How to grow a ball pine bonsai? Small, cute and highly ornamental, all the care tips are here
As a common succulent plant, the ball pine is surely familiar to everyone. Because the plant is short and its shape looks very much like a ball, it appears plump and very cute, and is loved by many girls. The new branches that the ball pine has just grown are light green, and after continuous growth they turn grayish-white, packed together one grain at a time, looking very plump. Some of us succulent lovers also grow the ball pine as a bonsai, which is also a bonsai with high ornamental value. So how should we care for it?
When making a ball pine bonsai, we should choose a suitable flower pot. We cannot use a round one like for ordinary potted plants. We can choose an oval or rectangular flower pot, so the planted bonsai will look better and it will also be easier to create some scenery. We can choose loose and fertile soil in the pot, and there is no need to add a lot of organic matter. For bonsai, fertilizer should be reduced as much as possible, because fertilizing easily promotes growth. If the bonsai grows too fast and is not pruned in time, its appearance will not look good.
Then we can place some stones on the ball pine to create a staggered height effect, but to make it easier for the ball pine to grow we will also lay moss over it, which is especially good for retaining moisture.
The ball pine likes to grow in a cool and dry environment, so when caring for it we cannot let the ball pine be exposed to sunlight for a long time. In spring and autumn, it can be placed on the side of the balcony near the window, and normal light exposure is fine, because the climate is suitable and the light is not very strong, so these two seasons are no problem.
However, in summer we need to pay attention, because at this time the temperature and light are more than the ball pine can bear, and we cannot still place it by the balcony window as in spring. We need to provide shade and reduce a large amount of sunlight exposure, because if the temperature is too high, the ball pine will go dormant, and then we will not be able to care for it. So in summer we cannot expose it to sunlight for a long time, and we need to pay attention to ventilation and cooling.
The next thing is to pay attention to watering. The ball pine must never be given too much water, otherwise long-term water accumulation will cause root rot. In spring and autumn, water normally, generally once every 5-7 days. In summer, we should avoid the strong light at noon, and watering cannot be started at noon either. We can only water in the morning or in the evening after the sun has set. After late autumn and into winter, watering once every half a month is basically fine. So we do not need to worry too much about watering, because watering less is never wrong, while watering more can easily cause danger.
The last point in caring for a ball pine bonsai is pruning. We need to cut off some withered leaves, and also prune branches that grow too fast, so as to maintain a beautiful appearance, otherwise we will not be able to appreciate it well.