Appreciation Methods and Planting Techniques for Fruiting Bonsai

People who love flowers, trees and bonsai are people of refined taste!

Cultivating fruiting bonsai involves a certain degree of difficulty. If you choose fruit tree material native to your region, cultivation may be considerably easier. For example, if apples are produced in Shandong, then growing apple bonsai in Shandong and getting it to bloom and bear fruit will be easier, while in southern regions getting it to bear fruit becomes very difficult.

When planting fruit tree bonsai you need a certain amount of patience. Although some bonsai trees grow quickly, do not expect to harvest fruit within a few months. Some trees may take about five years to bear fruit.

Preparation Work

• First, choose a type of tree material suited to your local area that can bloom and bear fruit.
• You can start from seed, seedlings or cuttings, though this will be relatively slow.
• Seeds and seedlings can be purchased from local nurseries.
• Choose a suitable container.
• Placing rocks in the soil will force the roots to split. Split roots are weaker, which helps with miniaturization.
• For the soil choice, you can consult your local nursery or Baidu to learn which soil is best suited to your tree.

Planting the Tree

• Make sure the pot has drainage holes. If it does not, you can drill some holes yourself, and line them with drainage pads to prevent soil loss.
• Before planting the tree, make sure its roots are not tangled, remove any brown or rotting roots, then find the taproot and cut it off. Handle the roots as gently as possible.
• Use relatively coarse planting material to line the bottom of the pot, then place the tree material in.
• Spread out the roots and cover them with more soil until it is level with the pot surface.
• Water thoroughly and let the excess water drain out.
• Lay moss on the soil surface of the pot for a beautiful effect.

Care

• Trees need a lot of light, so make sure the tree is in a place with ample light.
• When the soil has almost dried out, it should be watered.
• Initially, allow the tree to take root in its new environment and grow a little before starting to prune. This may take several months, but it will greatly promote the tree's overall health.
• Use scissors to maintain the tree's shape, and choose the right time to prune.
• Fertilizing should be done regularly. In winter, use low-nitrogen fertilizer. In spring, use nitrogen-rich fertilizer, and in summer use a balanced fertilizer.

Shaping

Carry out shaping to give the tree material a more beautiful appearance.

Use aluminum wire to control the direction of growth. The aluminum wire must not be wrapped too tightly, and it needs to be replaced regularly as the tree grows.

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