How should you prune a bonsai asparagus fern to make it look good? Teach you the correct pruning method

  Does a bonsai asparagus fern need pruning? How do you prune an asparagus fern to make it look good? The asparagus fern (Asparagus setaceus) is a perennial climbing evergreen herbaceous flowering plant; in some places it is called cloud bamboo, pine mountain grass and cloud bamboo mountain grass. Although the asparagus fern has the trait of being evergreen for many years, improper pruning during care can cause the symptoms of yellowing branches and leaves, affecting the ornamental effect.

  Generally, when companies or families buy a bonsai asparagus fern, the seller will usually prune the asparagus fern into various shapes to make its appearance more beautiful. But many people who grow asparagus ferns still prefer to follow its natural growth habit and let it grow freely, letting it grow naturally, but the rotten branches and rotten leaves of the asparagus fern must be pruned off; this is a free-range style of shaping.

  Some people also like to prune the asparagus fern into a mountain-peak shape, because the asparagus fern is evergreen all year round and its leaves are delicate and exquisite, so from a distance it looks like a green mountain. At this time the grower is required to focus on highlighting that tall and upright branch of the asparagus fern and let it grow upward, then properly prune the other branches and leaves around it to maintain a surrounding sense of layering. The last kind is to prune it to give the feeling of many mountains standing in a row, cultivating several tall branches and leaves of the asparagus fern to grow and pruning it to give the feeling of mountains winding around.

  1. Pot control method

  The size ratio of the flowerpot to the plant should be controlled at 1:3; this can limit root growth and keep the plant size unchanged.

  2. Remove the growing points in time

  When new buds grow to 2-3 cm, remove the growing points to promote new branches and leaves on the stems and to control it from growing vines, so that the branches and leaves spread out flat and the plant shape keeps becoming fuller.

  3. Make full use of the asparagus fern's phototropism

  Turning the flowerpot's direction at the right time can correct the growth shape of the branches and leaves and keep the plant shape full and graceful.

  4. Object-blocking method

  Use a piece of cardboard to press down the branches and leaves or block the sunlight, so that when the branches and leaves grow and touch the blocking object, the stems turn or bend as they grow, thereby achieving the purpose of shaping.

  5. Comprehensive application of several shaping methods

  (1) Tower-style shaping

  Choose 2-3 tall, upright and elegant stems as the main peak, remove each growing point on the stems, set the plant height at 30-35 cm, and the remaining stems and new stems should not be higher than the main peak. For new buds, whether to remove the growing point can be decided according to the thickness of their stems. If their stems are thicker than the main peak's stems, they should be removed; if their stems are thinner than the main peak's stems, there is no need to remove them and they can be left to grow. At the same time, the plant shape also needs to be continuously adjusted by combining the object-blocking method and the plant's own phototropism.

  (2) Double-clump shaping

  Plant one tall and one short asparagus fern in the pot, the tall one about 30 cm and the short one about 18 cm, and during the growing period just shape them as tower-style asparagus ferns.

  (3) Natural-style shaping

  Mainly based on the asparagus fern's naturally grown plant shape, remove the growing points, and use basic methods such as the object-blocking method and its phototropism to make the branches and leaves spread out, giving people a natural sense of beauty.

  Dwarfing measures for asparagus fern:

  1. For young plants, do not apply too much fertilizer in the vigorous growing seasons of spring and summer; generally applying fertilizer once a month is enough. The amount of fertilizer should not be too large either; grasp the principle of keeping it light. For old plants, it is best to apply less fertilizer or no fertilizer; when repotting, just use the opportunity to fill the bottom of the pot with fresh soil, or apply a small amount of fertilizer. In this way, whether young plants or old plants, a stable growth vigor can be maintained.

  2. Pay attention to frequent pruning. The asparagus fern grows relatively fast, so old branches and withered stems should be thinned and pruned at any time to maintain a low posture. At the same time, prune off creeping branches in time to keep it upright and elegant, with well-spaced density and green color.

  3. Choose dwarf asparagus fern varieties. The stems of dwarf asparagus fern are not vine-like and can maintain a small and exquisite appearance.