Production and maintenance of tortoise shell holly bonsai

Tortoise shell holly is named because the leaf surface is protruding in the shape of tortoise shell. It is a small evergreen shrub of holly family. The old stem is gray or grayish brown, the leaves are oval, alternate, entire, the new leaves are tender green, the old leaves are dark green, thick, leathery and shiny. Its branches are vigorous and simple, and the leaves are dense and green, which is very suitable for making bonsai.

The tortoise shell holly used to make bonsai is usually propagated by cutting, which is usually carried out in the growing season from May to July, and the cuttings can choose first-year or current-year strong and substantial branches, remove the lower leaves, and put them in bright light and no direct sunlight for maintenance, keep the soil and air moist, and take root in about 50 days. You can also choose graceful old branches to propagate by high-altitude pressing in the growing season, cut them off after taking root, plant them in a pot, and become a beautiful bonsai. The old stakes that have been growing for many years can also be used to make large and medium-sized bonsai, and the transplanting is mostly carried out before sprouting in spring. Before planting, the stump is trimmed and shaped to cut off unnecessary branches and overlong roots. Watering once after planting, keep the soil moist, often spray water to the branches, in order to increase air humidity, is conducive to plant survival.

According to the different processing of tree stump, tortoise shell holly bonsai can be made into bonsai of different shapes, such as single dry type, double dry type, oblique dry type, curved dry type, dry type, facing water type, cliff type and so on. It can also be planted with several 2-year-old young trees to make jungle bonsai, and pay attention to the high and low of the trees and the changes before and after, so as to achieve both primary and secondary and harmonious unity. The modeling method of tortoise shell holly bonsai should be tied and cut at the same time, first using wire to tie out the basic shape, and then carefully trimmed to make it take shape.

Tortoise shell holly likes a warm, humid and sunny environment and is resistant to semi-shade. During the growing period, keep the basin soil moist without stagnant water, spray water to the plant when the air is dry, to make the leaf color moist; apply thin alum fertilizer water every 15 to 20 days to provide sufficient nutrients, make the leaves green and bright, and the plant is full of vitality. Because of its strong germinating power, we should pick the heart in time, erase the superfluous new buds and maintain the beauty of the tree. Winter requires cold, can be moved to the cold room to survive the winter, maintain more than 0 ℃, the basin soil can not freeze, the area south of the Yellow River can also winter in the outdoor shelter to the sun, water before overwintering, and timely replenish water, avoid basin soil is too dry, to prevent dry freezing, but also to prevent soil water, otherwise it will cause rotting roots. The basin is turned every 2 to 3 years in spring, and the basin soil is required to be rich in humus, loose and breathable.