Since beech trees tolerate pruning very well, they are often grown as bonsai in pots. Caring for a bonsai beech is easy, making beech the ideal beginner tree for newcomers. Tips for keeping a beech as a bonsai.
Beeches are very suitable as bonsai
Cut beech for bonsai
With bonsai beech, all cut shapes are possible, because the beech also tolerates severe pruning. However, the broom shape should not be chosen for decorative reasons.
The best time to heavily prune a beech is the month of February. From March the beech will sprout again. When pruning, all branches are severely shortened. Make sure that one to three eyes always remain on the shoot.
A second pruning takes place at the end of July. The bonsai beech is only slightly shortened and shaped.
shape the beech
Beech trees are not easy to wire because the thin bark tears easily. Therefore protect the branches before wiring and remove the wire before it grows in.
Older branches can no longer be wired. If the beech is to be drawn into a specific shape, you must use tension wires.
Caring for bonsai trees properly
- Water regularly
- fertilize from March to August
- repot every two to three years
- Prune roots when repotting
A beech tolerates neither drought nor waterlogging. Water the tree regularly, but ensure good drainage and discard excess water. Rainwater or low-calcium tap water, which should not be too cold, is well suited.
Spring is the best time to repot bonsai. The tree is placed in a slightly larger bowl filled with a special bonsai substrate made from Akadama and bonsai soil. Make sure that the beech gets enough iron, otherwise the leaves will fade.
When repotting, the root is pruned to limit the growth of the beech.
tips
Beeches are generally hardy. If they are grown as bonsai in a pot, however, it is advisable to overwinter them in a cool but frost-free place. Alternatively, they can also be planted outdoors without a shell over the winter.