How to make a firethorn bonsai? Master these key production points
In the south, use collected stumps; in the north, use the cutting method. 1. Collecting stumps: First, do the pre-digging preparation work, preparing pruning shears, a hand saw, a knife, a small iron shovel, large and small plastic bags or other packaging bags. Choose species with beautiful tree posture, fine branches and leaves, strong sprouting ability and tolerance for pruning, easy potting and a relatively long lifespan
In the south, use collected stumps; in the north, use the cutting method.
1. Collecting stumps:
First, do the pre-digging preparation work, preparing pruning shears, a hand saw, a knife, a small iron shovel, large and small plastic bags or other packaging bags. Choose species with beautiful tree posture, fine branches and leaves, strong sprouting ability and tolerance for pruning, easy potting and a relatively long lifespan.
2. Trimming the stump:
Do it in one go, prune heavily, trim the root ends, branch ends and wounds smooth, and seal them.
3. Planting:
Prepare disinfected loose soil for the firethorn; when planting, note that it only needs to be buried to a medium-deep level.
4. Cutting:
We are all too familiar with plant cutting methods. For firethorn, cutting can be done in all four seasons. Firethorn bonsai usually takes shape in four years and can become a landscape in six years. Of course, our careful care is indispensable along the way.
5. Pruning:
Cutting away old branches and weak branches is beneficial to the growth of the firethorn. Firethorn has strong sprouting ability, grows rapidly, and tolerates pruning. Winter is not suitable for pruning; in spring, summer and autumn we can all prune it,
6. Choice of flower pot:
There is some particularity in choosing a pot for firethorn. Because the firethorn plant is low, its fruit is bright red, and its leaves are emerald green, it is mostly paired with dark-colored shallow pots, which is both beautiful and suitable for its growth. It is best to change the soil once a year.
Key points for making and caring for firethorn bonsai
Firethorn, also called fire stick fruit, is an evergreen shrub of the Rosaceae family. Its tree form is graceful, and in early summer it is covered with small white flowers, like white snow all over the branches. After flowering, it bears spherical fruits; in autumn the fruits turn red, and thousands of red berries are dazzling, radiant and very spectacular, hanging on the branches until spring. Old firethorn stumps are rich and ancient-looking, while young trees are vigorous and elegant, steady and dignified, naturally picturesque, with a distinctive charm. Firethorn is one of the excellent tree species for making bonsai.
I. Advantages:
1 Beautiful tree form, low plant, elegant branches and dense nodes, small leaves;
2 Refined and unrestrained, dignified and elegant, with unique charm;
3 Red fruits dazzling and eye-catching, with a long fruiting period;
4 Cuttings in all four seasons, easy to propagate;
5 Strong sprouting ability, rapid growth, tolerant of pruning;
II. Habits:
1 Prefers loose, fertile, breathable slightly acidic soil;
2 Prefers a high-temperature, high-humidity environment with long sunlight and good ventilation, but cannot tolerate waterlogging;
3 Control water during the flowering period to help fruit set;
4 Easily produces horizontal and slanting branches, good for shaping.
III. Key production points:In the south, collect stumps; in the north, use cuttings.
1 Collecting stumps: conventional method.
2 Trimming the stump: do it in one go, prune heavily, trim the root ends, branch ends and wounds smooth, and seal them.
3 Planting: disinfect loose soil, plant at medium depth.
4 Cutting: conventional method, can be done in all four seasons. Generally takes shape in four years and becomes a landscape in six years. Cuttings from cleverly selected branches take shape faster.
5 Pruning: conventional method, truncating the trunk and storing branches. Firethorn has strong sprouting ability, grows rapidly, and tolerates pruning; except in winter, it can be done frequently as needed.
6 Wiring: firethorn branches cross and curve diagonally, making them easy to wire. In the early stage, pull and wire the framework well, set the main trunk and main branches, and let them grow to thicken.
7 Pot selection: because the firethorn plant is low, with tender green all over the branches, white flowers all over the tree, and abundant red fruits, dark-colored shallow pots are mostly used. Repot once a year.
IV. Key care points:
1 During the stump-growing period, manage with heavy fertilizer and heavy water; during the shaping period and flowering period, control according to the situation.
2 After New Year's Day, remove the fruits to facilitate dormancy and preserve nutrients, which benefits the next year's growth and flowering and fruiting.
3 Pay attention to thinning flowers and removing fruits to control the alternate bearing phenomenon of firethorn.
4 Pay attention to cutting off long branches and excessive vegetative branches to promote the development of fruiting mother branches. Also make the distribution of mother branches reasonable to facilitate viewing after flowering.
5 Pruning is primary, wiring is secondary.
Firethorn bonsai production and pictures
Firethorn is also known as fire stick fruit, life-saving grain, Chiyangzi, Doujinniang, and Shuicuizi. It belongs to the Rosaceae family, Pyracantha genus. The plant height is 1 to 3 m, the leaves are obovate and bright green, the inflorescence is a compound corymb, and the flowers are white. The fruit is round, and the ripe fruit is bright red. It does not wither after frost, and the red fruits hang on the branches until the following spring before falling.In summer, under the scorching sun, snow-white flowers bloom in full glory. In a courtyard or indoors, the snow-like, jade-like firethorn flowers add a touch of coolness.
In winter, with white snow everywhere, the firethorn has green branches and leaves, and fruits red as fire, warm and lovely.
The roots, trunk, branches, flowers and fruits of firethorn all have extremely high ornamental value. It is an excellent plant for viewing flowers in spring and fruits in winter.
Firethorn is distributed in Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and other provinces and regions in China. The genus has 10 species, 7 of which are produced in China, and many excellent cultivated varieties have been bred abroad.
Production and cultivation methods of firethorn bonsai:
I. Seedling sources.
The seedling sources for firethorn bonsai can be propagated by sowing and cutting. For sowing, spring sowing can be done after promoting germination in early spring. For cutting, in February to March of spring, select robust one- to two-year-old branches, cut 10-15 cm long sections as cuttings, and insert them as soon as they are cut. Softwood cuttings can also be done during the plum rain season, which makes rooting easier. Seedlings generally take 3-4 years before they can bear fruit. In order to make them bear fruit and take shape as quickly as possible, hardwood cuttings with fruit can be selected; fruiting cuttings are usually carried out in summer. Use vermiculite, sand or sawdust as the substrate, and disinfect before insertion.
II. Shaping.
Firethorn bonsai should adopt the shaping method of coarse wiring and fine pruning, generally carried out in autumn. First use iron wire or palm fiber to roughly wire the main trunk into different forms such as slanting trunk or recumbent trunk, cultivate for a period, and then trim and shape the layers of the stump landscape according to the design, so that the whole tree form has distinct layers and charm.
There is great particularity in choosing a pot for firethorn. To set off its red fruits, light-colored and cool-colored bonsai pots such as white, light blue, light green or pale yellow are generally used as matching pots.
III. Care.
Firethorn likes moisture and fertilizer, and likes a climate environment with sufficient sunlight, good ventilation, and warmth and humidity. Firethorn tolerates barren conditions, and the temperature can be as low as 0°C-5°C or lower. Firethorn has a developed root system, pushes branches quickly, grows rapidly, tolerates pruning, and tolerates wiring.
For the soil used for firethorn bonsai, relatively fertile garden soil or surface soil from mountain forests is best. Decomposed base fertilizer, fine sand, and culture soil can also be used.
It is best to repot firethorn once a year. Choose late autumn or early spring for repotting, that is, after new shoot growth stops or before new shoots begin to grow. For firethorn that has not yet borne fruit, the pot and soil can be changed in all four seasons. No matter when the soil is changed, some original soil must be retained, long roots must be cut off, and the roots must not be cramped; the speed of potting must be fast so as not to affect growth.
Firethorn bonsai is especially afraid of drying out and is susceptible to pests and diseases. Diseases mainly come from external invasion or the pot soil, mainly including fungal infection, black rot and powdery mildew, especially powdery mildew, which is extremely serious.
The control method is mainly fungicides such as carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl, mainly spraying the branches and leaves and drenching the roots. Usually place it in a ventilated and clean environment with sufficient light; vigorous growth can reduce the incidence rate.
The most common pest damage to firethorn is aphids. The control method is to promptly spray trichlorfon, emulsified dimethoate, etc. Generally spray in the afternoon, at least once every three days; more than three times can cure it completely, and it can also be sprayed as soon as it is discovered.Cultivation and management of firethorn bonsai
Firethorn belongs to the Rosaceae family, Pyracantha genus. It is an evergreen shrub with thorny branches, alternate simple leaves, small white flowers, and red or yellow fruits. It is distributed in the Yangtze River basin and the provinces to its south. Firethorn is loved by bonsai enthusiasts and viewers for its tolerance of poor soil, tolerance of pruning, easy survival, fast shaping, evergreen foliage in all four seasons, and long fruiting period.
I. Digging
There are generally three sources of stump material for firethorn bonsai, namely sowing, cutting, and digging from the wild. Stump material from sowing and cutting takes shape relatively slowly, so preparations must be made early. Old stumps dug from the wild are simple and ancient-looking, twisted, natural, and take shape quickly. Here we only discuss the method of making bonsai from old stumps dug from the wild. Firethorn can be dug in all four seasons, with spring being best. When digging, choose stump material that is short and sturdy, with many bends and variations, good branching, naturally tapered tips after being cut by people and trampled by livestock, and beautiful root claws. Old stumps with grayish-white bark and not robust are not easy to survive, so try not to dig them. When digging, retain more fibrous roots; robust stump material can survive even without soil. The roots and branches of the stump should retain an extra section on the mountain to prevent damage to the cut surfaces during transport, and then be cut to the proper position before planting. Stumps dug in dry weather should be kept moist; stumps without soil can also be soaked in clean water for several hours before planting.
II. Growing the stump
Before planting, large cut surfaces on the roots and branches of the stump should be smeared with clean yellow mud mixed with auxin. After smearing the cut surfaces at the branch ends, wrap them with black plastic film to promote wound healing, prevent water evaporation, and prevent cracking when exposed to the sun later. When planting, use slightly acidic, loose, breathable leaf mold or garden soil. Clay pots, purple clay pots or cement pots can all be used; choose a pot that is appropriately larger and deeper, and after it takes shape, transplant it into a suitable ornamental pot. After planting, water thoroughly once to settle the roots. Those dug in summer should be cared for in a shaded place; those dug in spring, autumn and winter should be cared for in a wind-sheltered, sunny place. Cover the stump and pot together with a transparent plastic bag to retain moisture, and check the pot soil at intervals to ensure it is moist. On sunny days when the temperature inside the bag is relatively high, shade appropriately to lower the temperature and prevent burning the new buds. Wait until the new buds have grown to more than one inch and new buds have appeared where new branches are needed, then choose a time with several consecutive days of overcast rain, uncover the plastic bag to harden the seedlings, shade on dry sunny days, and spray water on the stump to retain moisture to prevent bud shrinkage. After the new stump survives, do not rush to remove buds; more new buds means more water evaporation, which can promote rooting of the stump. Wait until after autumn when the new stump has completely survived, then remove the excess buds.
III. Pruning and wiring
For firethorn pruning and wiring, in the first two years, wiring is primary, and after shaping, pruning is primary. New branches of a new stump are not pruned in the same year. To prevent branches with particularly good growth from breaking during later wiring, they can be bent according to the shaping requirements. When pruning the next year, first wire the branch ends according to the shaping requirements and then prune. Branches that need to thicken and lengthen are bent and not pruned, and then grown out for another year. One point to note when retaining branches on a new stump is that on branches with relatively large cut surfaces, new branches cannot be retained on only one side, to prevent the large branch from gradually dying and causing branch shrinkage because one side has no branch. The shaping of firethorn should consider the characteristics of the stump material and the characteristics of firethorn. Retained branches must not be too dense; if too dense, light cannot pass through and neither can air. Firethorn takes shape quickly, generally basically taking shape in 3-4 years. Firethorn grows new branches in spring, summer and autumn. In order to keep the crown width of the bonsai basically unchanged, it must be pruned and have buds removed frequently. When pruning plants that have not yet borne fruit in autumn, cut off excessive vegetative branches, weak branches and overly dense branches, retain the branch ends that can flower and bear fruit, and ensure that fruiting branches can receive sufficient light. The tree shape after pruning in late autumn is the tree shape for fruiting the next year, because once new branches grow the next year, they will flower and bear fruit. If not pruned in autumn, the next year's flowers will bloom on the front branch ends, and then pruning will mean cutting off the fruiting branches. New branches that grow after the branch ends have set fruit can be cut off at any time to keep the crown width unchanged, and the fruits will all be on the outer layer of the crown. After the fruits turn red, the ornamental effect is best.
IV. Care
How can firethorn have green leaves and beautiful fruits with a good ornamental effect? Mastering the growth characteristics of firethorn and caring for it scientifically and carefully is very important.
1. Light: firethorn is a sun-loving tree species. Whether a firethorn bonsai can be grown well is directly related to the length of time it receives light. Therefore, the plant should be kept in a full-sun location all year round for care, especially in autumn, when light must be sufficient to make the plant robust and form flower buds. The care location cannot be too humid; a rooftop is a good place for caring for firethorn bonsai.
2. Thinning flowers and fruits: when plants that have not yet taken shape bloom, the flower buds should be thinned and they should not be allowed to bear fruit. After bearing fruit, plant growth slows down, which will prolong the time for the plant to take shape. When firethorn blooms, prevent strong winds and torrential rain from attacking it; after the flower buds are damaged, the number of fruits set will be reduced. If not affected by the outside world, generally as many flowers bloom, as many fruits will set. If there is too much fruit, appropriately thin out some fruits to ensure the plant is robust and make the needed fruits plump and large
3. Changing soil: firethorn grows fast, consumes a lot of water after bearing fruit, and is cared for in a place with long light duration, so the roots grow very quickly, and the nutrients in the pot soil are also consumed quickly. If the soil is not changed for a long time, the roots will fill the pot, and the nutrients in the pot soil will be exhausted or one-sided, leading to poor plant growth. The solution is to change the soil twice in 1-2 years depending on the amount of pot soil and the plant's growth. Choose late spring to early autumn for changing the soil; too early will affect flowering and fruiting, and too late means the plant will not grow many new roots before winter, which will also affect flowering. When changing soil, the pot soil should not be too wet. After the plant is taken out, cut off the roots and rotten roots along the pot rim and pot bottom, remove two-thirds of the old soil, replace it with loose, breathable, fertile leaf mold or garden soil, and water thoroughly once.
4. Fertilizing: firethorn blooms a lot, has a long fruiting period, and bears relatively many fruits, so nutrients are consumed quickly. Starting from sprouting in spring, fertilize once every 15-30 days. In autumn, the fruits gradually mature and the fertilizer requirement increases. Plants that have not borne fruit also need increased fertilization to lay the foundation for fruiting the next year, so the fertilization frequency in autumn should be appropriately increased, applying once every 10-20 days. After autumn, as long as the plant has not stopped growing, fertilize appropriately. Fertilizer should mainly be organic fertilizer containing more phosphorus and potassium, with less inorganic fertilizer.
5. Watering: firethorn is drought-tolerant and not moisture-tolerant. When watering, basically follow the method of not watering until dry, and when watering, water thoroughly. Newly repotted plants have few roots, so the pot soil should be kept moist and not too dry. In summer and autumn, water according to the plant's fruiting situation. Plants with many fruits should not be too dry, as too dry makes fruit drop easily, but they should also alternate between dry and wet. Plants that have not borne fruit can be somewhat drier, but do not let it become so dry that tender branches wilt; too dry will cause a large amount of leaf drop, leading to a poor ornamental effect.
6. Pest and disease control: pests harming firethorn include scale insects and aphids, and diseases include powdery mildew and sooty mold. For scale insects, bury carbofuran in the pot soil for control. For aphids, spray with 40% omethoate at 1000 times dilution to kill them. For powdery mildew and sooty mold, use Bordeaux mixture or carbendazim for control.Quick formation of miniature firethorn bonsai
In early summer, the white flowers are dense, and in autumn the fruits are red as fire and dazzling. It is a famous fruit-viewing tree and also a good material for making bonsai. Generally, making large firethorn bonsai takes a long time, takes shape slowly, and is time-consuming and labor-intensive. However, using fruiting firethorn branches for cuttings to make miniature bonsai saves a great deal of manpower and material resources, and the time is short, requiring only three or four months, with quick results and relatively high economic benefits. The key to the process lies in the cutting propagation of fruiting firethorn branches. The specific operation method is as follows:
I. Mother plant selection: after selecting a good mother plant, do not prune it in winter each year, strengthen care and management, and promote lush growth with abundant flowers and dense fruits.
II. Cutting time: June and July, when firethorn fruits have already formed. Cutting at this time, with high temperature and high humidity, is easy to manage and easy to root.
III. Cutting selection and cutting: cut the cuttings according to the shape of the small or miniature bonsai to be made. For example, to make a single-trunk or double-trunk style, use robust two-year-old branches with branching; for a forest style, use soft branches of the current year for cuttings, and both need to bear fruit. The cuttings are 5-15 cM long. Cut off 1/3-1/2 of the leaves on the lower part of the branch, and retain all the upper leaves.
IV. Seedbed preparation: because two-year-old branches root relatively difficultly, they should as far as possible be inserted into a cutting bed equipped with full-sun automatic misting equipment. Because soft branches grow vigorously and have strong healing ability, they root quickly, so the cutting bed is relatively simple; rice husk ash, pure river sand or culture soil can all be used.
V. Cutting method: use a bamboo strip slightly thicker than the cutting to make holes in advance to prevent damage to the cortex at the base of the cutting. When inserting, it is appropriate to insert 1/3-1/2 of the length of the cutting into the soil, then press it slightly firm, and water thoroughly once.
VI. Post-cutting management: because the temperature is relatively high and light is sufficient in June and July, shade should be set up at the beginning, and attention should be paid to watering and spraying water on the leaves to increase the humidity of the cutting substrate and the air. The Nanjing area is in the plum rain season, with a long rainy period and excessive rainfall, so plastic film must be added over the cutting bed to prevent excessive rainwater from causing rot at the base of the cuttings. After about half a month, the bamboo curtain can be removed to receive morning and evening sunlight, and it still needs to be covered at noon. After about 40-50 days, the cuttings root, and when the roots are 2-4 cm long, apply dilute fertilizer water once every ten days. During this period, the cuttings send out new shoots, and the tips should be continuously pinched and broken. In early October, they can be planted in pots, wired and pruned, and shaped according to your own requirements. In late October, the fruits begin to turn red until they mature. In this way, a small and exquisite firethorn miniature bonsai with red fruits and green leaves is successfully made. Placed on a palm, a desk, or a stand, it is quite distinctive and very lovely.
How firethorn bonsai can safely overwinter
Firethorn likes light and adapts to heavy fertilizer and heavy water, but dislikes waterlogging. It can overwinter in the open in temperate and subtropical climate conditions. However, its root system can only withstand low temperatures (below 0°C) for a short time, so in winter plant death caused by frozen roots easily occurs. The manifestation of freezing damage is not obvious at the time, but after spring begins, new buds wither and branches shrivel, ultimately leading to death.
In winter, because plant growth is in a dormant state, transpiration of water is greatly reduced. If watered too much, a large amount of water accumulates in the pot, and as the temperature changes, it easily causes freezing in the pot, causing the plant to die. Therefore, choose acidic sandy soil with good water permeability and air permeability, and control the amount of watering, so that firethorn can safely overwinter.
In winter, never place firethorn bonsai in a room with heating, because under such temperature conditions the plant will sprout early, consume nutrients, and leave the plant without sufficient nutrients to overwinter safely.
If using a shallow pot, considering overwintering, the method of placing a large pot over a small pot (shallow pot) can be used, filling the space between the two pots with insulation material or soil to maintain the temperature in the small pot.
In addition, during the autumn growth period, strengthen water and fertilizer management, increase the plant's accumulation of nutrients, make its vitality more vigorous, and improve its cold resistance.Key points for cultivating firethorn bonsai
Firethorn bonsai is evergreen in all four seasons, compact in plant shape, and lush in branches and leaves. It can be viewed for its leaves and flowers as well as its fruits, and is therefore deeply favored by bonsai enthusiasts. To cultivate firethorn bonsai well, the following elements must be grasped well.
First, the physiological characteristics and growth conditions of firethorn must be clearly understood. Firethorn likes moisture and fertilizer, likes sufficient sunlight, and likes a climate environment with good ventilation, warmth and humidity. It has a developed root system, likes heavy fertilizer and heavy water, pushes branches quickly, grows rapidly, tolerates pruning, and tolerates wiring; it has abundant flowers and many fruits. The fruits are initially green, then yellow, and red when mature. The red fruits can almost cover all the leaves, and they do not fall throughout winter and spring, with a fruit-viewing period as long as half a year. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure appropriate water and fertilizer, alternating dry and wet, sufficient sunlight, and good ventilation so that firethorn bonsai can grow normally.
Second, seasonal management of cultivating firethorn bonsai. After winter dormancy, firethorn plants, due to characteristics such as bearing many fruits, a long fruiting period, and early sprouting, need timely fruit removal and fertilizer supplementation. Removing fruits is a necessary condition for abundant flowers and many fruits the next year. If the fruits are left on the plant, they can even remain until May or June of the year after fruiting without falling. This not only consumes a large amount of the plant's own nutrients, but is even more detrimental to flowering and fruit set that year. Timely nutrient supplementation is another condition for robust spring buds and vigorous growth.
Generally, in summer, apply fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium fertilizer at the appropriate time. Better wet than dry. Even if it dries once, if the branches and leaves lose water severely, it will cause the plant to die and all previous efforts will be wasted. In autumn, continue applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote fruit ripening and coloring. In winter, it can be viewed indoors, requiring ventilation; the temperature must not be too high, and sunlight must be sufficient, otherwise it will drop leaves, send out winter buds, or die from excessive water loss. For fertilizing, it is best to apply solid fertilizer on the pot surface. If overwintering outdoors, avoid dry wind attack causing damage. As long as the pot soil is properly dry and wet, a low temperature of about -10°C will not cause damage.
Third, maintaining the form of firethorn bonsai. For a finished firethorn bonsai, spring is the beginning of another growth cycle, and letting it grow vigorously is very necessary. Only with lush branches and leaves in spring will it better carry out photosynthesis, better promote root growth and development, facilitate nutrient absorption, promote growth and metabolism, and thus make the whole plant vigorous and full of life.
Otherwise, the plant will suffer severe malnutrition, poor resistance, serious aging, and even death. From late spring to early summer and even autumn, pruning and pinching tips are primary. Pruning and pinching tips are mainly to maintain the original plant shape, and individual cases can add one's own creativity. Autumn is another growth peak; nitrogen fertilizer is prohibited, and for pinching tips, removing the apical dominance is better. Avoid autumn shoots consuming nutrients and bringing disadvantages to overwintering and fruit set.
Fourth, repotting firethorn bonsai. To grow it well, the fertilizer must be good. Pot soil is the medium on which firethorn bonsai depends for survival and nutrient absorption. It must be fertile, slightly acidic, and relatively loose. For soil, disinfected, pest-free and relatively fertile garden soil or surface soil from mountain forests is best, and decomposed base fertilizer, fine sand, and culture soil can be mixed in. The pot soil can be used continuously for one to two years.
It is best to repot once a year or even twice a year. It is best to choose late autumn or early spring, that is, after new shoot growth stops or before new shoots begin to grow. For vegetative growing plants that have not yet borne fruit, the pot and soil can be changed in all four seasons. No matter when the soil is changed, some original soil must be retained, long roots must be cut off, the roots must not be cramped, and potting should be done quickly as soon as it is taken out, so as not to affect plant growth. Under shade and greenhouse conditions, repotting can be done throughout the year; under natural conditions, the dormant period is better.
Fifth, pest and disease control. Although firethorn bonsai has many advantages, it also has quite a few disadvantages. Fear of drying is one of its typical disadvantages. The next is susceptibility to pests and diseases. Diseases mainly come from external invasion or the pot soil, mainly including fungal infection, black rot and powdery mildew, especially powdery mildew, which is extremely serious. Control is mainly with fungicides such as carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl, mainly spraying the branches and leaves or drenching the roots.
Usually place it in a ventilated and clean environment with sufficient light; vigorous growth can greatly reduce the incidence rate. The most common pest damage is aphids. Promptly spray trichlorfon, emulsified dimethoate, etc. Generally spray in the afternoon, at least once every three days; more than three times can cure it completely; it can also be sprayed as soon as it is discovered. The effects are all good.Make firethorn bonsai bloom abundantly and bear large fruits
Firethorn is an excellent tree species for making bonsai, and the ornamental value of its roots, trunk, branches, leaves, flowers and fruits is very high. How can firethorn bonsai achieve abundant flowers and large fruits? After nearly 20 years of practice in cultivating and making it, I have several personal experiences, and now I would like to exchange and discuss them with fellow bonsai enthusiasts.
I. Sunlight Firethorn likes a warm and humid climate and an environment with sufficient sunlight. Placing it in a wind-sheltered, sunny place allows extensive management. There is no need to shade it even in the severe heat of summer, and it will still grow well in severe cold winter. However, in order to achieve more flowers and more fruits, spring, summer and autumn must have direct light conditions, and exposure must be no less than 4 to 5 hours per day.
II. Soil Firethorn grows rapidly, has strong sprouting ability, and has many and dense roots. Although it can adapt to poor soil, it prefers fertile soil with good fertility, and is best suited to breathable, slightly acidic sandy soil or leaf mold plus vegetable garden soil, etc. Generally, replacing two-thirds of the old soil in the bonsai once a year is sufficient.
III. Watering Firethorn bonsai requires even more attention during the flowering and fruit-setting periods. Try to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. In autumn and winter, it can be somewhat drier. If the bonsai is waterlogged, it will cause root rot, leaf drop, and even death. In short, careful and meticulous care is beneficial; the principle is the old saying: do not water until dry, and when watering, water thoroughly.
IV. Fertilizing Firethorn likes fertilizer. During the periods of sprouting, blooming and fruit setting in spring, summer and autumn, fertilizer and water must be guaranteed. From March to May, during the bonsai's shoot-pushing and flowering period, apply liquid fertilizer with relatively high nitrogen and phosphorus content 1 to 2 times a month. Cake fertilizer, farmyard manure, etc. are best; they can promote vigorous sprouting and growth of branches and buds, and can also make the branches bloom more and set more fruit. After the plant has set fruit, the use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer can be stopped, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate liquid fertilizer can be applied 1 to 2 times a month, continuing until September. If organic fertilizer is applied, it must be strictly fermented before use, and the amount should also depend on the size of the bonsai. In short, frequent application in small amounts is required.
V. Pests and diseases The main pests of firethorn bonsai are aphids and red spiders, which may occur in spring and autumn. Spraying omethoate diluted 1000 times once every 7 days can kill them. If powdery mildew, leaf blight, sooty mold, etc. occur, spray 500 to 1000 times carbendazim solution.
VI. Pruning Whether firethorn bonsai can ultimately achieve abundant flowers and large fruits, the most critical step is doing the pruning work well. First, pruning maintains the tree's posture, cutting back excessive vegetative branches and clearing useless branches, etc., to facilitate sufficient ventilation and light for the branch layers. Second, it benefits more flowering and normal fruit growth. The flower bud differentiation period of firethorn is on the fruiting branches that grow from October to November of the previous year. Therefore, when pruning each autumn, be sure to retain the short branches grown that year and cut off excess vegetative branches. This kind of pruning can both keep the bonsai's branch layers and crown width unchanged, and also allow the next year's abundant flowers to drift like patches of white clouds on the outer layer of green leaves. After the fruits mature in golden autumn, it is even more bustling and lively, full of a festive atmosphere.
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