Keeping large deciduous trees with low growth as bonsai is becoming more and more modern. Would you like to try a robinia? While the optimal suitability of this plant for the Japanese growth habit is debatable due to its long spring leaves, it is definitely worth the effort. Try it. The following instructions provide you with useful assistance.
The robinia can also be trained as a bonsai
Get the bonsai in shape
With regard to the already mentioned difficulty of tying the long spring leaves, you should not keep your robinia too small even as a bonsai. A height of one meter is recommended. Then the fan leaves create a coherent overall picture. Suitable design forms for the robinia are
- the cascade
- the semi-cascade
- or the multiple stem
Cut robinia for bonsai
A low, shaping cut is possible all year round. However, you should only make the main radical cut in the autumn. At this point, the black locust stops producing new shoots. This means that less sap escapes from the branches in the event of cuts. A robinia forms up to 23 feathers on one leaf. Feel free to cut them back to three or four feathers. In addition, the deciduous tree tends to form root suckers. These are uninteresting for keeping bonsai and should be removed immediately at the base.
Be careful when wiring
With regular pruning, shaping wiring is actually not necessary for the robinia. If you still want to use this measure, it is best to start in June. However, you must remove the wire after a year at the latest so that it does not grow into the wood. Be very careful when doing this. The shoots of the robinia are extremely fragile.
More care tips
Place your bonsai robinia in a sunny spot. You should not expose the deciduous tree to strong winds. Regular watering and fertilizer every other week are also part of the care. Ideally, enrich the substrate with bonsai unit soil.