Peach bonsai image source: Okbonsai
Have you ever seen a bonsai peach? Do you know if they can be made from this type of fruit tree? From now on we say yes, and that at the ornamental level it is magnificent.
But it is important to know what the needs of this tree are in its mini format. Will we help you?
Contents
Peach Bonsai Care
Source: Infogarden
The peach tree, whose scientific name is Prunus persica L., is native to China, Afghanistan and Iran. It needs a temperate climate, but it can actually adapt well to anyone as long as the temperatures don’t drop too much.
It’s striking to see it in flower, but even more with small fruits when you have it as a bonsai. Therefore, we are going to give you the keys that you must master to obtain a good specimen.
location and temperature
We could tell you that you can have the bonsai tree indoors. But the truth is, that wouldn’t be a good idea. Like the fruit tree that it is, it needs sun. A lot of sun. So you will have to locate it outside.
It is true that peach trees do not tolerate frost well (in fact, in a normal tree if the temperature drops below 2 degrees, it is dead). In the case of peach bonsai, the ideal is to place it in a place where it receives the most direct sun.
Now here we have to make a subsection. And it is that if it is the first year that you have it, it is possible that it needs, above all, an adaptation to the climate. If you put it in direct sunlight and it comes from an area where it doesn’t burn too much, the leaves will burn and it will suffer.
You must therefore look at where it comes from to know whether to put it in full sun (this is ideal) or in partial shade for a while.
pot and substrate
Another peach bonsai care is to choose both a good pot and a good substrate.
In this regard, you must bear in mind that this bonsai needs a soil that mixes a substrate with a neutral pH and which also contains akadama, apple and volcanic rock. The ratio is usually 50, 25 and 25 respectively.
As for the pot, always choose a wide and low one whenever you can. You must place the small tree there but, if you want to follow the Japanese tradition, never put it in the center because this place belongs to God and no tree should be there.
Source: Mr Bulle
Transplantation
Before moving on to another of the care of this bonsai, we want to stop you in the transplant since it is related to what you have just read. The transplant will depend a lot on the age of your bonsai peach tree.
If it is young, it will be in the growth phase, and in this case it is recommended to transplant it once a year.
If it is older, it will be fine if you do it every 2-3 years.
Of course, in any case, the transplant should be carried out before spring. Or more precisely, before it blooms. If so, don’t touch it, you will have to wait until next year because you can stop its development and make it sick.
Another point to consider is the issue of root size. In this case, you should cut off the thicker ones and leave the thinner ones. It is a way to prevent the tree from growing too much by having it as a bonsai. You don’t have to do this every time you transplant it, in fact, you can do two or more transplants before you even cut the roots. In addition, we are talking about something that can be dangerous because the bonsai is very stressed and can get sick if you do not take care of it for a while.
Irrigation
There is no doubt that watering is one of the most important cares and it can harm your bonsai. During the winter you will hardly need any water, once every two weeks might be enough. But in summer, due to flowering and fruit development, it will need more water (at least once a week).
Now, everything will depend on the weather you will have. You need to find the perfect balance to keep your bonsai hydrated without damaging the roots or the tree itself.
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From spring to summer, adding a little fertilizer with the irrigation water is not a bad idea, quite the contrary.
Source: Wallpop
Size
Pruning and wiring are two of the most important cares for a bonsai tree because that’s what you can use to shape it and make it look as good as the pictures you’ve seen on the internet.
Most peach bonsai tend to have a cascading shape. But it is not easy to achieve, let alone in a short time. You have to be patient to be able, over the years, to shape the branches, prune those that remain dry or become deformed, etc.
It is also necessary to remove the cross and front branches in order to leave the front of the bonsai free.
As for the wiring, you will know that it is used to transport the branches where you want them to go. In other words, it serves as a guide for your design. Always use aluminum or copper wire, which are the least damaging to the branches.
If you do not want the marks to remain, in addition to applying it more smoothly, you can use an element so that the wire and the branch do not touch each other. When they are young branches there is no problem, but with older ones you may find resistance.
Of course, be very careful not to break the branches in your urge to give it a different orientation than it has.
Plagues and diseases
Like any fruit tree, pests and diseases can affect it. Mealybugs, spider mites or problems related to too much or too little irrigation and light are among the most common.
Multiplication
Finally, the topic of propagating the peach tree in bonsai is not achieved like a “normal” tree. In general, a peach tree can be obtained by seeds, grafts or cuttings.
Well, in the case of bonsai reproduction, you can only do this with seeds or, in very specialized cases, with cuttings from the bonsai itself. The latter is much more complicated and only experts have the chance (and only sometimes) to pull it off.
As you can see, the bonsai peach tree is not difficult to maintain, but it has some peculiarities that you must keep in mind for it to be healthy. Would you dare to have one?