A Detailed Guide to Scientific Fertilization Methods for Chinese Ash (Fraxinus chinensis) Bonsai

  During the growing season, apply light fertilizer frequently. To facilitate absorption by the tree and avoid wasting fertilizer solution, it is best to apply once every 5-7 days. Fertilization is generally carried out on a sunny afternoon when the potting soil is on the dry side, and after application, water to rinse the leaves. On rainy days when the potting soil is wet, the tree roots cannot breathe well, and after fertilization the roots do not absorb it easily; in strong sun: even in the hottest days of the dog days of summer, as long as water is kept up under the high temperature and intense sunlight of 380c-400c, it will still be seen sprouting and growing, with few signs of self-pruning at the branch tips, which shows its adaptability is particularly strong.

  Trees, like people, need oxygen and nutrients, and like people they need to eat every day. The fertilization principle for Chinese ash (Fraxinus chinensis) is to eat small meals often. Generally, compound fertilizer is used, and a chlorine-free compound fertilizer should be chosen. If the leaves turn yellow, a small amount of ferrous sulfate should also be added. When fertilizing, it should be tailored to each tree and not distributed evenly; those with good growth should be given less or no fertilizer, while those with weak growth should be given more and more frequently. Treat them differently according to their growth type.

  Fertilizer should be applied in holes, that is, dig a trench, place the fertilizer inside, and then cover it with soil; this helps the fertilizer work well. For each application, generally 1 kg for a large tree and 0.5 kg for a small one. Fertilization should be even and kept a little farther from the tree, not too close. Fertilization is divided into one application of nutritional fertilizer in winter each year, one application of leaf-growing fertilizer in spring, and one application of growth fertilizer in summer.

  The simplest way to judge whether it lacks water, fertilizer or sunlight is to observe the sprouting of its new shoots:

  When fertilizer, water and sunlight are sufficient, the shoots sent out from the branch tips are thick and strong, and the young branches and leaves are purplish red, gradually turning green; when insufficient, the shoots sent out are thin and weak, and the young leaves are pale green. 5-7 days before leaf picking and pruning of branches and buds, a application of cake fertilizer water must be given. In the peak growing season, new buds are seen sprouting just three days after heavy pruning. After the new buds sprout, another application of cake fertilizer water should be added, with a water-to-fertilizer ratio of 8:1. The more the branches and foliage become full, the more the number of prunings can be appropriately increased.