How to grow yew plum pine? Cultivation methods and precautions
The yew plum pine (Taxus chinensis) may not look very beautiful, but it can release oxygen and purify indoor air, making it an essential household plant. What are the cultivation methods for yew plum pine? What issues should be noted when growing it? Below, the editor of Qiannong Network will introduce the cultivation methods and precautions for yew plum pine!
Cultivation methods for yew plum pine
1. Cultivation climate environment: The most important thing is that the climate must be suitable. Yew plum pine grows in subtropical and tropical regions, where the climate is humid and rainy year-round. Of course, this is related to the variety, except for Taxus cuspidata (Japanese yew).
2. Daily care
①Watering: It likes moisture but cannot tolerate waterlogging. Spray water on the leaves frequently. Do not water if the potting soil is not dry; when watering, water thoroughly;
②Fertilizing: Apply fertilizer frequently but lightly. The growing season for yew plum pine is from March to October each year, and the dormant period is from November to February. In early March to April, apply a top dressing of rapeseed cake, which is nitrogen fertilizer. Then apply diluted fermented rapeseed cake liquid once every about 20 days, which meets the needs of the growing season.
③Pruning and shaping: Begin pruning in February each year. It is best not to prune during the growing season.
3. Only yew plum pine at the seedling stage is a shade plant (the three years after germination are all the seedling stage). After three years, yew plum pine is no longer a shade plant and should gradually be exposed to sunlight. Adult plants need direct full sunlight, otherwise they will also die. Many families place plants older than 3 years indoors, resulting in poor growth due to lack of light and eventual death.
4. Pests: These are all standard care, the same as for other flowers. Spray diluted Bordeaux mixture several times before the plum rain season. If there are pests, use diluted dimethoate.
Care of yew plum pine bonsai
1. For newly purchased yew plum pine bonsai, when new buds have just sprouted, try not to spray fertilizer solution on the leaves, because at this time the bonsai has not truly established or the leaves are too tender. Fertilizing at this time will cause tender leaves or buds to shrivel and curl. This will affect the normal sprouting of new roots. Do not spray too much clean water on the leaves; the degree should be that water droplets can be seen on the leaf surface but do not drip down. Spray in the afternoon two hours before dark, and do not leave water droplets at night (especially not if the amount is larger), otherwise it will affect the normal growth of tender leaves or cause the leaves to turn yellow, affecting the healthy growth of the plant. (The underside of the leaves can be sprayed more than the upper side, because the upper surface of the leaf has a waxy protective film that hinders the absorption of nutrients and water, while the underside has no waxy layer and more stomata, so its ability to absorb water and fertilizer is stronger. Therefore, the underside absorbs faster and more than the leaf surface.) Depending on the situation and temperature, spray once a day or two to three times a day. Note that indoor areas need frequent ventilation.
2. For newly purchased yew plum pine bonsai, because transplanting from the growing base into a flowerpot damages part of the root system, the nutrient supply between roots and branches and leaves becomes unbalanced. Especially for those bonsai with luxuriant branches and leaves, the transpiration from the leaves is greater than the absorption by the root system. When the potting soil remains moist, the terminal leaves may curl and dry up. At this time, it is best to prune the branches and leaves appropriately to reduce excessive consumption of water and nutrients by the branches and leaves and help the root system recover growth as soon as possible. At the same time, control watering and keep the potting soil slightly dry to facilitate rapid growth of root hairs and speed up the restoration of normal nutrient supply. At the same time, yew plum pine has strong sprouting ability, especially new branches have strong growth ability and are very tolerant of pruning. After surviving, it will quickly sprout new branches and new leaves. When necessary, a plant rooting or root-increasing agent can be used to water the potting soil once every about seven days, for three to four consecutive times (use a product of good quality and do not use too much water at the same time) so that the root system can grow quickly and healthily. This allows the supply balance between roots and leaves to be restored as soon as possible, so that the yew plum pine grows well.
3. Because a yew plum pine bonsai is planted in a flowerpot where nutrients are limited and can only provide about half a year of growth needs, or because the current plant shape is relatively large and nutrient consumption is great, consumers are advised to replace the original pot as soon as possible after purchase. Because our company gives the bonsai a repotting recovery period of more than one month, and it is then stored for a period at the distributor, and furthermore yew plum pine likes fertile, loose soil. It is best to repot as soon as possible. When repotting, based on the inner diameter of the flowerpot, the inner diameter of the new pot should be at least 5 cm larger. Do this before new buds sprout in February or March each year. When the potting soil is neither dry nor wet, tip the tree and potting soil out together. Try not to break the original root ball. If after survival the root system is found to be too numerous, the bad roots can be appropriately trimmed off. Place the tree into the new pot, fill nutrient soil around it, and press gently and firmly. Only when the soil in the pot is in close contact with the roots can the survival rate be improved; otherwise the plant is not easy to survive or will not grow vigorously. But do not press the soil too firmly either. If it is too firm, the roots cannot breathe air, which will cause root rot and plant death. Immediately after planting, water once thoroughly. Place the pot in a cool place for a few days. After watering, the potting soil should not be turned or pressed again, otherwise the potting soil will easily become compacted, or the soil will be too firm and poorly aerated, easily causing root rot.
4. Fertilization methods for yew plum pine bonsai: The three major elements for plant growth are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. Nitrogen fertilizer can promote the growth of flowers, branches, and leaves; phosphorus fertilizer can promote the formation of flowers and fruits; potassium fertilizer can promote the growth of stems and roots. Because bonsai are cultivated in the limited space of a pot and in limited cultivation soil, organic matter is decomposed by bacteria into inorganic salts and absorbed by the roots. As the yew plum pine grows and consumes nutrients, the nutrients in the potting soil gradually become insufficient, resulting in an inability to supply the needs of growth. Although prepared nutrient soil is used in the bonsai, do not fertilize within three months after purchase. Simply apply about a 1000-fold potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution in the evening every seven to ten days, or spray it on the leaves. Control the amount of watering; do not water too much. Only when the leaf color becomes lighter, the plant becomes weak, the leaves appear yellowish-white, and the leaf edges and tips show "dry burn edges," and the leaves prematurely age and fall, apply a 1000-fold urea solution or an 800-fold fast-dissolving high-quality compound fertilizer solution of potassium sulfate. After removing the precipitate, water the potting soil with it, applying about once a month. It is best to use fully decomposed diluted soybean cake fertilizer water (about 10%-15%). When applying, avoid the trunk area and apply as much as possible along the pot wall, once every half month. On the second day after fertilizing, water once more with clean water to dilute it in case the applied fertilizer is too concentrated. The above two fertilizers can be used alternately, or two small holes can be dug in each pot and five or six granules of urea and seven or eight granules of high-quality compound fertilizer placed inside. Then cover with soil and water so the fertilizer dissolves. Yew plum pine bonsai should avoid raw fertilizer and concentrated fertilizer. Top dressing should mainly be nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer and must not be too concentrated.
5. Watering methods for bonsai: The principle is "do not water if not dry; when watering, water thoroughly."
Water is an important component of the interior of flowers and trees. All life activities of flowers and trees are carried out with the participation of water. Whether photosynthesis or transpiration, none can do without water. Water can maintain cell turgor and keep branches and leaves upright. However, exceeding the limit will instead make the plant grow weak. If the potting soil contains too much water for a long time, it will cause leaves to turn yellow, leaf drop, root rot, and even death.
①If the surface color of the potting soil has slightly become lighter and the leaves are slightly curled, and when pressed with a finger the potting soil feels somewhat soft, and when lightly tapped with a finger joint on the upper middle part of the pot body the sound is relatively dull, then the potting soil does not need watering; simply spray the leaf surface to supplement leaf moisture. When the soil surface turns white, and when pressed with a finger the soil feels relatively hard, and a ring of cracks appears between the pot and the soil, and when lightly tapped with a finger joint on the upper middle part of the pot body it makes a clear "bang bang" sound, and the new shoots and young leaves are wilting, then the potting soil should be watered. Before watering, the cracks between the soil and the pot should be pressed firm with a hard object, then water. Use a large ladle to water. When pouring, the ladle should be close to the pot rim, pour the water in all at once, and water thoroughly in one go so that the potting soil absorbs enough water. If a small amount of water is poured into the pot and after a while water is seen flowing quickly out from the bottom of the pot, this indicates that the soil and pot are not fully pressed firm, and an object should be used to press the gap between the pot wall and the soil tightly before watering again. When the potting soil structure is normal, after watering it is better if water slowly seeps out from the bottom of the pot in about 40 seconds to one minute. The water temperature for watering must be close to or consistent with the temperature at the time. When using tap water, first place the water in sunlight for about three hours before watering, because light helps decompose oxides in tap water and can raise the water temperature. Water can also be placed in a large basin for half a day or a night before watering. If there are many bonsai, it is best to place the water in a large vat so that the water temperature is as close as possible to the air temperature and soil temperature. Especially in hot seasons, in addition to watering the potting soil, also spray water mist on the leaves to keep the leaf surface moist, which is beneficial to growth. The potting soil can be kept slightly dry and must not be too wet. When there are many pots, be sure to inspect each pot according to the actual situation, and be careful not to miss watering or overwater.
②Yew plum pine leaves remain green all year round and are suitable for placing indoors. However, yew plum pine bonsai should not be placed at the air outlet of an air conditioner, otherwise the leaf moisture evaporation of the yew plum pine will increase, easily causing the branches and leaves to dehydrate quickly, resulting in curled and dried leaves. If placed in an air-conditioned room and the air conditioner is turned on every day, spray the leaves every day to maintain leaf moisture, and place a basin of clean water indoors. If in a room with heating in winter in the north, keep it farther from the radiator, and place a basin of clean water on the radiator to increase indoor air humidity. In summer and autumn, when the temperature exceeds 30°C, shading and cooling work should be strengthened, and it can be moved to a ventilated room facing north. When necessary, spray water to lower the temperature, creating a cool and humid environment to benefit the growth of yew plum pine. Also avoid rooms where direct western sunlight shines on the yew plum pine bonsai. In winter, control the amount of watering for the bonsai and avoid the potting soil being too wet for a long time. Because plant growth is not vigorous in winter and leaf transpiration is relatively low, if the potting soil is too wet for a long time, the surface of the potting soil will become compacted and impermeable, easily causing root rot. When growing yew plum pine indoors, be sure to pay attention to frequent indoor ventilation.
③The soil for planting yew plum pine should preferably be loose, rich in humus, fertile, and slightly acidic soil (pH=5.5-7). Do not pour leftover tea water into the yew plum pine bonsai. If leftover tea water is often poured in, because tea contains theophylline and other raw alkaloids, it will change the soil pH and also have a relatively destructive effect on organic nutrients in the soil. It inhibits the growth of yew plum pine and can also cause excessive soil moisture, hindering aeration of the potting soil and causing root rot and stem rot. If conditions permit, about once a week, move the yew plum pine bonsai to a balcony at night to receive dew, and in the morning place it in sunlight for about one to two hours to receive light (before 10 a.m.), which is beneficial to the growth of yew plum pine and improves disease resistance. In summer and autumn, prevent direct western sunlight from shining through windows onto the yew plum pine, to prevent high temperatures from scorching the leaves and affecting its ornamental value.
III. Precautions for growing yew plum pine
1. Because yew plum pine is a small tree, attention must be paid to regulating light. It needs light but should not be placed in strong light for too long. Generally, in summer and autumn, about two hours of sunlight before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. each day is sufficient. At ordinary times, receive more scattered sunlight. Otherwise, strong light will scorch the leaves, causing the leaf tips to become scorched yellow. Also maintain indoor ventilation so that the plant does not show wilting, drooping, and other poor growth phenomena due to indoor air being too dry.
2. If a new bonsai shows dark yellow, lusterless tender leaves and wilting at the growing tip, it is generally caused by watering too frequently and too much, compacted and impermeable soil, and rot of part of the root hairs, weakening the ability to absorb water and fertilizer. For mild symptoms, control the amount of watering, use a hard and blunt object to gently loosen the surface soil of the pot so that the potting soil can breathe, move it at night to a place where it can receive dew, and move it to a shady place at eight or nine in the morning, which helps the root system recover healthy growth. If the leaves yellow and curl within a short period, it indicates severe root rot, and the pot should be turned immediately to check the root rot condition (normal root hairs are tender, plump, and white in shape). If more than half are affected, generally it cannot be saved.
3. If old leaves turn yellow from bottom to top, but new leaves generally grow normally, it is usually caused by not watering thoroughly in one go when watering and applying too little water, resulting in root water shortage. Sometimes the terminal leaves dry and curl, and dry leaves fall off when touched, but the old leaves grow normally. This is generally also caused by root water shortage, and the plant should be watered thoroughly in one go. When watering, be sure to first press firm the cracks along the pot rim with an object to prevent water from quickly leaking out through the cracks after watering. This creates the false appearance of thorough watering, and over time the root system will die from water shortage, causing the trunk to die. At night, move it outdoors to receive more rain and dew, and receive two hours of sunlight in the morning and evening to help the yew plum pine recover its growth.
4. Yew plum pine is suitable for weakly acidic soil. If alkaline water is used for irrigation for a long time, it will cause leaves to turn from green to yellow, and even leaf drop. Therefore, add acidic nutrients or spray the leaves or water the potting soil with a 0.2% ferrous sulfate solution, once every ten days, for three consecutive times. This can make leaves that have yellowed due to alkalinity turn green again.
5. Every year in March and April, yew plum pine will sprout a large number of tender buds, which will consume a large amount of nutrients. At this time, the tender buds growing toward the inside can be removed to prevent the branch shape from being too dense and unventilated, which would cause leaves to turn yellow or fall off. Thin out crossing branches, inward-facing branches, and leggy branches, which can improve ventilation and light penetration and also save excessive consumption of water and nutrients. When tender buds have just sprouted, it is best not to spray liquid fertilizer on the leaves, or apply concentrated fertilizer at the roots.
6. For normal fertilization amounts, if urea is used alone as a top dressing for nitrogen fertilizer, the concentration is generally 0.1%. If potassium dihydrogen phosphate is used alone as a top dressing for phosphorus fertilizer, the concentration used is 0.1% to 0.2%. The interval between top dressings is seven to ten days.