In the world of bonsai it is common to find the most accessible, those that many supermarkets usually bring. But if you dig a little deeper into this market, you will find other options, which are sometimes easier to manage. One of them is sweetgum bonsai. But what do you know of him?
Next, we want to help you know one of the miniature trees that can compete with maples in their colorful leaves. Do you want to know what are its characteristics and what is its care? We tell you everything.
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How is sweetgum bonsai
The first thing you need to know about this bonsai is the type of tree that is a liquidambar. With the scientific name Liquidambar styraciflua, it is deciduous, that is, it loses its leaves in winter, when it is cold. However, this process involves a variation in the color of its leaves. These turn yellow, orange, purple, burgundy and even red. What does it depend on? Basically from the season and the climate in which it is located. For example, in the fall it tends to have a reddish tint while in the spring it takes on a green tint that changes to yellow and orange, as well as purple and burgundy as the seasons go by until autumn.
As for the leaves, they are lobed and webbed, like those of maple trees. But unlike these, tonal changes are much easier to achieve than with the other trees.
Its trunk is rough and if you manage to get a specimen that is old enough, you will find that the bark will look a lot like cork.
Another aspect that can make you opt for sweetgum bonsai is its great resistance. It is able to withstand both cold (-5°C frosts) and heat (35°C or more if it is already adapted). It is native to the southern United States, as well as Guatemala and Mexico.
Sweetgum Bonsai Care
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Now that you know a little more about sweetgum bonsai, how about its maintenance? Sometimes, knowing them, you can know if it is the bonsai that you can take care of at home or, on the contrary, that it is not the most suitable. In general, this bonsai is of medium growth. What does that mean? Well, he can grow, as long as his every need is met, about 60 centimeters in the first year of life. Then it will go a little slower, but not much more.
Considering this, the care it needs to grow properly is as follows.
Location
Like any tree, it is meant for outdoors rather than indoors. We are talking about a specimen that loves the sun and that is why it is recommended to place it outside the house. It can be on a terrace, a balcony, the garden, etc.
It does not require a few hours of direct sunlight, although it is recommended to give it some, but be careful if the sun is very scorching as this could cause it to lose its leaves and go dormant (and this will cause it to totally wither).
If you live in an area where the sun is very intense, place it in an area where it only receives sun in the early or late hours of the day.
Temperature
As we mentioned earlier, this specimen tolerates both high temperatures (up to 35 ° C will be fine, beyond that it can suffer a little in the first year of adaptation), as well as low temperatures (freezes down to -5°C).
Even so, it should be protected to avoid major problems in this tree. The first year of adaptation is perhaps the most important because this is where the climate and temperature of this house will live in all seasons. After this year, the specimen becomes more resistant (which does not mean that it should not be taken care of).
Substrate
As you know, the soil you use in bonsai is very important. And in this sense, you should know that the best mixture for sweetgum bonsai is, without a doubt, a combination of akadama and kiryu with earthworm humus. To make it more drained, add volcanic gravel or pumice stone so that the roots breathe well.
You will have to change the soil every 2 years, because, being a medium grower, you may have to take care of it when the roots come out from below). Always do this at the end of winter, when the buds are about to burst.
Irrigation
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It does not tolerate drought very well, so it is recommended to water it often in summer and less in winter. It’s best to make sure your first layer of medium is dry before watering as it doesn’t like waterlogging at all and it could cause root rot.
Use low dilution water, as she won’t like anything that changes the pH of the soil.
In addition, it is important to have good humidity in the environment for it to develop properly.
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During the spring and summer seasons, it is advisable to add a little organic fertilizer to help it develop better. We recommend the time release fertilizer as this will allow you to have all the necessary nutrients.
Of course, if you transplanted it in the spring, it is better not to fertilize it because it may have too many nutrients and you will cause the opposite effect, causing it to wither.
Cut
Pruning is best done in winter, that is, when it goes into hibernation and thus prevents it from losing sap or affecting its development. First remove dead, diseased, damaged branches, etc. to later delete others that you do not want.
Of course, it is advisable not to prune it too much and to take care of the cuts to avoid diseases.
Plagues and diseases
Although it is quite resistant, the green aphid can easily attack you, especially on tender shoots. Another pest to deal with is the limescale mealy bug.
On the disease side, root rot (due to excess water) can be fatal for these specimens.
Multiplication
The reproduction of sweetgum bonsai is done by seeds (very easy to germinate and grow) as well as by cuttings and layers. The latter can be a bit trickier to pull off if it’s one of the first times you’re doing it.
Now that you know the liquidambar bonsai, do you dare to have it at home?