From ancient times, birch was considered a symbol of Russia. For hundreds of years, this plant has inspired artists to create unique works of art. Birch was admired by poets describing its beauty in their poems and odes. This culture occupies no less honorable place today, but already in the art of bonsai. Birch grown using this technology is especially attractive.
The fashion for miniature trees came from China. But in a fairly short time, it gained immense popularity in Europe. Growers of small trees in pots are engaged in flower growers around the world.
From this article you can learn how to grow a bonsai tree from birch, about the features of technology, as well as see photos of the final result.
Birch and bonsai technique
The plant has several undeniable advantages. Birch has a natural elegance. Her small leaves and unique bark color make her a special culture. These factors are key in the formation of bonsai. Birch has the peculiarity of dropping branches, which can adversely affect the appearance of the plant.
Initially, the lower part of the crown dies. These are branches that perform the function of the forming parts of a tree, determining its parameters. Many people mistakenly believe that branch dying is due to plant disease. But this is a natural natural process for birch.
Bonsai (see photo in the article) is often created using this tree. It's all about cropping. If it is performed as necessary, then the death of the lower branches of the tree can be avoided. Proper pruning is considered to be conducive to the concentration of the growth force of the lower part of the plant. Due to this, this part of the crown does not die.
Benefits of Birch Birch
A distinctive feature of the plant is its leaves. In birch they are small, conical in shape. In mid-spring, the first inflorescences appear on it. They are also called earrings. In addition, the white color of the bark makes this tree recognizable.
Birch has become popular in the art of bonsai due to its unpretentiousness and adaptability. It takes root quickly enough, and the wounds heal well. In addition, the birch bonsai tree gives a large number of new shoots in a short time.
Skeletal branches form in this culture in the first two years of existence. If on a personal plot you need to drain places with excess moisture, then a birch is perfect for this purpose. However, a large tree can obscure a large area of soil. In order to avoid this, pruning is done. With its help, you can form a crown and control its size. This will allow you to grow bonsai from birch with your own hands. It will be a wonderful decoration of the site.
Choosing the right variety
Before you grow a bonsai from birch, you need to decide what type of plant will be used. This culture has many varieties, most of them great for bonsai. Most commonly used types:
- Betula davurica. This plant is originally from Asia, it has a dark trunk and grows well in shaded places. Its unique feature is the complete absence of birch bark.
- Betula lenta. This species of birch has unusual oval leaves and a bizarre-shaped trunk. This plant grows mainly in North America, its key feature is longevity. This birch can survive up to 300 years.
- Betula papyrifera. This type of plant is notable for its unpretentiousness and unique appearance of leaves. They are very similar to tissue paper, for which this birch got its name. In addition, this species has a very beautiful developed crown and bright white bark.
How to plant
You can choose a plant for planting from the nearest forest belt or purchase and plant in advance on your site. It is noteworthy that the height of the birch should not exceed 75-80 centimeters. Only plants of this size can be used for bonsai.
It is necessary to dig out a birch with the maximum accuracy. After this, you need to prune the roots in accordance with the size of the pot. It is noteworthy that it is not allowed to use a container of less than fifty centimeters in diameter. As a drainage to the bottom you need to fill up a small layer of expanded clay. After that, the pot is filled with a mixture of sand, peat, clay and soil. Once the tree has been planted, the soil surface must be covered with moss.
Formation
After the plant has taken root, it will let out young shoots and branches. Therefore, with the beginning of the spring period, a wire is attached to them. This will form a bonsai skeleton. However, with the onset of the cold season, the wire must be removed.
Pruning birch tolerates without complications. In one year, you can form a full crown, planting in a pot and pruning the roots will slow its growth. However, it is necessary to control not only the dimensions of the tree, but also its shape. For this, regular pruning is performed.
It is important to remember that thick branches of a tree can only be removed in the winter, and thin branches all year round. Large shoots should not be cut in the spring because the plant lets out the juice. In addition, this procedure is best avoided during active tree growth. During this period, the risk of branch dying is increased. It is best to apply a garden var to cuts.
Bonsai leaves are removed from birch only large. They need to be trimmed in late spring.
Care
A distinctive feature of birch birch is its unpretentiousness in care, but some simple rules must be observed. It is necessary to water the plant regularly, but moderation is important. In the winter season, watering is minimal. The soil at this time should be slightly dry. On particularly hot summer days, spraying of birch leaves is allowed. But it is prohibited at another time, as it can adversely affect the health of the tree.
In the first months after planting in a pot, birch cannot be fertilized. In addition, feeding during periods of illness of the culture is prohibited. Fertilizers are applied only in the spring. The best option would be mineral fertilizers. Organics can also be used, but only at the end of May.
Pests
Unfortunately, birch has a lot of different enemies. One of the main ones is a pipe-driver, which devours its young shoots and leaves. A sign by which the appearance of this pest is determined is foliage twisted into a tube.
No less threat to birch is a bark beetle. It penetrates the bark of a tree and spoils the trunk from the inside. Moths and silkworms can do great damage. Curls appear on the foliage from their activity.
The treatment in this case is one. Damaged bark areas are removed, birch is treated with an organophosphorus insecticidal preparation. Copper-based solutions can also be used.