Making Michelia bonsai

Michelia bonsai material

If you want to make bonsai, you must first have suitable tree materials.

The wood of Michelia can be artificially grown by propagating the plants by sowing, cutting, grafting and layering. When the Michelia plants grow to a suitable height, they can be potted.

Michelia in pots

Potting is a very important process. For Michelia bonsai, medium-deep square or round pots are generally used. Purple clay pots or glazed pottery pots are preferred. The pot color is generally cinnabar purple or crabapple red. When potting, you can use a mixture of garden soil, sand and leaf mold.

After preparing the potting soil, you can start potting. Potting is usually done in March or April in spring. The roots and branches of Michelia should be trimmed before potting. After potting, it should be placed in a cool and ventilated place for a period of time, and then it can be managed normally.

Michelia bonsai posture

The bonsai of Michelia needs to be shaped to be more ornamental. When adjusting the posture, climbing and pruning are generally used. Generally, shaping begins when the Michelia is about 3 years old. The main branches of the Michelia can be tied into a suitable shape using brown silk stems, which can be combined with pruning for shaping.

The posture can be adjusted mainly to a natural style, but it can also be adjusted to a curved or slanted style.

Michelia bonsai care

Michelia bonsai is generally best placed in a semi-shaded environment, especially in the summer when shade is needed. Need to keep moist on weekdays.

Daily pruning is acceptable, but not excessive. Repotting is generally done once every 1-2 years, either in spring or after flowering in autumn. Prune the roots in time when repotting.