When and how to change the soil of banyan bonsai

Banyan bonsai soil changing time

After the shape of the banyan bonsai is fixed, it is not suitable to change the soil frequently to avoid damaging the roots. Usually the soil of the banyan bonsai is changed every 3 to 4 years, and the best time is late spring from April to May. It is not suitable to change the soil in autumn and winter because of the lower temperature.

How to repot and change soil for banyan bonsai

1. Remove from the pot: Grasp the edge of the banyan tree pot with one hand, and use the palm of the other hand to gently pat the outer wall of the pot until the soil in the pot begins to loosen. Pick up the pot, pour out the loose soil at an angle, then gently pull out the plant and shake off the excess loose soil. At this time, leave the original soil that wraps the roots. This can increase the adaptability of the banyan tree and allow the banyan tree to adapt to the pot faster. Put it aside for later use.

2. Arrangement, pruning and disinfection: First observe the root system of the banyan tree to see if there are rotten roots, decayed roots or overly long roots. If so, cut them off and disinfect the broken parts with potassium permanganate solution. Place the tree in a semi-shaded place and rinse the replaced pots. If conditions permit, soak and disinfect them with disinfectant to prevent fungi or other bacteria from remaining and causing harm to the tree.

3. Potting: Place a few sterilized tiles on the leaking bottom of the dried pot, put the prepared planting soil into one-third of the pot, put the roots of the banyan tree in the center of the pot, fill and compact the soil, water it, and place it in a ventilated, semi-shaded, sunny place.

Things to note when changing the soil for banyan bonsai

The banyan tree needs to be repotted after a certain period of care to satisfy the growth of the roots. It can be watered thoroughly two days before repotting to make it easier to remove from the pot. When repotting, the soil at the roots should be retained, and a new pot with good air permeability should be selected. After changing the soil, maintain it in a semi-shaded, well-ventilated place.

Banyan bonsai soil

When changing the soil of a banyan bonsai, you should choose loose, fertile, and well-drained leaf mold. You can mix garden soil: humus soil: sand in a ratio of 2:2:1. You can put some moss on top of the bonsai to enhance its ornamental value and play a good role in drainage and ventilation.

Applying base fertilizer to banyan bonsai

When changing the soil for the banyan tree, you can add some decomposed base fertilizer, mainly bean cake fertilizer, bone meal or fully decomposed chicken manure. This can ensure that there are sufficient nutrients in the soil and the growth will be faster.

Maintenance method of banyan bonsai after changing soil

1. After changing the soil, the banyan tree needs to go through a week of seedling acclimatization period. Regardless of whether the roots are damaged or not, it is best to place it in a cool and bright place to adapt. Only after it takes root can it be maintained normally.

2. Banyan trees like warmth and like to grow in a sunny, moist and ventilated environment. Moreover, the pots used for banyan trees are relatively shallow in order to show their developed root shape. Therefore, the soil should be relatively loose, breathable and fertile, so that the roots will not rot after watering. However, loose, breathable and water-retaining soil has poor water retention, so you should water it more often. You can also spray water on the leaves to increase the humidity of the leaves.

3. The banyan tree should be exposed to more sunlight and maintained with sufficient light. For fertilization, you can apply decomposed cake fertilizer water once a month. Do not fertilize in winter. The banyan tree is very resistant to pruning, has a strong germination ability, and grows very fast, so you can prune it with confidence.

4. Do not water the banyan bonsai immediately after changing the soil. It is best to wait half a day before watering. If you water it, water it thoroughly. In addition, if the roots are injured, it is generally necessary to water them at intervals of 1-2 days to avoid infection. Rehydrate the bonsai a second time after the soil becomes dry, and then you can maintain it normally.

5. The leaves of the banyan tree turn yellow, wilt, and curl because it has not yet fully adapted to the new growth environment. It may also be due to water damage caused by improper watering. Excessive light can easily sunburn the leaves of the banyan tree, causing them to lose their growth activity. The leaves will also turn yellow due to frostbite in low temperature conditions.