What are the maintenance methods for golden marble bonsai after repotting?

In the world of bonsai, the golden marble has become a favorite of many flower lovers with its unique charm and vitality. However, in order for the golden ball bonsai to show its best growth state, appropriate maintenance methods are essential. So what are the maintenance methods for the golden ball bonsai after repotting? Let’s take a look below.

1. Lighting management

1. Light control during the seedling stage

The golden marble bonsai that has just been repotted needs to be placed in a semi-shaded environment. Because the root system is damaged to a certain extent during the repotting process, the absorption and transpiration of the plant will be temporarily weakened. If directly exposed to strong light, the transpiration of the leaves will be too strong, and the roots will not be able to supply enough water in time, causing the plant to dehydrate and wither. You can place it in a place with bright diffuse light, such as indoors near a window but out of direct sunlight, or outdoors in an area shaded by a sunshade net.

This seedling recovery period generally lasts 1-2 weeks, and the specific time depends on the recovery of the plant. During this period, closely observe the condition of the leaves. If the leaves do not show any abnormal conditions such as wilting, you can gradually increase the light intensity.

2. Normal lighting requirements are met

After the golden marble bonsai has passed the seedling stage, give it appropriate light according to its growth habits. Golden marble is a sun-loving plant. In spring and autumn, it can be placed in a sunny place to ensure 4-6 hours of light per day, which helps the leaves to photosynthesize, produce nutrients, and promote plant growth and flower bud differentiation.

In summer, because the sunlight is too strong, appropriate shade is needed. You can use a shade net to block 50%-70% of the sunlight to avoid leaf burns. Especially at noon, when the sun is strongest, be sure to keep the golden marbles in the shade. In winter, as long as the temperature is not lower than -10℃, you can place the golden marble in a sunny place to allow it to receive sufficient light, which is very beneficial for the plant's wintering and growth in the coming year.

2. Temperature Regulation

1. Maintain the appropriate temperature range

The suitable growth temperature for golden marbles is 18-28℃. After repotting, the golden marble bonsai is more sensitive to temperature changes, so try to keep the ambient temperature within an appropriate range. When maintaining indoors, you can use equipment such as air conditioning to adjust the temperature.

In spring and autumn, the natural temperature is generally more suitable for the growth of golden balls, but attention should be paid to the temperature difference between morning and evening. If the temperature difference is too large, you can take appropriate insulation measures at night, such as moving the bonsai indoors or covering it with plastic film.

2. Extreme temperature protection

During the high temperatures of summer, when the temperature exceeds 32°C, pay attention to cooling the golden ball bonsai. The temperature can be lowered by spraying water on the surrounding environment, increasing ventilation, etc. At the same time, avoid placing bonsai in places that easily generate heat, such as high-temperature concrete floors.

In winter, when the temperature drops below -10℃, golden marbles may suffer from frost damage. If you are growing the bonsai outdoors, move it to a warmer place indoors, or wrap the pot and base of the plant with hay, quilts or other materials to keep it warm.

3. Watering Tips

1. Key points for initial watering

After repotting, water the plant thoroughly, which is called rooting water. Water the plants enough to ensure that the soil and roots are in full contact, helping the roots to better adapt to the new soil environment. When watering, pour the water into the pot slowly and evenly until the water flows out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.

2. Watering frequency during the seedling stage

During the seedling acclimatization period, since the root system has not yet fully recovered its absorption function, watering should be moderate to avoid water accumulation. Generally, water the plants every 2-3 days, adjusting the temperature according to the dryness or wetness of the soil. You can insert your finger into the soil about 2-3 cm and water it when the soil feels dry.

3. Normal watering principles

When the golden ball bonsai resumes normal growth, watering should follow the principle of "watering when dry and watering when wet". That is, wait until the soil surface is dry before watering, and water thoroughly so that both the upper and lower layers of the soil are moist. In spring and autumn, water the plants generally every 3-5 days; in summer when the temperature is high, water them once in the morning and evening every day; in winter, water them every 7-10 days, and choose to water them at noon when the weather is clear to avoid damage to the roots caused by low water temperature.

4. Fertilization strategy

1. Avoid fertilizing during the seedling stage

It is best not to apply fertilizer within 1-2 months after repotting. Because the roots are still recovering and growing at this time, fertilizing may cause root burns and affect the recovery of the plant.

2. Fertilization method after growth recovery

When the golden marble bonsai begins to grow new branches and leaves, it indicates that the plant has resumed growth and you can start fertilizing. Fertilization should be done in small amounts and frequently. First, use a thin liquid fertilizer, such as 10-15 times diluted decomposed cake fertilizer water or compound fertilizer solution. Fertilize every 10-15 days, gradually increasing the concentration and frequency of fertilization as the plant grows.

During the peak growing seasons in spring and autumn, the ratio of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be appropriately increased, such as applying potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, to promote flower bud differentiation and healthy plant growth. When applying fertilizer, be careful to avoid contact between fertilizer and leaves and roots to prevent burns.

5. Strengthening pest and disease control

1. Prevention is the priority

After repotting, the golden marble bonsai is in a recovery period, so its resistance is relatively weak and it is more susceptible to attacks by pests and diseases. Therefore, preventive measures should be strengthened. Check the leaves, branches and roots of the plant regularly for signs of pests and diseases.

Keep the environment clean, remove fallen leaves, dead branches and other debris in a timely manner, and reduce the breeding grounds for pests and diseases. When watering, avoid water accumulation on the leaves for a long time to prevent the growth of bacteria.

2. Pest and disease treatment methods

If pests and diseases are found, appropriate prevention and control measures should be taken in time. For common pests such as aphids and red spiders, biological control methods can be used, such as releasing natural enemy insects such as ladybugs and lacewings for control; chemical control methods can also be used, such as spraying low-toxic pesticides such as imidacloprid and avermectin.

For diseases such as black spot and anthracnose, diseased leaves and branches should be removed in time, and fungicides such as carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl should be sprayed for prevention and control. When using pesticides, you must strictly follow the instructions to avoid damage to plants caused by excessive pesticide concentrations.

That’s it