How to Make Osmanthus into a Bonsai? A Full Breakdown of Methods and Steps
Sourcing Materials
The materials needed to make an osmanthus bonsai can be obtained through cuttings, layering, grafting, and other methods. If you find it too troublesome, you can also just buy a plant.
Choosing a Pot
The pot should match the osmanthus tree, in both size and shape. It is best to choose a purple clay pottery pot; this color forms a clear contrast with the osmanthus tree and can enhance its visual appeal.
Potting
Potting can be done in spring or autumn. When potting, make sure the soil is fertile, loose, and well-draining. Before potting, place a few broken tile pieces or a few stones at the bottom, which helps with airflow and drainage.
With these three steps, an osmanthus bonsai is very easy to make! But after it is made, we should also think about how to make it look a bit more beautiful. Pruning is a very important task. How should an osmanthus bonsai be pruned? Let us also take a look.
How to Make Osmanthus into a Bonsai
Making an Osmanthus Bonsai
Sourcing Materials
The materials for an osmanthus bonsai mainly come from seedlings raised by sowing, cuttings, layering, grafting, and division, as well as from multi-year Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus) stumps collected from the wild.
Choosing a Pot
For the container, it is suitable to choose a deeper square pot or round pot. For the pot material, purple clay pottery or glazed pottery is best. For color, purple or ochre is better, as it can form a sharp contrast with the colors of the flowers and leaves and enhance the ornamental effect.
Potting Process
Osmanthus likes fertilizer, so it is best to use fertile, loose, well-draining sandy loam. The growing soil for potted osmanthus is usually made by mixing garden soil, composted manure, and river sand, and it also needs to be sterilized to reduce pests and diseases. This is generally done in early spring or autumn. Before potting, first place a layer of river sand or vermiculite at the bottom of the pot to provide airflow and drainage, then spread a layer of peat soil or fine mud about 3 cm thick on top. Then, put the osmanthus seedling with its root ball into the pot, fill with growing soil and press firmly with your fingers. Fill the soil to near the pot rim, and the soil surface should be 2,3 cm lower than the pot rim. After potting, water thoroughly and place it in a shaded spot for about 10 days so it can "adjust to the pot" and gradually resume growth.
Shaping Techniques
Osmanthus tolerates pruning and has strong sprouting ability. Generally, 1,2 years after potting, it can be shaped after flowering or during the plum rain season, mainly by combining wiring and pruning. The trunk can be wired into a slanting style or curved-trunk form; if the trunk is relatively tall, it can be appropriately shortened to encourage new branches and trunks to sprout from the base and avoid emptiness at the lower part. You can also cut off the upper branches and overly dense branches again, thereby stimulating the lower part of the trunk to send out new branches, achieving balance between top and bottom, keeping the tree shape neat and the flowers and leaves lush.
Osmanthus bonsai is suitable for curved-trunk, slanting-trunk, or flowing styles. With a slanting tree posture and dense branches and leaves, it is simple and natural, and most enjoyable to admire. When it blooms, its rich fragrance fills the air and refreshes the heart.
How to Make an Osmanthus Bonsai: A Complete Collection of Osmanthus Bonsai Pictures
Osmanthus bonsai stays evergreen all year round, with abundant flowers and a fragrant scent, and high ornamental value. With proper management, an osmanthus bonsai can have lush branches and leaves, bloom continuously, and be full of fragrant flowers. Below, the Marmot editor will share how to make an osmanthus bonsai and enjoy pictures of osmanthus bonsai.How to Make an Osmanthus Bonsai
Sourcing Materials: The stump material for making an osmanthus bonsai can be obtained by raising seedlings through sowing, cuttings, layering, grafting, and division, or multi-year Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus) stumps collected from the wild can also be used as material for an osmanthus bonsai.Osmanthus Bonsai Pictures
Pruning: For the first pruning, according to the size, height, and plant shape of the seedling, shorten the trunk by 1/4-1/3 to encourage adventitious buds on the lower part to sprout new branches, and appropriately prune overly dense branches. After that, you can prune dead branches, thin and weak branches, and diseased or damaged branches. Then prune year by year according to the plant shape you want, cutting back vigorous water sprouts and overly dense branches, gradually forming the desired tree shape.
Watering: Because the pot capacity of an osmanthus bonsai is limited, it is prone to insufficient water, so water must be added by watering. Water in good time according to the dryness and moisture of the bonsai soil. Generally, in spring and autumn, water once every 2-4 days, and in summer, once every 1-3 days. In clear, dry weather, water a few more times; on cloudy and rainy days, water less or not at all. Osmanthus dislikes wetness, so never let water accumulate in the pot, especially during the autumn flowering period, as excessive moisture will cause flower drop.Real-Life Photos of Osmanthus Bonsai
Fertilizing: During the growth period of osmanthus, apply once every 20 days a fertilizer liquid made by soaking 15% decomposed pig manure and tung bran, or a liquid fertilizer made by soaking 15% tung bran and compound fertilizer. Stop fertilizing in early October. The following year, after osmanthus grows new leaves, apply liquid fertilizer once every 15 days, and from June to August increase the liquid fertilizer concentration to 20%-30%. From September to October, apply the above liquid fertilizer at 15% once every 20 days, and stop fertilizing after Frost's Descent.
Repotting: Repot an osmanthus plant once every 3-5 years, and it is best to repot in early March. Before repotting, prepare nutrient soil; use half humus soil and half garden soil, mix well, and set aside. When repotting, keep 40% of the old soil, cut off rotten roots, and appropriately prune old roots and fibrous roots. After repotting the osmanthus, add an appropriate amount of new soil and water thoroughly, place it in a cool place for 10 days, then move it to a balcony or courtyard with ample sunlight and good ventilation.Appreciating Osmanthus Bonsai Pictures
Pests and Diseases: Gray-white round spots sometimes appear on the branches of an osmanthus bonsai. They can be removed with a brush, or sprayed with dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 1500-2000 times dilution, once every 7 days, for 3 consecutive sprays, which can effectively improve the problem.
Varieties Suitable for Making Osmanthus Bonsai
For making small osmanthus bonsai, it is suitable to choose 'Dongxianghong', 'Dongxiangyinge', 'Rixianggui', 'Daye Fodingzhu', 'Yueyuegui', 'Sijigui', 'Jiulonggui', 'Liuyegui', and others. For making large osmanthus bonsai, it is suitable to choose 'Daye Huangyingui', 'Jingui', 'Daye Dangui', 'Dadan Jingui', and 'Chenghong Dangui'.Elegant Osmanthus Bonsai Pictures
Summary: That concludes the introduction to how to make an osmanthus bonsai. Friends who like osmanthus bonsai can try growing a few pots of osmanthus bonsai. The leaves of osmanthus bonsai are emerald green all year round, and the plant shape is elegant and graceful. When it blooms, golden flowers cover the branches and the fragrance spreads all around, making people feel relaxed and joyful.