Celastrales Euonymus Bonsai: Which Variety Is Best? Detailed Guide to Pruning and Propagation Methods

Euonymus likes light but also tolerates slight shade; it adapts strongly to climate and soil. So which variety of euonymus is best for bonsai? How do you prune it? How do you propagate it? According to available information, euonymus quite likes light, but this does not mean it cannot tolerate shade. Euonymus is still fairly adaptable to soil and can grow in acidic, calcareous and neutral soils.

I. Which variety of euonymus is best for bonsai?

Creating

When creating a euonymus bonsai, you need to choose a suitable pot and soil, and pot the euonymus plant. Euonymus is generally repotted once every 2——3 years, with repotting carried out in spring and autumn. Be careful to replace the soil with fresh soil and prune the roots.

After potting, note that to maintain the euonymus's plant shape, timely pruning is needed; pruning is generally carried out in spring and autumn, and through pruning you can maintain a good plant shape for the euonymus.

Care

To grow a euonymus bonsai, you first need to place it in a suitable location. Euonymus likes light and likes air circulation, so it is generally placed in a spot with ample light, but in summer you need to provide appropriate shade. In winter it is generally kept indoors, and it is enough to bury the pot for growing.

Watering is generally done only when the soil is dry; just be careful to keep it moist. In autumn you need to withhold water, and in winter be careful to water only once a week.

It is fairly fond of fertilizer, and generally needs fertilizing once every two weeks. Be careful to avoid excessive vegetative growth in the plant, and when fertilizing, mainly use phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.

Euonymus bonsai also requires attention to pests and diseases, and pesticide spraying for prevention and control is needed every year in April.

II. How do you prune?

Pruning time

The plant shape of euonymus is generally 2——3 m, which is a fairly medium height. When pruning euonymus, spring is generally chosen.

Pruning principles

When pruning euonymus, note that because flower buds grow on its one-year-old new branches, you should be careful to avoid heavy pruning. When pruning some fairly dense branches and leaves, the branches should generally be pruned alternately from left to right, keeping appropriate branches, so that the whole plant looks more natural.

When pruning, one point is very important: balance.

Pruning the tree shape

When pruning euonymus, pruning the tree shape is very important. In spring you should prune the euonymus's new branches and leaves so they do not affect the whole crown. After leaf fall in autumn, you should also prune and shape it, mainly cutting off the euonymus's leggy branches, crossing branches and so on, to keep the tree shape graceful.

Pruning undesirable branches

Next, you should also prune the euonymus's pest- and disease-affected and dried-up branches, so they do not affect the healthy growth of the plant.

III. How do you propagate?

1. Seed propagation

When propagating euonymus, seed propagation is the main method.

Generally in autumn, collect the seeds, thresh them, then remove the seed coat, wash them clean and dry them in the air, and store them with sand. In spring of the following year, they can be taken out for sowing, generally by drilling.

When sowing, sow the euonymus seeds into suitable soil. After covering with a layer of soil, be careful to keep it moist; it is best to cover with straw or plastic film.

After the euonymus seedlings emerge, provide appropriate shade. After growing them for a period, they can be divided and transplanted. After about 3——4 years of growing, they can be planted out.

2. Cutting propagation

Cutting propagation is also a method often used when propagating euonymus.

Cutting propagation of euonymus is generally carried out in June or July each year. When selecting cuttings, generally choose semi-mature branches, preferably with buds.

Insert the cut cuttings into prepared soil and keep the soil moist; the rooting speed is still quite fast.

Transplanting can be done before the plant sheds its leaves and sprouts. Note that when transplanting, if they are small seedlings, they can be transplanted directly bare-rooted. If they are large seedlings, when transplanting it is best to cover the roots with soil; note that this makes it relatively easy to survive.