How to grow a small-leaf Buddhist pine bonsai? A detailed guide to care methods
The Buddhist pine bonsai, also known as small-leaf Buddhist pine, and also called sparrow-tongue Buddhist pine, sparrow-tongue pine, or short-leaf podocarpus, grows in a shrub form, with short, densely set leaves mostly borne at the tips of the branchlets, with white powder on the underside. It grows as a small tree or shrub, with short, densely set leaves, graceful foliage, an ancient yet delicate and sturdy look, and a striking posture. In the growing season it sprouts new shoots, whose fresh green new leaves are interspersed among the dense dark green foliage. It is quite beautiful and is a top-grade material for making bonsai, especially the first choice for making miniature bonsai. Short-leaf podocarpus, also known as small podocarpus or podocarpus, often grows in a shrub form.
Care techniques for Buddhist pine bonsai
(1) Watering
Buddhist pine tolerates shade and moisture, and during the growing period it should be watered frequently, but it should not be waterlogged. In summer, spray water on the leaves often to keep the leaf color fresh green and the growth healthy.
(2) Fertilizing
Well-formed bonsai should not be fertilized much; in spring apply 1 to 2 light applications of thin cake fertilizer water, and stop fertilizing in autumn to avoid sprouting autumn shoots, which is unfavorable for overwintering.
(3) Pruning
Buddhist pine can be pruned year-round, mainly cutting off leggy branches and diseased or dead branches to maintain a beautiful tree shape. When it flowers, it is best to remove the flower buds promptly to avoid fruiting, which consumes nutrients and affects growth vigor.
(4) Repotting
It can be repotted once every 2 to 3 years, preferably in spring from March to April. When repotting, replace 1/2 of the old soil, and at the same time cut off dead roots and spread out the fibrous roots; if the plant has grown larger, it can be moved to a larger pot. In addition, together with repotting, the roots can be gradually raised and supplemented with rocks to create a raised-root style or rock-attached style bonsai.
(5) Pest and disease control
Common diseases include sooty mold and leaf spot, which can be controlled with 0.5% to 1% Bordeaux mixture, sprayed once every 10 days for 3 consecutive times one month before the plum rain season to achieve control. The main pests include bagworms, red wax scale insects, and red spider mites, which can be killed by spraying with 1200 to 1500 times diluted dichlorvos, or with 1500 times diluted 40% dimethoate.
Production and care methods for rice-leaf Buddhist pine bonsai
Rice-leaf Buddhist pine is an evergreen small tree of the pine family, and it is a variety that has mutated through long-term pot cultivation. It is evergreen all year round, with needles like pearls. It has a glossy green color, sturdy branches, and a relatively long lifespan. It is a commonly used tree species for making bonsai, with an exquisite tree shape, and is a precious tree species for making bonsai. Rice-leaf Buddhist pine prefers a mild and humid environment, is relatively shade-tolerant, and likes fertile, loose, well-drained, slightly acidic sandy loam soil.
Its bonsai production measures are as follows:
I. Seedling source
The young seedlings of pearl Buddhist pine bonsai are usually obtained through artificial propagation methods such as sowing and cuttings. (Seed-grown varieties are generally unstable, so we adopt the asexual propagation method, namely cutting propagation.)
II. Shaping
Potting
Rice-leaf Buddhist pine is usually potted before sprouting in early spring, and the potting soil should be loose in texture and well-drained slightly acidic sandy loam. Because rice-leaf Buddhist pine has an ancient and elegant posture, it is suitable to cultivate it in a purple clay pot or glazed pottery pot, and the pot shape is determined by the tree shape.
Shaping
The shaping of rice-leaf Buddhist pine is mostly carried out during the dormant period, mainly by wiring, with pruning as a supplement. Because the branches of rice-leaf Buddhist pine are supple and easy to wire, and can also be pruned, the shapes are diverse. Common forms include curved-trunk style, slanting-trunk style, lying-cloud style, cliff style, and raised-root style, etc. The branches and leaves can be pruned into flat pad shapes or steamed-bun shapes.
Care
(1) Site: In summer, rice-leaf Buddhist pine should be placed in a humid place with good air circulation, and in winter it should be placed indoors above 5°C. But the temperature should not be too high, so as not to affect its dormancy.
(2) Watering: Rice-leaf Buddhist pine likes moist soil, and during the growing season it should be watered frequently to keep the potting soil moist, but the pot must not be waterlogged. In summer, spray water frequently on the leaves or the ground to keep the leaf color bright and beautiful.
(3) Fertilizing: (Special fertilizer for rice-leaf Buddhist pine) is formulated by us through long-term research. Rice-leaf Buddhist pine should not be fertilized much; in early spring it is appropriate to apply 1 to 2 times using (special fertilizer for rice-leaf Buddhist pine) by pouring 1/3 bottle into a container, adding water at 1:50 to dilute, and applying it to the roots of rice-leaf Buddhist pine; or use other flower fertilizers. Well-formed rice-leaf Buddhist pine should not be fertilized much. After early autumn, stop fertilizing.
(4) Pruning: Rice-leaf Buddhist pine should be pruned often to maintain the tree shape. When flowering, it is best to remove the flower buds promptly to avoid consuming nutrients. (5) Repotting: Rice-leaf Buddhist pine is usually repotted once every 2-3 years. This is generally done in March-April. (6) Pest and disease control: Pay attention to preventing and controlling pests and diseases, especially in summer and during high-temperature periods. Pay attention to the control of scale insects and red spider mites. You can use (rice-leaf Buddhist pine pests and diseases) by pouring 1/3 bottle into a container, adding water at 1:50 to dilute, and spraying it on the leaves of rice-leaf Buddhist pine; or use other flower medicines one month before the plum rain season, spraying once every 10 days for 3 consecutive times to achieve control results, camellia. After using the medicine, it is best to wash your hands, and it must not be ingested.
Rice-leaf Buddhist pine is an evergreen small tree of the Podocarpaceae family, with extremely short and small leaves in the shape of chrysanthemum petals, and branches that mostly grow upright. It prefers a warm, humid, and semi-shaded environment, and can also grow in a sunny environment. It has strong adaptability and can grow freely even under strong sun. It has relatively strong resistance to pests and diseases, relatively weak cold tolerance, and likes to grow in loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy soil.
It can be propagated by sowing, cuttings, and grafting. Cuttings are taken in mid-March in early spring or during the plum rain season in June-July. When taking cuttings, the shortest cutting only needs one leaf, and the seedbed needs shading or fully enclosed cutting. Softwood cuttings root very easily, with an extremely high survival rate. Transplanting is most suitable in March of spring. For sowing, after collecting seeds in late August, sow them immediately after collection, or store them in sand until sowing in March of the following year. Because rice-leaf Buddhist pine grows slowly from cuttings, it is suitable to use large-leaf or small-leaf Buddhist pine as rootstock; grafting in early spring from March to April gives a relatively high survival rate.
Rice-leaf Buddhist pine can be planted in the ground or in pots, and its care and management requirements are not strict. It can be used as export miniature bonsai and potted plants, tolerates pruning, and has excellent ornamental effect. In the spring and autumn growing seasons, it is enough to apply 1 to 2 topdressings mainly of nitrogen; excessive phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are not needed. For bonsai that have already been shaped, attention must be paid to pinching and pruning to prevent branches and leaves from growing leggy and to maintain the original posture. Pruning and pinching are best carried out during the spring and autumn growing periods.
Leaves that grow in autumn are relatively large and not neat. Generally, for well-formed rice-leaf Buddhist pine bonsai, in order to maintain the neatness of the leaves, it is best to cut off the autumn leaves. For household potted rice-leaf Buddhist pine, it should be kept outdoors in a ventilated place with ample sunlight all year round for care. When sunlight is ample and water and fertilizer are suitable, the leaves are relatively small and round, neat, thick, glossy, and dark green, with the highest ornamental value; otherwise, the leaves are slender and thin, with a lighter leaf color, and poor ornamental value. Rice-leaf Buddhist pine cannot be kept indoors for a long time, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow and fall off, leading to death. High summer temperatures are not suitable for exposure to the sun, so it needs shading or placement in a semi-shaded place for care. During the growing season, the water can be slightly more; in hot summer, when the potting soil is dry, water promptly, and watering should be sufficient and thorough; in autumn and winter, the water can be appropriately reduced. In North China, when the temperature drops to 5°C in winter, it should be moved indoors to overwinter, and after September it is best not to topdress, and fertilizer on the pot surface should also be removed, to prevent excessive fertilization from producing winter buds; because the leaves of winter buds have not yet matured when they encounter low temperatures, they are easily frostbitten, causing branch shrinkage and affecting the next year's growth. In Jiangnan and areas to the south, it can overwinter outdoors, but it is necessary to guard against cold waves, control the amount of watering, and keep the potting soil on the drier side. Generally, small and medium-sized rice-leaf Buddhist pine bonsai are repotted once every 2 to 3 years, and large rice-leaf Buddhist pine bonsai are repotted once every 5 to 6 years. When repotting, use
loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy soil. Rice-leaf Buddhist pine is a rhizobium-type plant, so when repotting it is best to mix in a certain amount of the original potting soil containing rhizobia to help the plant grow vigorously.
For household potted rice-leaf Buddhist pine, it should be kept outdoors in a ventilated place all year round for care, and cannot be kept indoors for a long time, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow and fall off, leading to death. High summer temperatures are not suitable for exposure to the sun, so it needs to be placed in a semi-shaded place for care. During the growing season, the water can be slightly more; in hot summer, when the potting soil is dry, water promptly, and watering should be sufficient and thorough; in autumn and winter, the water can be appropriately reduced. In East China, when the temperature drops to 5°C in winter, it should be moved indoors to overwinter, and the amount of watering should be controlled, keeping the potting soil on the drier side.
Rice-leaf Buddhist pine has a beautiful and lush tree posture, graceful form, is evergreen all year round, and requires extensive management. It is an excellent ornamental tree species for home flower growing. Miniature bonsai and potted plants made from rice-leaf Buddhist pine can be exported, and the prospects are very good. Through artistic shaping, it is often made into bonsai of various styles. It is more suitable for decorating halls, conference venues, and other environments, and can also be given as a small bonsai to relatives and friends. In southern residences and courtyards it is often planted, and it is also suitable for opposite planting in front of the gate, solitary planting in the central courtyard, or planting in a corner of a wall to pair with rockery and lake stones.
Cultivation methods for Buddhist pine bonsai
(1) Environment: Buddhist pine is a subtropical tree species, produced in the Yangtze River basin and the provinces and regions to the south. It likes semi-shade, and grows well in warm, humid, fertile, loose, well-drained, slightly acidic sandy soil. In colder areas it is only suitable for pot cultivation.
(2) Light: Mature Buddhist pine benefits its tree posture and leaf shape under strong light, so it does not need shading, but Buddhist pine seedlings are tender and should not be exposed to strong light for a long time. They should be kept under a shade net for care, or moved to a shaded place after a period of direct sunlight.
(3) Watering: Buddhist pine is not drought-tolerant, so during its growing period attention should be paid to watering the potted plant frequently, but do not let it become waterlogged. In summer, when the temperature is relatively high, water once in the morning and once in the evening, and also spray water on the leaves often to keep the leaf color fresh green. Southern summers are rainy and the rainy season is long, so when keeping it outdoors, pay attention to avoiding water accumulation.
(4) Fertilizing: The growth of Buddhist pine requires fertile soil, so fertilizing is a very important step. The principle of fertilizing is light fertilizer applied frequently. The fertilizer is mainly nitrogen fertilizer, with an appropriate addition of black alum, composted into fertilizer water before application. During the growing period, fertilize once every 1-2 months. Fertilizing and watering can be done together, with a water-to-fertilizer ratio of 9:1.
(5) Pest and disease control: Buddhist pine pests and diseases mainly occur in summer (May-September). Beware of red spider mites gathering on the leaves in the form of various mites and sucking sap. Many powdery green small spots will appear on the damaged leaf surface, which later turn grayish white. When this happens, just buy some insecticides, such as fenbutatin oxide, pyridaben, etc. Spray once every 10 days to kill the pests.