Detailed Explanation of the Production Techniques and Management Methods for Portulacaria afra Bonsai
Portulacaria afra, also known as the jade tree, golden branch jade leaf, purslane tree, or ginkgo wood, is a perennial evergreen succulent shrub of the genus Portulacaria in the family Portulacaceae. Its stems are succulent, ranging from purplish-brown to light brown, with nearly horizontal branching. New branches turn purplish-red under conditions of ample sunlight, but remain green if light is insufficient. The succulent leaves are obovate, decussately opposite, small, thick, green, and glossy on the surface. There is also a variegated cultivar, “Yale Zhi Wu” (Portulacaria afra 'Variegata'), whose old stems are grayish-purple and whose leaves bear large patches of yellow-white with only a small central portion being pale green. It can also be used to make bonsai, but because it grows slowly and old, rugged, twisted specimens are hard to find, old Portulacaria afra trunks are commonly used as rootstock and grafted by cleft grafting to bring it into shape as quickly as possible.
For growing Portulacaria afra, cuttings can be taken during the growing season from robust, well-developed branches. Before inserting, remove the lower leaves and let them dry for a few days until the cut surface is dry, then insert into a growing medium made of 2 parts leaf mold, 2 parts coarse sand or vermiculite, and 1 part garden soil. After insertion, keep the soil slightly moist. Once rooted, place it in a sunny spot or a semi-shaded area for care, keeping the potting soil moist but not waterlogged. Do not fertilize for the first 2 months, to encourage root growth; after that, apply a diluted, well-rotted liquid fertilizer about once every 10 days. Promptly prune away young shoots sprouting from the base to concentrate nutrients and speed up the growth of the main trunk.
Once Portulacaria afra has grown to a certain height, it can be shaped. Styles can include slanting trunk, formal upright, curved trunk, cascade, forest, and root-over-rock, among others. The shaping method is mainly pruning, with wiring as a supplement. Because the stems are succulent, do not let the wire cut into the bark when wiring, otherwise the succulent stem will tear. Portulacaria afra has strong sprouting ability, so it can be heavily pruned according to shaping needs, and the roots can be raised to expose the surface roots, giving the bonsai a look of suspended roots and exposed claws, with high ornamental value.
Portulacaria afra is native to South Africa and prefers a warm, dry, sunny environment. It is drought-tolerant and tolerates semi-shade, but not waterlogging. Although it can grow in shaded places, the internodes will become longer and the leaves large, thin, and lusterless, detracting from its ornamental value. In summer, when temperatures are high, shade it appropriately to prevent scorching sun exposure, and pay attention to ventilation. During the growing season, water according to the principle of “don't water until dry, and when you water, water thoroughly,” avoiding water accumulation in the potting soil, otherwise root rot will occur. Apply a diluted, well-rotted liquid fertilizer once every 15 to 20 days. Because of its strong sprouting ability, it should be pruned and buds removed frequently to maintain a graceful tree shape. In winter, place it indoors in a sunny spot, stop fertilizing, and control watering; the temperature is best kept above 10°C. At around 5°C the plant will not die, but a large number of leaves will drop. Repot once every 2 to 3 years in spring. The potting soil can be a sandy soil of medium fertility with good drainage and aeration. When repotting, heavily prune the plant once, cutting off weak branches and other branches that affect the tree shape, and also cut off part of the root system, remove 1/2 to 1/3 of the old soil, and replant with fresh growing medium.
Production and Management of Portulacaria afra Bonsai
Portulacaria afra, also known as the jade tree, golden branch jade leaf, purslane tree, or ginkgo wood, is a perennial evergreen succulent shrub of the genus Portulacaria in the family Portulacaceae. Its stems are succulent, ranging from purplish-brown to light brown, with nearly horizontal branching. New branches turn purplish-red under conditions of ample sunlight, but remain green if light is insufficient. The succulent leaves are obovate, decussately opposite, small, thick, green, and glossy on the surface. There is also a variegated cultivar, "Yale Zhi Wu" (Portulacaria afra 'Variegata'), whose old stems are grayish-purple and whose leaves bear large patches of yellow-white with only a small central portion being pale green. It can also be used to make bonsai, but because it grows slowly and old, rugged, twisted specimens are hard to find, old Portulacaria afra trunks are commonly used as rootstock and grafted by cleft grafting to bring it into shape as quickly as possible.For propagation of Portulacaria afra, cuttings can be taken during the growing season from robust, well-developed branches. Before inserting, remove the lower leaves and let them dry for a few days until the cut surface is dry, then insert into a growing medium made of 2 parts leaf mold, 2 parts coarse sand or vermiculite, and 1 part garden soil. After insertion, keep the soil slightly moist. Once rooted, place it in a sunny spot or a semi-shaded area for care, keeping the potting soil moist but not waterlogged. Do not fertilize for the first 2 months, to encourage root growth; after that, apply a diluted, well-rotted liquid fertilizer about once every 10 days. Promptly prune away young shoots sprouting from the base to concentrate nutrients and speed up the growth of the main trunk.
Once Portulacaria afra has grown to a certain height, it can be shaped. Styles can include slanting trunk, formal upright, curved trunk, cascade, forest, and root-over-rock, among others. The shaping method is mainly pruning, with wiring as a supplement. Because the stems are succulent, do not let the wire cut into the bark when wiring, otherwise the succulent stem will tear. Portulacaria afra has strong sprouting ability, so it can be heavily pruned according to shaping needs, and the roots can be raised to expose the surface roots, giving the bonsai a look of suspended roots and exposed claws, with high ornamental value.
Portulacaria afra is native to South Africa and prefers a warm, dry, sunny environment. It is drought-tolerant and tolerates semi-shade, but not waterlogging. Although it can grow in shaded places, the internodes will become longer and the leaves large, thin, and lusterless, detracting from its ornamental value. In summer, when temperatures are high, shade it appropriately to prevent scorching sun exposure, and pay attention to ventilation. During the growing season, water according to the principle of "don't water until dry, and when you water, water thoroughly," avoiding water accumulation in the potting soil, otherwise root rot will occur. Apply a diluted, well-rotted liquid fertilizer once every 15 to 20 days. Because of its strong sprouting ability, it should be pruned and buds removed frequently to maintain a graceful tree shape. In winter, place it indoors in a sunny spot, stop fertilizing, and control watering; the temperature is best kept above 10°C. At around 5°C the plant will not die, but a large number of leaves will drop. Repot once every 2 to 3 years in spring. The potting soil can be a sandy soil of medium fertility with good drainage and aeration. When repotting, heavily prune the plant once, cutting off weak branches and other branches that affect the tree shape, and also cut off part of the root system, remove 1/2 to 1/3 of the old soil, and replant with fresh growing medium.
How to grow Portulacaria afra bonsai? Care methods and points to note for Portulacaria afra bonsai
Portulacaria afra, also known as the purslane tree, or silver gongsun tree, commonly called "golden branch jade leaf," with the scientific name Portulacaria afra Jacq (the purslane tree of Africa), and the English name Elephant Bush (the useless thicket of Africa), is a succulent evergreen shrub of the genus Portulacaria in the family Portulacaceae. Its main trunk is firm and thick, with wrapped, ringed nodes; its branches are soft outside but firm inside, densely upright or spreading; its leaves are small, thick, and clustered at the branch tips. In appearance it can show both the upright vigor of an old tree's aged trunk and the vitality of lush branches and leaves. In addition, it has strong adaptability, likes light, tolerates drought, tolerates pruning, and sprouts easily, making it especially suitable for balcony growing. It is an ideal plant material for making single-trunk or group-planted bonsai.I. Preparation of Plant Material for Portulacaria afra Bonsai
Portulacaria afra generally does not easily produce seeds and is mostly propagated by cuttings. Cuttings can be taken in spring, summer, and autumn, but spring cuttings give the best results. Because spring temperatures are moderate, the cut surfaces of the succulent stem sections are less prone to infection and rot, and this is also most favorable for callus formation and new root sprouting. Generally, thick, straight 2- to 3-year-old stems or branches can be cut. It is best to consider the ornamental effect of the plant shape after rooting: for single-plant potting, choose straight stems or branches as cuttings; for group-planted bonsai, choose stems or branches with special shapes as cuttings. After appropriately trimming the stem section, the lower cut is best made 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm below a node. Let it dry slightly until the cut surface has dried, then insert it into a clean medium such as fine sand, vermiculite, or perlite, inserting to a depth of about 1/4 to 1/3 of the length of the stem section, and simply keep the medium moist. Never water too much, otherwise rot is likely to occur and the cutting will fail. Generally, a complete root system will grow after 3 weeks. To make it easier to cultivate plants suitable for bonsai, the rooted plants can first be transplanted into clay pots with strengthened water and fertilizer management. According to the future needs of bonsai making, prune and shape the plants first, generally once a month. After about one year of cultivation, when they have a certain plant form, they can be used for bonsai making.
II. Making Portulacaria afra Bonsai
When cutting-propagated plants have basically taken shape after one year of cultivation, they enter the bonsai-making stage. Bonsai making can be done in all four seasons. Based on the thickness and appearance of the plant material's stems and the length and position of the branches, decide whether to make a single-trunk style or a two-plant or multi-plant group-planting style, and then choose a pot suited to it.
Generally, for plants with a dignified, thick main trunk, dense internodes, no branches on the middle and lower parts, and more branches on the middle and upper parts distributed evenly in all directions, a single plant can be used to make a formal upright bonsai with an upright trunk; the pot can be chosen according to the plant's appearance, such as a round or rectangular blue or green shallow pot. For plants whose stems curve to one side but whose overall lines are smooth, a blue or pale yellow tall cylindrical pot can be selected for planting as a cascade-style bonsai, but more stones and coarse sand should be placed in the pot to prevent water accumulation from causing root rot. For plants with a shape beautiful from one side, 2 to 3 plants can be selected to achieve the best combination and pairing, making host and guest well matched, slanting and leaning appropriately, and echoing each other, planted together into a bonsai with a wild woodland charm, which likewise has very high quality. For group-planted bonsai, rectangular or oval shallow pots are preferable, because they provide a larger pot surface space that can set off the ancient ruggedness and tenacity of the trunks, create a unique artistic conception, and also make it convenient to add ornamental stones and accessories.
A newly completed Portulacaria afra bonsai may not be entirely satisfactory. Subsequent pruning is the most important means of beautifying its tree shape and gradually perfecting its composition. For areas that need to form crown pads, repeated pruning can be carried out to promote the sprouting of lower lateral buds and produce new branches that form dense crown pads; for overly dense areas, achieve an overall tree shape with an alternating dense-and-sparse ornamental effect. It is worth noting the pruning time: avoid the height of summer and rainy days, and do not water or mist within 1 to 2 days after pruning, to prevent the succulent new wounds from becoming infected with pathogens and rotting, which would lead to the opposite of the desired result. Because its stems are aged and wrinkled with many nodes, its branches relatively sparse, and its leaves rather small, compared with the common Ficus bonsai, it has more of a simple, straightforward, ancient air and is especially suitable for expressing the spirit and appearance of the great evergreen trees of the south.
III. Care and Management of Portulacaria afra Bonsai
Portulacaria afra is native to tropical Africa. Its bonsai relatively likes light. Because its branches and leaves are rich in water and it is a succulent plant, it can receive more light; in summer, receiving full sunlight on a balcony will do it no harm. If it is overly shaded, the branches and leaves will become slender and the leaves thinner, reducing its proper ornamental value. The potting soil should be loose and fertile; in particular, watering should not be excessive, otherwise the plant's root system is prone to rot, affecting its normal growth. Portulacaria afra has poor cold resistance, so in winter it usually must be moved to a bright indoor location and kept at a room temperature no lower than 5°C to overwinter safely. Short young shoots sprouting on the main trunk should be removed promptly to avoid affecting the ventilation and light penetration in the inner canopy, and this can also form node scars on the main trunk, further enhancing the sense of age on the main trunk. Portulacaria afra bonsai can be repotted once every 2 to 3 years. After removing the plant from the pot, break off some aged roots and old soil, replant it with fresh, well-aerated fertile soil, and simply keep the potting soil moist, to promote the growth of new roots and strengthen the plant's growth momentum. For potted Portulacaria afra, the top dressing is best a rotted, diluted cake fertilizer water, applied once a month during the growing season; stop top dressing in midsummer, and reduce water and fertilizer supply after the beginning of autumn. Only in this way is it beneficial both to its growth and to its safe overwintering and summering.