Oak has a lush crown, a thick trunk, a large height, but even it is grown in the apartment. Chinese bonsai art makes this possible.
What is required
Growing miniature oak is a complex and lengthy process. Massive, rough texture, large leaves cause some difficulties. But subject to the rules, you can achieve the desired result.
To form a bonsai:
- a small file with a blade no more than 15 cm;
- blunt ends scissors;
- scissors with long thin blades;
- secateurs;
- concave nippers;
- a plastic pallet or other container;
- plastic grill.
Auxiliary materials: copper wire, stones, moss. Copper wire is used to work with the trunk and branches of a tree, stones perform a decorative function. Moss regulates soil moisture, prevents its erosion during irrigation.
Gardening shops have bonsai tree growing kits.
How to plant a plant
Indoor oak can be grown from small seedlings and acorns. Seedlings are bought or dug up in the forest, park. For a bonsai tree, cork or stone oak is suitable, the height of the plant should not exceed 15 cm. In order to make the tree easier to adapt to new conditions, you should collect land in the place where it grew before.
If acorns are used as planting material, specimens are selected without damage, mold, or other defects. Different oak varieties may differ in the appearance of the fruit. Good material has a brown color, a greenish tint.
The fruits are dipped in water. Rotten, unsuitable for growing become soft, shapeless, rise to the surface. High-quality acorns are dried, put in a plastic bag with substances that hold moisture: wood shavings, moss, chemical compounds.
Germination takes at least 2 months. Harvested material is placed in the refrigerator. It is important to control the level of humidity, otherwise the fruits will rot. After germination, acorns are planted in small volume pots or pallets with a diameter of not more than 5 cm with holes for drainage of excess water.
After 2-3 weeks, the first leaves appear. The sprout is placed in a larger pot. The readiness of the plant for transplantation is determined by the following characteristics:
- well-developed main root;
- the presence of white roots;
- the seedling reaches a height of more than 15 cm.
The best time for planting oak is autumn.
Creating a harmonious composition
Immediately after planting, branches are cut, only horizontal processes are left so that the bonsai grows in breadth. A seedling 30 cm high requires the cutting of branches and leaves. Soft wire rewind shoots and buds. Regular pruning leads to a slowdown in tree growth, transverse notches on the trunk further inhibit development. In the future, large branches are pruned in the winter, with the crown working mainly in late summer. Cut places are treated with garden var. This helps to avoid decay.
Proper care, growth retardation lead to the appearance of small beautiful leaves. If large foliage is still formed, it is half cut for a more harmonious look.
Tips for shaping the trunk are given in the video.
It is better to make a bonsai in an inclined or vertical style. Using the wire, the direction of growth of the plant is set, while the copper wire is superimposed after the leaves fall.
Climate and soil
Oak loves a humid, warm climate. If you place the tree on a windowsill illuminated by the sun, many small leaves will appear. The cold climate destroys the delicate roots, so for the winter they are covered with fallen leaves.
In winter, oak bonsai practically does not require water; in summer, drying of the soil must be prevented. The main rule is not to water the plant from above, otherwise the soil will become dense, the tree will wither. Water should also be avoided on the leaves. This will protect the oak from powdery mildew, burnout crown in the sun.
When transplanting, it is recommended to use breathable clay and compost.
For young plants, the ratio of these components is 2: 1. Mature trees are best transplanted into the soil, consisting of 9 parts of clay and 1 part of fallen foliage. Transplantation is carried out in April-May or October-November.
You can use fertilizers, but you should not be too zealous. At the initial stages of feeding, they will accelerate the process of tree formation, but at later stages of development large leaves and shoots can begin to grow.