How to prune a Serissa japonica bonsai? These methods you need to master

  Serissa japonica, also known as "spray of stars," has tiny leaves and blooms with small white flowers in midsummer, hence the name "June snow." Bonsai made from Serissa japonica feature exposed roots and claws, elegant and free-spirited, with varied postures and unique charm. Currently there are two common varieties of Serissa japonica on the market: one is the clumping type with slightly pinkish flowers shaped like trumpets, which is the inferior variety; the other is the single-trunk small tree form with pure white double-petaled flowers, which is the superior variety.

  If you are interested in making Serissa japonica bonsai, you can also try it yourself and prune your own shape, which adds a special charm.

  Serissa japonica has soft branches that are easy to wire and shape, and young trees can be made into miniature bonsai. In southern China, for making large and medium-sized bonsai, old stumps are often dug from the wild, all branches are cut short, and after "raising the stump" for one year, shaping can begin the following year. The common shaping method is thick wiring with fine pruning: the main trunk is wired into an irregular "S" shape, while side branches and fine branches are mostly pruned.

  Serissa japonica has strong sprouting ability, tolerates pruning well, has soft branches and trunks, and many fibrous roots that are twisted and irregular. Based on these characteristics, it can be made into various bonsai forms such as raised-root style, root-on-rock style, cascade style, and connected-root style. After branches are wired, they need to be kept for about 2 years to set their shape; if the wiring is removed too early, they often tend to revert to their original form and all previous efforts are wasted.

  Serissa japonica needs pruning twice a year. The first is in mid-April, which benefits flowering in June; the second is after the flowers fade, cutting off the flower-bearing branch tips to encourage new buds to sprout. Root suckers and overly dense branches should be cut off at any time. During the growing season, pinch back frequently so that the branches and leaves meet the shaping requirements.

  Repot once every 1-2 years, in February-March of spring or during late autumn, remove all old soil and appropriately prune the roots. Root-raising can be combined with repotting to form exposed roots and enhance ornamental value.

  Every year from after half-leaf fall in winter to before bud break the following spring, carry out one shaping and pruning: shorten long branches and leggy branches, thin out overly dense fine weak branches, and cut off diseased and pest-damaged branches as well as other messy branches that affect the ornamental appearance; during the growing season, pinch back, disbud, and remove side shoots at the right time to maintain a beautiful shape. The healthy branches that are cut off can be used for cuttings propagation.

  As mentioned earlier, Serissa japonica is very tolerant of pruning and easy to shape, so it can also be made into bonsai. Flower lovers do not need to worry about pruning it badly. Every year from after half-leaf fall in winter to before bud break at the Start of Spring, carry out one shaping and pruning: shorten long branches and leggy branches, thin out overly dense fine weak branches, and cut off diseased and pest-damaged branches as well as other messy branches that affect the ornamental appearance; during the growing season, pinch back, disbud, and remove side shoots at the right time to maintain a beautiful shape.

  When growing in pots, generally before bud break you can appropriately do the work of pruning and pinching back, suitably lowering the height and controlling growth.