Japanese larch does not mind bold pruning measures. This circumstance makes it possible to cultivate them as bonsai. The plant is brought into a decorative form which, with the right care, will remain almost unchanged for years.
The Japanese larch as a bonsai really looks like a miniature tree
The typical look
The older the bonsai gets, the more it resembles a real tree in appearance. The trunk gets stronger and stronger, its bark takes on a gray to reddish colour. Often the trunk is unusually shaped, which gives it even more attractiveness.
The needles sprout in clusters, are 2-3 cm long, soft and a delicate green. In summer their color changes to dark green, in autumn they turn yellow until they finally fall off. This is a peculiarity of the larch, which does not fit in at all with the other types of conifers.
The blossoms are a long time coming; the larch will only bloom for the first time in spring after 15 years at the earliest. The reddish flowers stand out against the green background, the male flowers can be recognized by yellow bushes. This is followed by cones that remain attached to the tree for years.
The main task: cutting
Every bonsai enthusiast seems to have their own way of doing things, for example when it comes to pruning, there are different indications. The least you can do wrong is if you buy a ready-formed bonsai. In summer, all you have to do is pluck out the new shoots.
Larger changes in the shape of the tree, on the other hand, should be made in autumn. If you want to delve deeper into the art of bonsai pruning, you should obtain the relevant literature and form the Japanese larch into a cascade or a "mini" forest tree. Over time, you will add your own practical experience to the knowledge you have read.
Optimal care for the small tree
The small bonsai tree does not root outdoors like the large specimens, instead it has to be content with a pot. For its owner, however, this means increased maintenance effort, which he is certainly happy to do. The most important things in brief:
- Keep soil constantly moist
- water more modestly in winter
- every day on hot days
- Fertilize from May until early September
- every two weeks with a bonsai fertilizer
- regularly check for pests
- take immediate action if infested
location and hibernation
Most owners will cultivate their bonsai indoors and, if possible, put them outside in the summer. The small larch likes it both indoors and outdoors when it gets enough sun.
The winter is stingy with the sun and often lets the temperatures plummet into the abyss, the bonsai does not mind. This tree is hardy and does not necessarily have to be overwintered warm. It can also be left outside with its bucket all year round.
tips
Replace the substrate every 2-3 years while the pot size remains unchanged. The overgrown roots must be cut back when repotting.