Detailed Guide to the Key Points and Precautions for Making Chinese Bonsai with Chinese Ash
As an ornamental and precious plant, Chinese ash (Fraxinus hupehensis) is the only rare tree species remaining in the world today, known as a “living fossil”.
Key points for making bonsai:
1. Collection: same as usual.
2. Trunk preparation: complete trunk preparation in one go, trim the branch ends, root ends and wounds smooth, and seal them. Soak with disinfectant and rooting agent for 10-15 hours.
3. Raising the stock: use loose, plain soil, sterilized. Sand culture is even better for rough stock. Plant shallowly and mound soil, water thoroughly to settle the roots. Shade in the early stage. Grow out freely.
4. Cuttings: select graceful branches and take cuttings in the usual way; possible in all four seasons, with a very high survival rate.
5. Pruning: do not prune weak branches in the current year; for vigorous branches, select the branches around the Start of Autumn. Remove useless branches and keep spare branches.
6. Potting: pot up tree stumps with good growth one week before the Start of Autumn, using slightly acidic loose soil, and place them according to their habits.
7. Styling: apply techniques according to the material. Combine trunk chopping, branch accumulation, pruning, wiring and grafting. Both extension and restraint at the same time.
8. Branch pads: for primary and secondary branches, mainly use pulling and wiring, with pruning as a supplement. After the branch pads have formed, mainly use pruning. Work from top to bottom, suppress the strong and support the weak.
Precautions:
1. Focus on handling opposite branches and frog-leg branches; keep opposite branches staggered, and change frog-leg branches to hanging bends.
2. Manage freely with heavy fertilizer and heavy watering, and full sun. Use chemical fertilizers and tap water sparingly.
3. In the early stage, prune twice a year; in the later stage, during the growing season, prune, pinch, tip and shape at any time.