How to care for stump bonsai in winter? Detailed fine-care techniques

Seasonal stump bonsai are cared for in a greenhouse. Because the greenhouse temperature is high, humidity is high, and ventilation and air exchange are poor, it easily causes poor growth and development. During care, the following aspects should be followed:

Ventilation and air exchange The greenhouse should be ventilated and air exchanged regularly. Generally, ventilation is done at noon on sunny days. The size of the opening of the vent should be determined according to the growth habits of the stump bonsai and its temperature requirements. When the weather is cold, the vent should be small and the ventilation time should be short; conversely, the vent should be large and the ventilation time should be long. Through ventilation and air exchange, the temperature and humidity can be reduced, pests and diseases can be prevented, and effective gas components in the room can be replenished. If the indoor temperature is too high, evergreen stump bonsai enter a second growth peak, and the branches grow thin and weak with poor resistance.

Light exposure The lighting surface of the greenhouse should use glass material. This kind of greenhouse has good performance and high transparency, but its drawback is that it blocks ultraviolet rays from entering. Ultraviolet rays can prevent stump bonsai from growing leggy, limit their growth height, and can also sterilize and disinfect. If stump bonsai do not receive enough ultraviolet radiation, the branches of evergreen stump bonsai are prone to leggy growth and softening, and their shape is damaged. Therefore, the glass windows should be opened so that they receive sunlight and the branches become sturdy. The window opening time should be during high temperatures on sunny days, generally 2-3 hours per day is enough. For deciduous stump bonsai, this can prevent pests and diseases.

Watering Watering should be done at noon. Watering at this time means the soil temperature and water temperature are relatively close, which is conducive to root absorption. In addition, a large amount of ineffective water can evaporate away, reducing difficulty in root respiration caused by overly wet potting soil, preventing rot, helping water circulation within the plant, and increasing its resistance. For deciduous stump bonsai in the dormant period, it is suitable to water when the soil looks dry and stop when wet.

Fertilization For stump bonsai in the growth period in winter, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be the main focus, with nitrogen fertilizer as a supplement. Fertilization is mainly applied as liquid fertilizer. The principle of fertilization is to apply on sunny days, not on cloudy days, at noon, not in the morning or evening. Deciduous stump bonsai are in the dormant period and fertilization should be stopped.

Soil replacement Some dormant stump bonsai (azalea, Japanese bush cherry, acacia, etc.) show dead branches after overwintering. You can choose to repot, replace the soil, and prune branches in winter while the bonsai is still dormant, using stimulation methods to break dormancy and make these stump bonsai sprout new buds.

Disease prevention and pest elimination Adopt comprehensive prevention and control measures focused on prevention, strictly prohibit materials carrying diseases and pests from entering the greenhouse, regularly do a good job of greenhouse chemical disinfection, and thoroughly sterilize and disinfect the entire greenhouse environment, including potting soil, cultivation soil, fertilizers, doors and windows, ground, and various tools. Agricultural Technology Station of Wenchen Township, Chiping County