June Snow bonsai care methods and picture appreciation
June Snow (Serissa japonica) is a flowering plant that blooms in early summer in June, with flowers as pure white as snow, and people with a rich imagination gave it such a vivid and romantic name. June Snow, which once grew in the wild, has now been introduced into homes by clever horticulturists, and June Snow bonsai has become an indoor ornamental plant. So how is June Snow bonsai made?
June Snow is an evergreen small shrub of the family Rubiaceae, mainly distributed in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Taiwan, China and other places. Because its flowering period is in June, from a distance it looks like a scene wrapped in silver snow, like a wondrous sight sent from heaven, so people call it June Snow.
Growth habits
June Snow grows in the south and likes a warm and pleasant environment. In South China it is an evergreen plant, and in Southwest China it is a semi-evergreen plant. June Snow loves sunlight and is also shade-tolerant; it fears strong winds and scorching sun, and likes light shade. June Snow has strong drought tolerance and is not strict about soil requirements.
Bonsai care
1. Propagation method: June Snow bonsai is made by division propagation in March in spring, or by cutting propagation from April to October.
2. Soil requirements: Use a relatively shallow round, oval or square purple clay pot or glazed pot. A dark-colored pot can create a color contrast with the June Snow flowers, making it more ornamental. The soil should be a loose, fertile, well-drained and airy sandy loam rich in organic matter, and can be prepared by mixing humus soil, pine needle soil and peat with 40% sand or rice straw ash.
3. Bonsai shaping: When making June Snow bonsai, it needs to be processed and shaped to make it better looking, more beautiful and more artistic. The methods often used are the "wood-storing trunk-cutting method" and the "combination of pruning and wiring method" for processing and shaping. During the growing period, operations such as pinching, bud removal and branch removal should also be carried out to maintain its graceful shape. When repotting, pruning the roots into exposed roots can also make the June Snow bonsai look better.
4. Environmental control: Water more during the growing period to keep the pot soil in a stable moist state; it must not be dry for a long time or waterlogged. In summer, appropriately spray water on the leaves, and in winter reduce watering, with the standard being that the pot soil is moist but slightly on the dry side. As for fertilizing, in April to May each year apply 2-3 times a 0.5% concentration phosphorus-potassium fertilizer solution, and in the depths of winter apply 1-2 times a thin organic fertilizer. During the growth period, June Snow should be placed in a place with good light and ventilation; in the north, it needs to be cultivated indoors in winter.
5. Pest and disease control: June Snow bonsai has relatively few pests and diseases, with occasional occurrences of aphids and snails. Once they occur, the right remedy should be applied promptly for control. For aphids, use essential balm diluted 500--600 times, or neutral washing powder mixed with water at 150 times for spraying to kill them; for snails, appropriately scatter an appropriate amount of 80% miewoiling granules on the surface of the pot soil to poison them, or use 58% fengleiji emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times for spraying to kill them.
When the pot soil is compacted and too wet, or when water accumulates in the pot for too long, root rot will occur, and attention should be paid to prevention and control. When the pot soil is compacted, repot and change the soil promptly, and take care not to keep the pot soil too wet for a long time; water accumulation in the pot must be avoided. At the initial stage of the disease, use 12% lülütong emulsifiable concentrate at 600--1000 times, or 50% genfuling at 800 times to drench the roots and spray the leaves, spraying (drenching) once every 3--5 days, for 3--4 consecutive times; for severely affected plants, take them out of the pot, replace with new culture soil, wash the roots clean, cut off the diseased roots, soak the roots in the above-mentioned agents for 30 minutes, and then replant them in the pot; generally the plant can be saved.
June Snow bonsai pictures
The production methods and picture appreciation of June Snow bonsai are introduced here. Do not just focus on enjoying the beautiful June Snow pictures; be sure to firmly remember the methods described in the text and treat the pure and lovely June Snow in your home well.