Pittosporum is a flowering plant species and is known by various kinds of names. It is also called Japanese Pittosporum, Japanese Cheesewood, and Japanese Mock Orange. This species of bonsai is native to Japan but is famous and loved throughout the world. It is used in cut foliage and also used both indoors and outdoors for decoration purposes.
The leaves of this Japanese bonsai are of very dark green color. They are thick and glossy. The flowers of this bonsai are rather tiny in size and are of creamy white color. The fragrance of the blossoms is very sweet and this bonsai smells like orange blossoms. This is the very reason this bonsai is named as Mock Orange. At the maturity, this bonsai produces a fruit called capsule which is leathery in texture. This bonsai is a favorite of florists as its leaves and dried fruits and stems are used to make beautiful flower arrangements.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Pittosporum Bonsai?
The bonsai tree of Pittosporum is just a reproduction of the original tree in a small size. This art form was widely used in Japan and China. Bonsai art has been practiced for centuries in these countries. Pots are basically selected to grow bonsais and their health and growth depends upon the kind of care they are provided.
If you take good care of your bonsai, then it will remain beautiful, healthy, and will adorn the space for the the time to come. The beauty of the bonsai tree multiplies as it grows over the years.
How To Plant and Grow Pittosporum Bonsai
Placement in Summer
The Mock Orange bonsai should be kept in that part of your house or yard which receives the largest amount of sunlight and remains the brightest. This bonsai loves the hot weather and the sun. If the temperature at night time falls below 45 degrees, then it will be a nice idea to keep the bonsai indoors. Place the bonsai on a table or a windowsill so that the harsh climate outside does not affect it beauty
Placement in Winter
It is suggested that when the night temperatures begin to fall below the mark of 50 degrees, you must bring the bonsai indoors. A window sill that faces south direction is the ideal place to put the bonsai pot. A second best option is to put the bonsai at the places which face east or west. If you keep the bonsai in a north facing direction, then you will need the help of “grow lights” to make sure that the plant is receiving enough light for proper growth. Pittosporum bonsai must receive direct sunlight for four to six hours for better health. It would be much better if the bonsai can receive more sunlight beyond this range.
How to Take Care of Pittosporum Bonsai Tree
Below is the guide to take proper care of your Pittosporum Bonsai Tree:
Watering the Bonsai
You must never neglect watering your bonsai. As soon as you notice that the soil has become dry, you must water the plant. You must double check that the sol never becomes completely dry. Until you get accustomed to the moisture requirements of your bonsai tree, it is suggested that you use a moisture meter. The amount of water you should put in depends on the requirements of the plant. As a golden rule, water the plant until it starts to run out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. The way of watering the tree does not really count much as long as the bonsai has been well watered.
Checking the Humidity
During the winter days, the bonsai tree is kept indoors. During this time, it is advised that a shallow tray filled with water and gravel is placed under the pot in which the bonsai is planted. This will help to provide the necessary moisture to the bonsai. The modern heating systems may lead the plant to lose moisture fast. Such an arrangement will keep the humidity levels for the plant in check.
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Fertilizing Your Bonsai
In order to keep your bonsai beautiful and healthy for long term, it is necessary that you provide adequate fertilizer to the plant. Replenishing the nutritional requirements of the soil is necessary because the bonsai grows in a limited amount of soil that loses nourishment over time. You can choose a good general-purpose liquid fertilizer for the bonsai. These fertilizers are easily available in the garden centers. You should use the fertilizer at half the length of what is recommended on the label. You much fertilize the plant once a month. But in winters, you need to provide extra nutrition to the bonsai.
Foliar feeding will be great idea to boost the growth of the plant. In a spray bottle, fill up a water-soluble fertilizer and use it every other month to keep the foliage lush and healthy.
Get Training
Taking proper care of the bonsai is a kind of art. So, either you must get training to take proper care of bonsai or must take the advice of the professional time to time. Periodic pinching and trimming is a crucial part of bonsai care. So, either hire a professional to do this or master the skills yourself!
Pinching and Trimming
Pinching and Trimming helps the tree to retain its miniature shape. The new growth should be pinched and trimmed to the farthest point where it seems apt to do so. To make sure that the tree sustains, a bit should be left and should not be pinched or trimmed. Different kind of bonsai trees grow at different rates. Thus, their pinching and trimming requirements are also different. You must continuously monitor the growth rate of your bonsai tree. The pinching and trimming of the bonsai should be accommodated according to its growth rate.
Repotting the Bonsai
It is very important to repot your bonsai periodically. When the root system of the bonsai fills the pot, then you must know that it is the time to repot the plant. Repotting the bonsai tree provides it a new environment with fresh soil. It will also encourage a root system that is more compact. Generally, Pittosporum bonsai requires repotting after a couple of years. Again, this point must be kept on mind that every bonsai grows at a different rate. So, you must closely monitor the growth rate of your bonsai tree and decide accordingly the right time to repot it. If you see that the root system of your bonsai has become pot-bound, then it is the time to repot it.
Most of the times, the repotting process is very safe and easy. If you repot the bonsai at the right time of the year along with following the proper guidelines, then it becomes a very hassle-free process. Mid-summer is the ideal time of the year to repot the Pittosporum bonsai tree. You must remove the tree from the pot along with all the soil and the root system. This is done by shaking the extra soil off the root system and pruning the roots. You must ensure that you do not overdo the pruning of the roots. It is suggested that you must not prune than one-fourth the mass of the root system.
After the pruning process is done, it depends on you whether you want to keep the bonsai in the same pot or want to relocate it to another pot. You should check that the pot in which you are repotting the bonsai has drainage holes. It checks that the excess water can be drained out and the bonsai does not rot. You must also place some gravel at the bottom of the pot. This will further aid in the drainage system. The fresh new soil should be placed on the surface of the gravel layer.
The soil that you choose to repot the bonsai should be of good quality. A well-draining soil enriched with nutrients is the right choice for your bonsai. The soil should be enough to an extent that the bonsai is placed at the right height. Fill the fresh soil in the new pot as required. You must fill in the new fresh soil in such a way that no air pockets are left in the pot. You must thoroughly water the bonsai after repotting it. This things can be properly done if you submerge the entire pot in a vessel filled with water. To make sure that the soil erosion does not happen while watering, you can cover the pot with material such as moss.
Taking proper care of your bonsai will keep it in goo health for the years to come. This bonsai will be a great gift for your future generations. Water the bonsai on a daily basis. You must also check that the soil has all the basic nutrients so that the bonsai remains healthy and beautiful. This bonsai can be kept both indoors and outdoors. So, this bonsai should be made an integral part of your collection.
