How to Make a Hawthorn Bonsai and Detailed Steps

  Hawthorn, also known as Chinese hawthorn or hawthorn fruit, is a deciduous shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus in the rose family (Rosaceae). The plant is much branched, with dark brown bark and branches that are thornless or have few thorns; the leaves are triangular-ovate or rhombic-ovate, deep green and glossy on the upper surface, with sparse irregular serrations along the edges. The corymbose inflorescences emerge from the branch tips or upper leaf axils, with small white flowers that open from May to June. The fruit is nearly spherical or flattened-spherical, and after ripening in September to October it turns dark red, orange-red or yellow, with numerous small pale spots.

  Varieties:

  There are many varieties of hawthorn, and their plant size, leaf shape and size, and fruit size all differ; the smallest fruits are only 0.8 cm in diameter, while the largest reach 3 cm to 4 cm. For making bonsai, choose hawthorn varieties that are small in plant size but rugged and aged-looking, with fine leaves, that fruit easily, have brightly colored fruit, and are suitable for pot cultivation, such as "Wild Hawthorn", "North Hawthorn", "South Hawthorn", "Hubei Hawthorn", "Shandong Dajinxing", "Yanguo Hong", "Fuli Hong" and others.

  Potting:

  Transplanting hawthorn into pots is carried out from after leaf drop in autumn to before bud break in spring; because it has few fibrous roots, the roots should be dipped in mud slurry when transplanting to keep them fresh and moist. Before planting, prune heavily according to the tree shape, cutting off the taproot; for stumps that have been out of the ground too long and have severely lost water, soak them in clean water for a period to replenish moisture. First plant them in sandy soil to "nurse the stump"; plant them deeply and do not expose the roots. After planting, water thoroughly, spray the plant with water frequently, and you may also cover it with a plastic bag to retain moisture. In the first year after the stump survives, apart from necessary pruning and pulling, generally do not do much shaping, in order to promote the formation of new roots. In the second spring, move it into a pot and gradually shape it to develop a beautiful crown.

  Pruning:

  Because its root system is well developed and its sprouting ability is strong, pay attention in normal times to thinning out overly dense branches and leaves; for vigorous new shoots, when they grow to about 20 cm, pinch them back above 4 to 6 leaves to encourage the growth of short fruiting spurs. During the dormant period, prune and shape the tree, cutting out weak twigs, overly dense branches and water sprouts that disrupt the tree shape, keeping thick and strong medium and short branches, and cutting back excessively long branches that extend outward to encourage the branches behind them to become thick and strong. Also pay attention to cutting back the crown, removing branches on the upper part of the crown, keeping the branches on the lower part, and cultivating them into a shorter new crown.

  Shaping:

  The shaping of a hawthorn bonsai can follow the form of the stump and make the most of its natural tendency, working it into different styles of bonsai such as the large-tree style, upright style, cascade style, waterside style, slanting-trunk style and so on. Because its leaves are relatively large, the crown is mostly made into an open, naturalistic form, with consideration given to a natural balance between the crown and the branches, leaves and fruit, and the layers between branches should not be too dense, so as to express the natural scene of abundant fruit covering the branches.

  The shaping methods should combine pruning, wiring and pulling, among which wiring and pulling are best done during the growing season; because hawthorn branches are hard and brittle, the degree of bending during wiring should not be too great, while pruning is mostly done during the dormant season. Hawthorn has a strong sprouting ability, so heavy pruning can be carried out while keeping the tree shape beautiful. During the shaping process, the roots can gradually be raised to expose them, making the roots hang and the root claws show, to enhance the ornamental value.

  Fertilizing:

  Hawthorn is robust by nature, liking a sunny, warm and humid environment, and is slightly shade-tolerant and tolerant of cold, drought and poor soil. It is not demanding about soil, but grows better in fertile, loose sandy soil with good drainage and aeration. During the growing season, keep it outdoors in a well-ventilated, well-lit place for care, and water according to the rule of "do not water until dry, and water thoroughly when you do". From March to April before flowering, apply 1 to 2 applications of a liquid fertilizer combining phosphorus and nitrogen; during the fruit-setting period, apply a liquid fertilizer with a relatively high phosphorus and potassium content once every 15 days.

  Repotting:

  In winter, keep it in a wind-sheltered, sunny place for care, pay attention to soil moisture, and replenish water in time. Repot once every other year in spring or autumn to increase its fruiting rate.