday, avoid blazing sun and high temperatures so as not to scorch the needles. Spring and autumn are the growing seasons of the five-needle pine; keep the potting soil moist often to promote the growth of branches and leaves. In summer the five-needle pine grows slowly and has entered the dormant period, but water evaporation is high, so water once every early morning and also spray the leaf surfaces once in the evening. In winter, control watering and just maintain its minimum temperature. After the five-needle pine has taken shape, fertilizer must not be excessive, otherwise the roots are easily damaged.
For potted five-needle pine, choose a dry, ventilated environment; too wet or too shady conditions are unfavorable to its growth. Watering must be appropriate: generally once a day in spring and autumn, twice a day in summer, and once every few days in winter, while also adjusting flexibly according to weather changes. Watering with natural water is better; if tap water is used, it can be stored in a vat for a few days before watering.
The five-needle pine does not demand high fertility, and fertilizer should not be applied too much or too concentrated. Too much fertilizer will cause the branch tips to grow excessively and the needles to become longer, reducing ornamental value. Generally, fertilizer is applied only twice during the spring and autumn growing periods. In spring, apply an organic liquid fertilizer (cake fertilizer water) once before budding or after the leaves are full; in autumn, fertilizer can be applied somewhat more concentratedly to promote sturdy growth. Stop fertilizing after October.
During the care process, the following three points should be noted:
1. Watering too frequently, or heavy rain in June each year, often leaves the potting soil too wet; combined with poor drainage and water accumulation in the pot, this causes oxygen deficiency in the soil, resulting in root rot and yellowing needles.
2. In the hot summer, water evaporates quickly, and if watering is insufficient, the needles will scorch. If exposed to blazing sun and the potting soil is too dry, the five-needle pine will also show scorched tips on the top shoots' needles; if the water shortage continues, the plant will eventually die.
3. If the five-needle pine is kept indoors for a long time with insufficient light and air, this violates the five-needle pine's habit of receiving light outdoors; or if it is suddenly moved outdoors and exposed to blazing sun, the same situation as above can also occur. To avoid yellowing of the five-needle pine's needles, corresponding preventive and remedial measures should be taken for the above causes.
Key Tips for Potted Five-Needle Pine
First is "establishing." That is, planting when potting and repotting. The five-needle pine likes fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. If planted in alkaline soil, the leaves quickly turn yellow and die. The potting soil is best as natural mountain soil, or it can be mixed from 3 parts leaf mold, 5 parts mountain soil, 1 part compost, and 1 part sand, with 1% ferrous sulfate and sulfur powder added and mixed evenly. Repot once every 2-3 years. Repotting is best done during the dormant period, that is, February to March and from October to the first or second ten days of November. When repotting, do not break up the root ball. After knocking it out, cut off old roots and rotten roots, replace with new soil, add a small amount of cake fertilizer and bone meal, cover with culture soil. When repotting, the pot size must be suitable; the pot should not be too deep, as a deep pot easily accumulates water and causes root rot. A 5-10 cm thick layer of broken tiles should be added at the bottom of the pot. The tile over the drainage hole should be placed in a "" shape, with palm fiber or plastic mesh covering it. The potting soil should not be too full when potting; be sure to leave a water rim. This prevents both the pot being too small, which damages the root system or forces the plant in with pressure, and the pot being too large, which affects fertilizer absorption and causes water accumulation. After planting, tamp it firm with a bamboo stick, water thoroughly, and place it in a cool place to recover for 1-2 weeks.
Second is "pruning." That is, bud pinching and pruning. During the spring growth period of new shoots, to make the pine needles short and compact, one-third to one-half of the new shoots should be pinched off by hand. Note that scissors must not be used to cut. After pinching, do not spray water; spray only after the wound has dried. Overdense branches and diseased, pest-damaged, or dead branches should be pruned promptly. From October to November, the leaves at the base of the five-needle pine naturally turn yellow and are shed in leaf replacement. The shed leaves should be gently removed promptly; such yellow leaves not only affect appearance but also create conditions for pests and diseases to overwinter.
Third is "regulating." That is, regulating moisture. "Dry pine, wet cypress" is the experience of flower growers. The five-needle pine likes dryness and cannot tolerate wetness. During the spring growing season, keep the potting soil moist. In summer, growth slows and it enters the dormant period, requiring less water; but in high heat and severe summer, water once every early morning and spray the leaf surfaces in the evening. In spring and autumn, water once every 2-3 days; in winter, water once every 1-2 weeks. As long as the minimum living requirements are maintained, watering should be controlled.
Fourth is "appropriateness." That is, applying fertilizer in appropriate amounts. The five-needle pine tolerates poor soil, and fertilizer must not be excessive; otherwise the pine needles grow too long and become unattractive. For spring fertilizer, apply 10% cake fertilizer water once before budding and after leaf expansion. The late-August autumn fertilizer can be more concentrated, using 25% cake fertilizer water. After October, no fertilizer can be applied. At ordinary times, spray 0.1% urea plus 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate; it can be sprayed once every 1-2 weeks. Spraying fertilizer should be done in the morning or evening or on cloudy days.
Fifth is "prevention." That is, preventing pests and diseases. The diseases of the five-needle pine include leaf blight and pine needle cast. Besides removing diseased leaves, in the early stage of disease, spray 50% carbendazim or 70% thiophanate-methyl at 600-800 times dilution. If pine shoot borers are found, spray 40% omethoate at 1200 times dilution or Bt emulsion at 500 times dilution.
Sixth is "treatment." That is, doing a good job in preventing and treating yellowing of five-needle pine needles. Because the five-needle pine easily shows needle yellowing during cultivation and loses its luster, it is very difficult to revive, and this is also a difficult problem in five-needle pine cultivation. The causes of its yellowing and the prevention and treatment methods are briefly described below.
(1) Root rot. New leaves of the current year show yellow tips between summer and autumn, and after late autumn the leaf tips die. This is mainly caused by improper watering, especially frequent watering at ordinary times, which keeps the potting soil wet for a long time, causing oxygen deficiency in the soil and root rot. In some cases, planting is too deep, the drainage layer is too shallow, or the drainage hole is blocked, causing soil water accumulation and root rot. In other cases, winter and spring protection for overwintering buries the soil too deep, and in early spring it is not cleared in time, causing root oxygen deficiency and death. Therefore, the soil moisture for the five-needle pine should be kept between 15-30%, not less than 10%, and not higher than 35%.
(2) Soil alkalinization. Soil and water in the north are both alkaline. Even if the potting soil is slightly acidic, because the pH of the water used is relatively high and no sulfur or ferrous sulfate is added to regulate acidity, after 6-10 months the soil becomes alkaline and the leaves turn yellow. This kind of yellowing can be solved with alum fertilizer water.
What Are the Key Care Points for the Five-Needle Pine?
The five-needle pine is elegant and vigorous, with deep green foliage and a graceful, clear, and refined posture, full of poetic and picturesque charm; it is a tree species with high ornamental value. It likes sunlight, warmth, and a dry environment, tolerates slight shade, but fears low humidity, and is suited to loose, fertile, slightly acidic soil. Therefore, to cultivate the five-needle pine well, it is necessary to do a good job in soil, watering, fertilizing, light, and other aspects.
1) Soil. For potted five-needle pine, the soil should be sandy soil with good drainage and aeration, rich in organic matter, and slightly acidic. Generally, leaf mold, yellow soil (or black mountain soil), and sandy soil are mixed in a ratio of 6:3:1. The potting soil must not be alkaline, otherwise growth is unfavorable and the five-needle pine will turn yellow and shed.
2) Repotting. When the five-needle pine is first potted, it is best to use an unglazed clay pot, because it has good aeration and makes survival easier. After it has established itself, repot it into a purple clay ceramic pot with an antique form and deep color. The potting soil should be changed once every 3-4 years, and the soil-changing time should preferably be from late February to early April or from September to mid-October. When repotting, some old roots should be properly cut off, and water should be poured thoroughly.
3) Watering. The five-needle pine most fears waterlogging damaging the roots, so watering should be moderate and not excessive. The leaf surfaces should be sprayed frequently, and soil moisture should preferably be kept between 15%-30%. Natural water is best. Generally, in spring and autumn, water once a day; in summer, twice a day; in winter, once every few days. At the same time, it should also be adjusted flexibly according to weather changes.
4) Fertilizing. The five-needle pine is best fertilized with light fertilizer applied sparingly, using fully decomposed cake fertilizer. Mature plants should be fertilized in spring and autumn. Spring fertilizer should be applied once every 10 days 2-3 months before budding, at about 15% concentration, to promote budding and branch growth. In July-August, when the weather is hot, apply 10% dilute fertilizer water about once every half month, in the morning or evening. September is the stage when the five-needle pine thickens and grows fastest, so autumn fertilizer can be appropriately more concentrated (the fertilizer concentration can be raised to about 25%) to promote more axillary buds and fewer flower buds, while providing sufficient nutrients for stem and branch growth. After the end of October, fertilizing must stop. In addition, fertilizing should also depend on the weather: if it has rained for a long time and just cleared, do not fertilize immediately; if it has been clear and rainless for a long time, water first, then fertilize after 2-3 days.
5) Light. The five-needle pine is a strongly sun-loving plant. At ordinary times the pot should be placed in a dry, ventilated, sunny place for care; too wet or too shady conditions are unfavorable to its growth. For potted five-needle pine seedlings grown for 1-2 years, except that proper shading is needed at the hot midday in summer to prevent excessive sun exposure from causing scorched needles, at other times they should be placed outdoors in the open to fully receive sunlight. In this way, the five-needle pine bonsai has dense, lush branches and leaves, deep green color, high ornamental value, and few pests and diseases.
6) Pest and disease control. When cultivating the five-needle pine, if care is improper, it is easily harmed by leaf blight, pine needle cast, pine shoot borers, scale insects, and other pests and diseases. If leaf blight or pine needle cast is found, promptly remove diseased leaves and spray 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 800 times dilution. If pine shoot borers or scale insects are found harming shoot tips and eating needles, spray 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate diluted 1000 times with water for control.
Fast Shaping of Five-Needle Pine Bonsai
A pot of five-needle pine bonsai requires seven or eight years or decades of painstaking cultivation. Can it be completed in three to five years? Entirely possible. Its method and steps are as follows: For making a small bonsai, in late winter and early spring, take a healthy one-year-old black pine, first wrap its trunk with fine lead wire into an S shape, then coil the roots below the soil into a zigzag shape and plant it in acidic mountain soil. During the growing period, carry out intertillage and weeding, and apply two or three times low-concentration decomposed human manure or urea. By the end of the year the plant can reach 20 to 30 cm. From this year's winter solstice to Qingming, remove the lead wire and carry out high grafting. The scions use five-needle pine terminal buds. According to the black pine's form and future shaping trend, determine the orientation. On each plant's main trunk, graft three to five terminal buds by side grafting, keep the old black pine leaves, and promptly remove young black pine buds so as to supply the normal growth of the five-needle pine scions. By the third year it becomes an independent five-needle pine bonsai. For making a large bonsai, from the winter solstice to Qingming, go up the mountain to find old black pine stumps with exposed roots and curves. It is best to dig them out with soil, trim away overlapping secondary branches, and heel them in in mountain soil or clay pots. Wait until the Spring Festival of the following year for business grafting. The high-grafting site is cut about 2 cm above a black pine branch to correct the problem of swollen graft unions. For five-needle pine scions, choose sunny, healthy branches or thick, strong main buds. If branch high grafting is used, tie the graft union tightly with plastic tape or adhesive tape, seal the outside with yellow mud to retain moisture, and frequently spray water on the leaf surfaces. On one old black pine stump, graft five to more than ten scions. Within two to five years, separately trim away black pine branches, and lightly prune the developing form of the new five-needle pine branches. In about five years it can be fully shaped. The five-needle pine likes sunlight and ventilation and adapts to acidic soil. Apply decomposed cake fertilizer once in late autumn. In winter it needs dormancy; place it in a room at about zero degrees. If dormancy is broken, growth will be poor and it will slowly die.
Midsummer Management of Five-Needle Pine Bonsai
The five-needle pine has lush branches and leaves, is vigorous and emerald green, with twisted branches and needles curling and coiling, appearing elegant and antique; it is a precious bonsai tree. Every midsummer season, with high heat, strong sunlight, and frequent rainfall, conditions are most unfavorable to the growth of five-needle pine bonsai, and care and management at this time are very important.
Moderate light. The five-needle pine is a neutral plant and can grow in both sunny and relatively shady places, but when cared for in a sunny, airy place, the needles grow emerald green and sturdy; in places with insufficient light and heat, the needles grow thin and weak and easily turn yellow. It is best to give the five-needle pine more than 5 to 6 hours of light each day and maintain good ventilation. But at the hot midday of midsummer, to prevent excessive sun exposure from causing scorched needles, shading and other measures can be taken; at other times it can be allowed to fully receive sunlight.
Control watering. Watering of five-needle pine bonsai should be moderate. The flower proverb says, "dry pine, wet cypress," indicating that the five-needle pine should be kept dry. In summer, temperatures are high and the potting soil dries easily. Generally, water once in the morning and once in the evening, and the morning watering must be sufficient, while in the evening it should depend on whether the potting soil is dry or wet. During showers, cover it promptly to keep off rain so as to avoid loss of nutrients from the soil.
Regular fertilizing. Fertilizing is key to growing the five-needle pine well and can be combined with watering. In July and August, when the weather is hot, apply 10% dilute fertilizer water once every half month. In addition, note that after fertilizing, the five-needle pine should be shaded and must not be exposed to blazing sun.
Not suitable for shaping. For five-needle pine bonsai that have already been shaped, in order to maintain their inherent shaping posture, shaping and pruning are needed every year. But pruning of the five-needle pine should be done during its winter dormant period, and must never be done in midsummer, otherwise the wounds will exude a large amount of pine resin and affect the growth of the five-needle pine.
How to Grow Five-Needle Pine Bonsai Well
To grow five-needle pine bonsai well, you need to understand its habits and master its requirements for light, soil, water, fertilizer, and so on.
Light. The five-needle pine can grow in both places with sufficient light and relatively shady places. If cultivated in a sunny, airy courtyard, balcony, window area, and so on, the needles grow emerald green, short, and sturdy. If placed in a place with insufficient light and damp heat, the needles grow thin and weak and easily turn yellow. In spring and autumn, it can be allowed to fully receive sunlight. But at the teary-hot midday of summer, to prevent sun exposure from causing scorched needles, shading is necessary. Usually use a curtain for shade or move the potted plant into a ventilated room, and avoid long periods of afternoon sun, so as to prevent death from sunburn. The five-needle pine is cold-resistant; in winter it can be placed outdoors in sunlight, with the temperature kept at 0°C-15°C, and it should not be too high.
Soil. The five-needle pine likes loose, fertile, well-drained loam with acidity (pH between 5.5-6.5). Generally choose 25% leaf mold, 25% mountain soil, 10% charred peat, 40% river sand or honeycomb coal furnace slag, and add a little bone meal to mix. If ordinary garden soil that is alkaline is used, the pine needles will turn yellow and shed, and even cause the plant to die.
Moisture. The five-needle pine likes dryness and hates wetness; keeping the potting soil slightly moist is enough. Otherwise the pine needles turn yellow and gradually wither. In autumn and winter, the basal leaves also turn yellow; this is a natural renewal and leaf-shedding phenomenon. In spring, water generally once every 3-4 days, but it depends on the day's weather and the specific dry or wet condition of the potting soil. In the plum rain season, air humidity is relatively high, so watering should be reduced as appropriate. Sometimes when the plum rain continues, attention must be paid to withholding water or placing the potted plant in a ventilated spot under the eaves. In summer, temperatures are high and the potting soil dries easily, so generally water once in the morning and once in the evening. In autumn, the air is dry, and it is also the growing season of the five-needle pine; the soil dries easily, so watering can be once every two days, but it must not be too dry. At ordinary times, it is best to frequently spray the leaf surfaces with clean water, which can both lower temperature and remove dust and help maintain greenness and elegance. In winter, the amount of watering is relatively reduced; to prevent severe cold and freezing, water must also be controlled, and only in excessively dry conditions should an appropriate amount be given.
Fertilizer. Fertilizing is key to growing the five-needle pine well and can be combined with watering, but with the principle of "light fertilizer, frequent application." Usually use composted and decomposed rapeseed cake, soybean cake, and bone meal mixed with water for irrigation. From March to June, fertilize once every half month, with a fertilizer water concentration of 15%. In July-August, when the weather is hot, applying about 10% dilute liquid fertilizer is suitable. September is the period when the five-needle pine thickens and grows relatively quickly, so after late August, apply about 55% liquid fertilizer to promote its growth. After November, stop fertilizing.
Before fertilizing, the potting soil should be slightly dry, and the soil should be loosened to facilitate full absorption of nutrients. If the pot is damaged, roots may be harmed. Fertilizing on cloudy days is better, and it must never be applied under high temperature and strong light. On the second day after fertilizing, water the plant thoroughly.
Rescuing Five-Needle Pine Needle Chlorosis
1. First, carefully observe whether the yellowing needles of the five-needle pine are old leaves or new leaves. If the old leaves are yellowing, and the needles fall off with a light touch of the hand, it shows that the root system has not been greatly damaged, and the possibility of reviving it is relatively high; if both new and old leaves turn yellow and do not fall off easily, then the possibility of reviving it is relatively small.
2. Look at whether the bark of the branches and trunk has wrinkled. If the bark has already wrinkled, gently peel off a little bark from the branch or trunk; if there is no green color and no moisture, then the possibility of reviving it is relatively small. If the branch and trunk bark has not wrinkled, and only the old leaves have become soft and yellow, it may still be possible to revive it.
3. If it is caused by water shortage and drought, water immediately to moisten the potting soil, and be sure not to water thoroughly; this point is crucial. After 4-6 hours, water thoroughly again, place it indoors for care for 3-5 days, and ensure ventilation and air exchange. After 5 days, move it outdoors to partial shade, and spray the needles with about 0.5% edible vinegar water mist 4-6 times a day. After one week, gradually move it into sunlight for normal care, and switch to clean water for spraying the needles to increase humidity.
4. If the symptoms of softening and loss of green in the needles are caused by indoor air being dry and stuffy, lack of ventilation, and long-term indoor placement (for example, in the East China region in mid-to-late April it is still kept indoors without being moved outside for care), open the windows to make the air circulate, and spray with 0.5% edible vinegar solution 3-4 times daily. After 3-5 days, move it outdoors to sunlight for 2-3 hours, spray with about 0.5% edible vinegar solution 4-6 times, and care for it for 5-7 days; the softened needles will stabilize and continue to produce new leaves. Some softened old leaves will become hard and green again, and after half a month it can be placed in a place with relatively good light for normal care. At this time, switch to spraying with clean water 2-3 times a day; the effect is quite obvious. Flower enthusiasts may wish to try it.
Why Do Five-Needle Pine Needles Sometimes Turn Yellow?
In midsummer and early winter, the needles in the middle part of the branches of the five-needle pine often show irregular yellowing; this is a general manifestation of the five-needle pine's normal metabolism. However, when summer arrives, some five-needle pines cultivated by flower enthusiasts have yellowing leaf tips, and after late autumn some leaf tips die, which greatly affects ornamental value. The causes include the following.
1) Watering too frequently, or heavy rain in June each year, often leaves the potting soil too wet; combined with poor drainage and water accumulation in the pot, this causes oxygen deficiency in the soil, resulting in root rot and yellowing needles.
2) In the hot summer, water evaporates quickly, and if watering is insufficient, the needles will scorch. If exposed to blazing sun and the potting soil is too dry, the five-needle pine will also show scorched tips on the top shoots' needles; if the water shortage continues, the plant will eventually die.
3) If the five-needle pine is kept indoors for a long time with insufficient light and air, this violates the five-needle pine's habit of receiving light outdoors; or if it is suddenly moved outdoors and exposed to blazing sun, the same situation as above can also occur. To avoid yellowing of the five-needle pine's needles, corresponding preventive and remedial measures should be taken for the above causes.
Multi-Head Grafting of Bonsai Osaka Pine (Golden-Leaf Five-Needle Pine)
① Rootstock selection: choose one that has been cultivated for many years, has a beautiful form, and grows vigorously, with tree age from ten to one hundred years all being acceptable.
② Scion selection: from a healthy Osaka pine free of pests and diseases, choose well-growing two-year-old branches as scions, preferably from a sunny side.
③ Branch thinning: prune and thin the branches of the black pine while maintaining its original form.
④ The scion cut must be equal in length to the rootstock cut, with the cut about 1 cm long, one side of the cut surface long and the other side short.
⑤ On the main branches and parts of the black pine, use a sharp knife to make a cut, cutting into one-third of the xylem, insert the scion into the cut, and the cambium layers of both must match each other.
⑥ Bind it properly with plastic tape, with appropriate tightness.
Making Five-Needle Pine Bonsai Needles Short and Dense
The five-needle pine has vigorous branches and trunk, is evergreen through the four seasons, and has an antique posture; it is an excellent bonsai tree species. How to make five-needle pine bonsai needles short and dense is an important issue worth studying. After many years of practice, the author has accumulated some experience and now summarizes it for the reference of bonsai enthusiasts.
1. Maintain sufficient light: The five-needle pine likes sunlight and avoids shade. If the five-needle pine bonsai is placed in a place with sufficient light, the needles grow long and weak, and the internodes of the branches are also relatively long. But in hot summer, slight shading and cooling are suitable to benefit growth. This is because the five-needle pine is cold-resistant and fears heat. Too high a temperature is unfavorable to its growth.
2. Properly withhold water: The five-needle pine tolerates drought and fears waterlogging, and properly withholding water can shorten the needles, especially during the period before and after budding and needle emergence, when the effect of withholding water is very good. Too much watering will make the needles longer, and water accumulation easily causes root rot and death. It is suitable for the potting soil to be slightly dry. Of course, watering in different seasons and at different times should differ.
3. Control fertilizing: The five-needle pine tolerates poor soil, and fertilizer should not be applied excessively. Too much fertilizer or concentrated fertilizer easily damages the root system. Fertilizer should not be applied in high-temperature seasons; in severe cases it can cause the tree to die. Controlling fertilizer can shorten the needles; more fertilizer will make the needles longer. Usually in spring, applying fertilizer once to twice each is enough. When potted in the same year, fertilize even less.
4. Use a relatively small and shallow pot: The five-needle pine is a flat-needle tree species and tolerates drought and poor soil. Overall, the pot chosen should be slightly smaller and shallower, and avoid being too large or too deep. A smaller pot helps shorten the needles, while a pot that is too large or too deep easily accumulates water and causes root rot. For the cascade style, a deep pot can be used, and more broken tiles should be placed at the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage and aeration. For the five-needle pine, it is suitable to choose a simple and elegant purple clay ceramic pot, and the pot shape must match the tree's posture.
5. Pinch buds in time: Bud pinching is an important means of controlling growth and maintaining a beautiful tree shape. Bud pinching should be done in spring each year before the new buds elongate and the needles emerge. Pinch off 1/2 to 2/3 of the bud length. It is best to do it on sunny days to help the wounds heal. If the terminal buds are too dense, more can be pinched; where buds are sparse, fewer can be pinched; where buds are long, more can be pinched; where buds are short, fewer can be pinched; where growth is vigorous, more can be pinched; where growth is weak, fewer or none can be pinched. Bud pinching must also be decided according to shaping needs. After many years of bud pinching, the needles can be made short and dense and the tree shape compact.
6. Reasonable pruning and wiring: The five-needle pine has strong budding ability, and its branches are flexible and elastic, tolerant of pruning, and easy to wire. Wiring and pruning are not only needed for shaping but can also control growth and shorten the needles, making the tree shape more beautiful. Pruning and shaping are suitable in the dormant period from winter to early spring. Wounds need to be treated with wax, clay, or black adhesive tape to prevent resin flow; otherwise it will affect tree growth and even cause death. Using metal and palm fiber together gives better results.
7. Choose short-needle varieties: There are many cultivated varieties of five-needle pine, commonly including long-leaf five-needle pine, short-leaf five-needle pine, golden-leaf five-needle pine, silver-leaf five-needle pine, and twisted-leaf five-needle pine.
Cultivation and Management of Five-Needle Pine Bonsai
The five-needle pine has lush branches and leaves, is vigorous and emerald green, with twisted branches and needles curling and coiling, appearing elegant and antique; it is a precious bonsai tree. Every midsummer season, with high heat, strong sunlight, and frequent rainfall, conditions are most unfavorable to the growth of five-needle pine bonsai, and care and management at this time are very important.Moderate light. The five-needle pine is a neutral plant and can grow in both sunny and relatively shady places, but when cared for in a sunny, airy place, the needles grow emerald green and sturdy; in places with insufficient light and heat, the needles grow thin and weak and easily turn yellow. It is best to give the five-needle pine more than 5 to 6 hours of light each day and maintain good ventilation. But at the hot midday of midsummer, to prevent excessive sun exposure from causing scorched needles, shading and other measures can be taken; at other times it can be allowed to fully receive sunlight.
Control watering. Watering of five-needle pine bonsai should be moderate. The flower proverb says, "dry pine, wet cypress," indicating that the five-needle pine should be kept dry. In summer, temperatures are high and the potting soil dries easily. Generally, water once in the morning and once in the evening, and the morning watering must be sufficient, while in the evening it should depend on whether the potting soil is dry or wet. During showers, cover it promptly to keep off rain so as to avoid loss of nutrients from the soil.
Regular fertilizing. Fertilizing is key to growing the five-needle pine well and can be combined with watering. In July and August, when the weather is hot, apply 10% dilute fertilizer water once every half month. In addition, note that after fertilizing, the five-needle pine should be shaded and must not be exposed to blazing sun. Not suitable for shaping. For five-needle pine bonsai that have already been shaped, in order to maintain their inherent shaping posture, shaping and pruning are needed every year. But pruning of the five-needle pine should be done during its winter dormant period, and must never be done in midsummer, otherwise the wounds will exude a large amount of pine resin and affect the growth of the five-needle pine.