When is the best time to prune elm bonsai?

The role of elm bonsai pruning

The main purpose of pruning elm bonsai is to improve its appearance. It can also reduce the loss of nutrients. Pruning dense branches can increase ventilation and light transmittance, which can reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests and help the elm tree grow healthily.

Elm bonsai pruning time

Elm bonsai are usually pruned in autumn and spring, that is, in November or February-March, to cut off diseased and insect-infested branches, dead branches, weak branches and dense branches.

How many times should elm bonsai be pruned?

Elm is a strong and sturdy plant that can be pruned anytime and anywhere. As long as its growth condition is good, there is no problem in pruning it at any time.

Elm bonsai propagation by cuttings

Elm bonsai is usually propagated by pruning in autumn, when the temperature is suitable, the air humidity is high, the growth rate is fast, and the growth is also vigorous.

How to prune elm bonsai

1. Pruning time

The best time to prune elm trees is generally in early spring and autumn. In early spring, the plants have not started to grow yet, so the main thing to do is to prune away old and dead branches to promote the growth and development of new branches. In autumn, the overall shape of the trees changes after growth, affecting their beauty, so they need to be reshaped and pruned.

2. Tool disinfection

Pruning elm trees requires special pruning shears. In order to ensure that the wounds of the plant are not infected, the tools need to be disinfected before pruning. Usually, they are wiped with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, or soaked in a low concentration of potassium permanganate solution.

3. Pruning

Shorten the overly long branches of the elm tree appropriately. If there are dense branches, thin them out to increase ventilation and light transmittance. In addition, cut off some branches that affect the shape. If there are diseased or aging areas, they need to be cut off in time. In addition to pruning branches, check the condition of the roots and cut off one-third of the whole to make the root system and branches more balanced.

Precautions for pruning elm bonsai

After pruning the elm bonsai, it needs to be placed in a semi-shaded environment and maintained with good ventilation so that the wound can dry quickly. At the same time, in order to promote development, it is often necessary to add some nutrients and fertilize it appropriately to accelerate the recovery of growth. If it is in the high incidence period of the disease, you should also pay attention to spraying pesticides for prevention and control.