How to grow a lilac bonsai? A detailed guide to care and management methods
Lilac (Syringa oblata) is an early-spring flowering deciduous shrub of the genus Syringa in the family Oleaceae. It is drought-tolerant and cold-hardy, likes sunlight and also tolerates partial shade, and is very widely cultivated in North China, Northeast China and Northwest China. In recent years it has increasingly been moved into pots for cultivation and enjoyment. Lilac usually blooms in early spring; when potted, with proper management it can bloom twice, and its flowering vigor will not decline the following year.
1. Care and management
Placement: Lilac likes light, so it should usually be placed in a spot with ample sunlight and good air circulation. In summer, however, it needs a little shading; high temperatures and sunscald are bad for the growth of potted lilac. In winter, bury the pot outdoors in a sunny spot or move it indoors in front of a windowsill.
Watering: Usually keep the potting soil moist but on the dry side, and never let it become too wet. In summer, during high temperatures, water once in the morning and once in the evening; after autumn, water less to help it go dormant and overwinter.
Fertilizing: In winter, apply decomposed cake fertilizer as a base fertilizer. After it sprouts in spring, apply cake fertilizer water once every half month to promote flowering. In summer, fertilizer should also be applied appropriately to help flower bud differentiation and keep it blooming abundantly the following year. After autumn, apply less fertilizer and water; too much fertilizer will harm its development.
Pruning: During the growing period, when branches and leaves are too dense, prune promptly; this neither disrupts the tree shape nor hinders ventilation and light penetration. After autumn, when it enters dormancy, carry out appropriate shaping and pruning, cutting off leggy shoots, overlapping branches and crossing branches, so that nutrients are concentrated and more flower buds are produced.
Repotting: Repot once every 2 to 3 years. When repotting, prune the root system, remove some old roots and overly long roots, pick out the old soil, and replace it with fresh potting soil, so as to promote root development and abundant foliage and flowers.
Pest and disease control: When lilac is too wet, it is prone to root rot; in mild cases growth stops, and in severe cases it wilts and dies. Common insect pests of lilac include the mulberry longhorn beetle, which damages branches and trunks; there are also bagworms, stinging caterpillars, aphids and others that damage young twigs and leaves. They can be killed by spraying with a 1500-fold dilution of 40% dimethoate.
2. Ornamental value
Lilac has a graceful posture, abundant purple flowers and a pleasant fragrance. Grafting lilac onto a root stock of privet (Ligustrum quihoui) to make a bonsai produces an old trunk with flowering branches, each enhancing the other, and it is the most rewarding to view.
Care and management of lilac bonsai
1. Care and management Placement: Lilac likes light, so it should usually be placed in a spot with ample sunlight and good air circulation. In summer, however, it needs a little shading; high temperatures and sunscald are bad for the growth of potted lilac. In winter, bury the pot outdoors in a sunny spot or move it indoors in front of a windowsill. Watering: Usually keep the potting soil moist but on the dry side, and never let it become too wet. In summer, during high temperatures, water once in the morning and once in the evening; after autumn, water less to help it go dormant and overwinter. Fertilizing: In winter, apply decomposed cake fertilizer as a base fertilizer. After it sprouts in spring, apply cake fertilizer water once every half month to promote flowering. In summer, fertilizer should also be applied appropriately to help flower bud differentiation and keep it blooming abundantly the following year. After autumn, apply less fertilizer and water; too much fertilizer will harm its development. Pruning: During the growing period, when branches and leaves are too dense, prune promptly; this neither disrupts the tree shape nor hinders ventilation and light penetration. After autumn, when it enters dormancy, carry out appropriate shaping and pruning, cutting off leggy shoots, overlapping branches and crossing branches, so that nutrients are concentrated and more flower buds are produced. Repotting: Repot once every 2 to 3 years. When repotting, prune the root system, remove some old roots and overly long roots, pick out the old soil, and replace it with fresh potting soil, so as to promote root development and abundant foliage and flowers. Pest and disease control: When lilac is too wet, it is prone to root rot; in mild cases growth stops, and in severe cases it wilts and dies. Common insect pests of lilac include the mulberry longhorn beetle, which damages branches and trunks; there are also bagworms, stinging caterpillars, aphids and others that damage young twigs and leaves. They can be killed by spraying with a 1500-fold dilution of 40% dimethoate. 2. Ornamental value Lilac has a graceful posture, abundant purple flowers and a pleasant fragrance. Grafting lilac onto a root stock of privet (Ligustrum quihoui) to make a bonsai produces an old trunk with flowering branches, each enhancing the other, and it is the most rewarding to view. .Care and management methods for lilac bonsai
1. Care and management:Placement: Lilac likes light, so it should usually be placed in a spot with ample sunlight and good air circulation. In summer, however, it needs a little shading; high temperatures and sunscald are bad for the growth of potted lilac. In winter, bury the pot outdoors in a sunny spot or move it indoors in front of a windowsill.
Watering: Usually keep the potting soil moist but on the dry side, and never let it become too wet. In summer, during high temperatures, water once in the morning and once in the evening; after autumn, water less to help it go dormant and overwinter.
Fertilizing: In winter, apply decomposed cake fertilizer as a base fertilizer. After it sprouts in spring, apply cake fertilizer water once every half month to promote flowering. In summer, fertilizer should also be applied appropriately to help flower bud differentiation and keep it blooming abundantly the following year. After autumn, apply less fertilizer and water; too much fertilizer will harm its development. Pruning: During the growing period, when branches and leaves are too dense, prune promptly; this neither disrupts the tree shape nor hinders ventilation and light penetration. After autumn, when it enters dormancy, carry out appropriate shaping and pruning, cutting off leggy shoots, overlapping branches and crossing branches, so that nutrients are concentrated and more flower buds are produced.
Repotting: Repot once every 2 to 3 years. When repotting, prune the root system, remove some old roots and overly long roots, pick out the old soil, and replace it with fresh potting soil, so as to promote root development and abundant foliage and flowers.
Pest and disease control: When lilac is too wet, it is prone to root rot; in mild cases growth stops, and in severe cases it wilts and dies. Common insect pests of lilac include the mulberry longhorn beetle, which damages branches and trunks; there are also bagworms, stinging caterpillars, aphids and others that damage young twigs and leaves. They can be killed by spraying with a 1500-fold dilution of 40% dimethoate.
2. Ornamental value:
Lilac has a graceful posture, abundant purple flowers and a pleasant fragrance. Grafting lilac onto a root stock of privet (Ligustrum quihoui) to make a bonsai produces an old trunk with flowering branches, each enhancing the other, and it is the most rewarding to view.