Making and maintaining Camellia bonsai

Making Camellia sasanqua bonsai: material selection

Camellias with short plants, slow growth, small leaves and soft branches are more suitable for shaping, such as the low-growing winter camellia.

The more upright varieties of common camellia sasanqua can also be used to make towering bonsai, but it is best not to use varieties with tall plants, fast growth, and large flowers and leaves.

Making Camellia Sasanqua Bonsai: Material Sources

It is best to use 2-3 year old cuttings or seedlings, because the branches of seedlings are easier to shape, and they can be continuously shaped, pruned, hung and wrapped according to the requirements of the shape during the cultivation process to cultivate various tree shapes.

You can also dig up old branches of wild golden heart camellia, oil tea, etc. with twisted trunks and gnarled branches, and use the trunk cutting and grafting method, or use the old plants to sprout new branches, and after continuous shaping, make old camellia stump pots.

Making Camellia sasanqua bonsai: modeling

Usually the natural posture of the Camellia sasanqua plant is taken as the main focus or artistically processed into straight trunk, slanted trunk, double trunk style. It can also be cultivated into curved trunk, cliff style, semi-cliff style and so on with metal wire or binding.

Camellia bonsai production: later maintenance

Generally, the plant should be repotted every two to three years. When repotting, in addition to choosing a pot that matches the color, size, and style of the plant, it is best to choose a smaller pot, not a large one, about half the size of the crown.

Properly cut off damaged roots and some old roots to help the shallow root system develop better and also help to dwarf the plant. When planting, the base of the trunk needs to be slightly higher, beyond the edge of the pot. Plants with exposed roots should be protected from wind and sun.

Without affecting the growth and development, try to apply as little fertilizer as possible. In order to maintain a balanced and natural tree posture, it is not advisable to top the tree casually. Light pruning can be done during the growing season, and pinching can be used to remove unwanted or too long branches. More intensive pruning and shaping should be done before germination.

Except for the overgrown branches, if there are branches that are too long or out of proportion, you can cut off the longer top section, or you can use wire to twist it from bottom to top to shorten it.

Do not store it indoors for too long, as it will affect the growth and development of the Camellia sasanqua.