How to Make a Kumquat Bonsai

Making of Kumquat Bonsai

Cultivation of seedlings

Kumquat can be cultivated by sowing, cutting, grafting and other methods. Grafting is usually carried out in May and June, and the fruit will be produced one to two years after grafting. The best time for sowing is March to April every year. When sowing, cover with 1-2 cm of soil and cover with film. After the seedlings emerge from the soil, gradually lift the film, remove the film after they have been hardened, and stop fertilizing in autumn to prevent the seedlings from growing too fast and affecting their wintering. During the growth process of seedlings, attention should be paid to pinching to promote thicker growth.

Planting in pots

Select seedlings with well-developed root systems and strong growth, and plant them in pots before they sprout in spring. Choose a flowerpot with a diameter of 20-25 cm and place a piece of broken tile on the water seepage hole. The culture soil should be a mixture of leaf mold and compost or horse manure. After potting, a 3 cm edge should be left to facilitate watering. 7-10 days after planting, the seedlings can grow new roots. At this time, fertilize with manure water. Generally, the pots can be turned over once every 2-3 years. When repotting, add 40-50 grams of cake fertilizer or pulp residue as base fertilizer. The time is in autumn, when the seeds turn slightly green.

Maintenance of Kumquat Bonsai

Fertilizer and water management

Water every 2-3 days in spring and autumn, and once a day on sunny days in summer to maintain the moisture content of the potting soil at around 70%. In winter, it can depend on the overwintering environment, generally water once every 7 days.

Fertilizer should be added after the spring sprouts. A small amount of urea can be added during the flowering and fruiting stages. The concentration of liquid fertilizer should be increased accordingly as the growth rate increases.

Plastic pruning

The kumquat tree shape is naturally semicircular, columnar or tower-shaped. The principle of pruning before fruiting is to leave a 10 cm heavy cut stem after the first shoot of the single bud grafted seedling matures, and then prune short to promote new shoots before the main branch of Baosheng becomes lignified and produces new shoots. At the same time, increase fertilizer and water, strive for multiple shoots in the same year, and expand the crown.