Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Bonsai — Care Guide

САКУРА Cerasus

Sources: https://travelerscoffee.ru/bg/malina/kak-vyrashchivat-bonsai-sakura-iz-semyan-v-domashnih-usloviyah-glavnoe/ https://www.bonsaitreegardener.net/bonsai-trees/species/cherry-blossom

Scientific/Botanical Name: Prunus serrulata

Description: This is a spring-blooming, single-trunked, deciduous tree. Dark horizontal lines known as lenticels appear on the trunk. The pink and white blossoms are plentiful, and they make a wonderful carpet on the ground when they fall off the tree.

Position: Grow the tree in a location that receives full sun. It needs a three-month period of cold conditions over the winter. When trees are grown in containers, they should be placed in a cold garage during their winter dormancy.

Watering: Water the plant on a regular basis to prevent drying-out of the soil.

Feeding: Fertilize the tree on a monthly basis to keep it well-nourished.

Leaf and Branch Pruning: Prune the plant to maintain a small size, but defer pruning until all of the flowers are spent. Fresh growth may be pruned as needed, but never remove all of the new growth.

Re-potting & Growing Medium: Re-pot the tree during the winter period. This allows the introduction of newer soil. Good quality, organic soil should be used for re-potting.

Notes: Japanese people enjoy cherry blossom tea. It is not advisable to consume it in great quantities, however. Cherry blossom trees may need to be monitored for pests such as aphids and caterpillars.

Soil: The soil of the cherry blossom bonsai tree must be nourished at all times. Since it is a miniature tree and it is placed in a small pot, it needs a greater supply of nutrients. A quality fertilizer should be used every month to feed the soil.

Water: Bonsai kept directly under the sun need to be watered more often. Water the plant as soon as the soil looks dry. Rain can also provide sufficient water. A good indication of enough water is when it starts leaking from the bottom of the plant through the tiny holes located underneath the pot. A watering meter can also be purchased to properly time the watering.

Repotting: Late winter is an ideal time to repot cherry blossom bonsai, as the plant will have finished flowering. Repotting will allow your tree to grow roots that are more compact and it will have fresher soil due to the exchange.

Pruning: Pruning is an essential part of any bonsai plant because it maintains its miniature shape. Cherry blossoms should be pruned after the falling of the flowers. New growth should be pruned accordingly and never removed completely.

Balanced fertilizer: A cherry blossom bonsai tree requires regular fertilizing and a fertilizer with balanced N-P-K is the best choice. These trees should be fertilized at least once a month to support its growth, especially during the developmental stage.

FROM SEEDS:

• Use a large pot to germinate seeds. It also has to be shallow to hold up to 4 seeds.
• Fill this with peat seed sowing mix. Peat seed sowing mix may be purchased from garden shops.
• Place the viable cherry blossom bonsai tree seeds on the surface of the mix.
• Allow at least a few centimeters of space between seeds.
• Do not cover the container because germinating seeds need sunlight.
• Keep the soil moist by watering it regularly. Water should run off the sides of the container to show that the soil is completely soaked. Seeds need a lot of moisture to be able to germinate.
• Place the seeds outdoors in full sunlight to get the most light.
• Keep the soil moist. Check your germinating seeds more frequently and remember to keep the soil moist at all times. These seeds will germinate in just a few weeks. Once the seeds have opened then it would only take a few days for it to be ready for transplanting. Your cherry blossom seedlings will become young trees in no time.
• Transplant cherry blossom tree seedlings to individual pots once these have gained strength. You need a lot of patience during this time.
• A small and shallow bonsai pot is a good starter pot. The ideal pot should have two holes along the sides and at the bottom of the pot for adequate drainage.
• Initially place a layer of coarse substrate or aggregate. This will be the bottom layer that will remove excess water and fertilizer from the plant roots. This will also improve aeration of the soil to let oxygen reach the roots.
• After the layer of aggregates, add bonsai potting soil. Choose organic potting soil that will hold more water because cherry blossom bonsai trees need moist soils during their developmental stage.
• Place your cherry blossom bonsai tree seedling on the soil. Place another layer of organic bonsai soil and compact this using your fingers by pressing the soil lightly.
• Water your young plants regularly to keep the soil moist.

WIRING:

Seki-joju or Rocky Terrain: The Seki-joju or Rocky Terrain style presents the lovely aerial roots of bonsai trees. It is all about growing bonsai roots through different obstacles. This could be anything in nature like a jagged or smooth rock. The Rocky Terrain occurs in nature when roots of trees grow underneath and along the sides of nearby rocks. Roots of trees are actually very adaptable and will also crawl around the rock surface, and these happen as the trunk of the bonsai is developed. The rest of the tree will grow in a straight way despite various obstacles found along its path. The Rocky Terrain bonsai style is found in trees that have healthy and well-presented roots.

Shakan Bonsai Style: One of the most popular bonsai styles that will look fantastic with a cherry blossom bonsai tree is the Shakan bonsai style. This is the slanted bonsai tree style that recreates a slanted tree in nature. The trunk of the bonsai comes from the soil in a slanted way while the rest of the tree grows in an outward manner. The trunk is at a 60-80 degree angle to create a slanted style. This style is achieved by strong wiring to train the main trunk. Wiring will control the height of the branch too. Applying strong lighting from one direction will also bend the tree to create that slanted and windswept style.

Post-wiring care for your cherry blossom bonsai tree: After wiring your cherry blossom bonsai tree, keep in mind that it should be placed in a shaded area of your garden so it can regain its health and strength. Never leave it in direct sun because this can dry the soil out too much. Give balanced fertilizer so your trees can get the complete nutrients necessary for good growth and development.

Remove the wires on schedule to avoid damage to the delicate bark and branches. Remove the wires by cutting them at every turn. Never reuse the wire for wiring other branches. Remove wires at every turn with the use of pliers. Monitor tree health and let your bonsai tree rest before wiring and pruning it again. Keep a schedule or photos of your pruning and wiring activities to monitor your plant's shape and appearance.