Bonsai Tree Care

This bushy tree is used to create natural fences to surround properties and may be used as protection against winds, either. The Bonsai trees made out from this tree are starting to be more and more liked and loved. Its main Bonsai feature is that it has small leaves. Starting with the first years of growing, the hawthorn has cracked bark and a bushy cornice and, later, it grows flowers and fruits.

Naturally, the hawthorn grows very thin in its first years (a very thin stem at a height of 5feet/150cm-6.5feet/200cm). This type of tree really seems unfit for a Bonsai, but with a little care it proves to be a great choice.

The plant should be cut very close to the surface then you should wait a year or two. Finally, take the plant out of its natural habitat and plant it in a bigger pot. You will keep the hawthorn there for another 3-4 years until it grows bushy and looks like a small tree. Then you plant it in a suitable pot.

Soil:
The hawthorn grows in an argillaceous and dense soil, but this is not appropriate for a Bonsai tree. The soil must be loose for the Bonsai. It is adequate to have a drainage level of no more than 0.4inch/1cm.

Sustenance:
Use organic liquid fertilizers starting with April until august. You can use solid organic fertilizers from April till June. More, from 4 to 4 weeks, you can use corneal flour that can be also used between the root and the drainage soil in the spring.

Winter:
The hawthorn is very strong so, it doesn’t have too much problems during the winter time. Anyway, you should protect it by burying it in soil or dead leaves to the branches level. Bigger plants should put covered with glass or plastic foil. Protecting the tree from December till January should be enough but if the climate is a lot colder, you should keep it covered as long as necessary.

Wiring:
The hawthorn Bonsai should be tied in November with aluminum wire covered in copper or paper. The wire has to stay on the plant until next summer. Starting with May until September, you should check the wired plant so that the wire is not embedded in the tree. If this happens, you should remove the wire immediately from that specific branch. Generally, the stem should not be wired since it will be very visible.

Cutting the branches:
The small branches should be cut using the narrow cutter and the bigger ones should be cut using the concave pliers. If needed, the branches may be cut during the whole year. The bigger cutting marks should be taken care with grafting wax/glue. In order to get a bushier cornice, cut all the new branches that appear in June and July. More, you should cut all the thinner branches that grow in order to keep the shape and allow the light to go in.

Cutting the leaves:
You need to wait around 3 years for the Bonsai to have a nice looking cornice. Then, you should stop cutting for several years so that the leaves grow in the desired shape.

Placement:
In nature, the hawthorn may be found in semi-shadowed, tree mixed, forests. Since the hawthorn likes light, you will find it at the edges of the forests. The fact is, yet, that though it likes light, the Bonsai should be kept in shadow from May till August. This allows the leaves to stay green all the summer, without any spots. The next summer, you will be charmed by the beautiful colors of the tree.

Transferring and unburying:
In early springs, when the soil is thawing, you can unbury the Yamadori, both young and old ones. As already told, the hawthorn may be found at the edges of the forests. You should unbury it before the first leaves appear. The plants you grow are to be taken care differently, though. They can be put in pots even if the leaves appeared with an easy cut of the root. This cut doesn’t allow the new growing branches to grow too big.

Style:
The hawthorn doesn’t allow too many styles. The good thing is that you don’t need too much experience to create your own style. A thin stem, with a simple shape, may appear a little wavy. There are, also, possible, bizarre shapes like the waterfall, rock growing, wind shaped or outside roots. Anyway, you should not try the Jin and Chari techniques, since the cut wood will decay fast.

Watering:
The hawthorn may be watered using any type of water. Even the calciferous water is good, but you will see some crust on the tree and on the pot. Too much fresh water might end up with a slight fading of the color of the leaves, so do not overdo it. You can water the tree from the top without any problem.

These are general elements regarding the creation of a Bonsai using the Hawthorn. Hoping this help, we expect your pictures of the trees.

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