sweet gum tree bonsai | Gardening
In the world of bonsai, you can often find the most accessible ones, those that are usually offered in supermarkets. But if you delve a little deeper into this market, you will find other options, sometimes easier to handle. One of them is the sweetgum bonsai. But what do you know about it?
Then we want will support you get to know one of the miniature trees that can compete with maples in terms of colorful leaves. Want to know what its features are and how to care for it? We’ll tell you everything.
What does the Liquidambar bonsai look like?
The first thing you should know about this bonsai is that it is a type of tree called the sweet gum tree. Scientific name styraciflua liquid is deciduous, meaning it loses its leaves in the winter when it is cool. However, this process means that the leaves change color. They become yellow, orange, purple, burgundy, and even red. What does this depend on? Basically, it depends on the season and climate where it is located. For example, in the fall it tends to have a reddish hue, while in the spring it takes on a green hue that changes to yellow and orange, as well as purple and burgundy as the seasons progress into the fall.
When it comes to the leaves are lobed and palmate, like those of maples. But unlike them, tonal changes are much easier to achieve than with other trees.
Its trunk is scratchy and if you manage to get a fairly aged specimen, you will see that its bark resembles cork in appearance and texture.
Another aspect that may convince you to choose an amber tree bonsai is its great resistance. It withstands both cool (freezing down to -5ºC) and heat (35ºC or higher if already adapted). Native to the southern United States, and also to Guatemala and Mexico.
Sweetgum Bonsai Care
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Now that you know a little more about the sweetgum bonsai, how about we talk about its care? Sometimes, knowing it, you can tell if it is a bonsai that you can take care of at home or, on the contrary, that it is not the most suitable. Generally speaking, this bonsai has an average height. What does that mean? Well, what It can grow, if all its needs are met, by about 60 centimetres in its first year of life. After that it will be a little slower, but not much more.
With this in mind, the care it needs to develop properly is as follows.
Location
Like any tree, it is more of an outside than an inside tree. We are talking about a specimen that loves the sun and therefore it is recommended to place it outside the house. It can be on a terrace, balcony, in the garden, etc.
does not require minimum number of hours of direct sunlight, although it is recommended to feed it, care should be taken if the plant is on fire because it may lose its leaves and go dormant (which will result in the plant drying out completely).
If you live in one an area where the sun is very powerful, then place the device in a place where the sun will only hit in the early or delayed morning.
Temperature
As we mentioned earlier, this specimen tolerates both high temperatures (up to 35ºC will be just right, above this level it may suffer a little in the first year of adaptation) and low temperatures (frosts down to -5ºC).
It’s still comfortable, they need to be protected to avoid more solemn problems with this tree. The first year of adaptation is probably the most critical, because it is in this year that the climate and temperature of the house will live throughout the seasons. After this year, the specimen becomes more resistant (although this does not mean that it does not need to be cared for).
Subsoil
As you know, the soil you employ in bonsai is very critical. And in this sense, you should know that the best bonsai mix liquidambar is undoubtedly a combination of akadama and kiryu with earthworm humus. To make the substrate more draining, add volcanic gravel or pumice, which will support the roots breathe better.
You need change the soil every 2 years, (Because it is of medium height, it may need to be tended to as roots grow out from underneath.) Always do this in delayed winter when the buds are about to burst.
Irrigation
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It does not tolerate drought well, that’s why habitual watering is recommended in summerand less in winter. It is best to make sure that the first layer of substrate is desiccated before watering, as it does not like waterlogging and can cause root rot.
Utilize low dilution water because It won’t like anything that might change the pH of the soil.
Moreover, for the plant to develop properly, it is critical to ensure adequate air humidity.
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In the spring and summer period it is advisable to add a little organic fertilizer that will support it grow betterWe recommend using a slow-release fertilizer as it will provide all the necessary nutrients.
Of course, if you repotted the plant in spring, it is better not to fertilize it, because it may have too many nutrients and cause the opposite effect, i.e. wilting.
Pruning
Pruning is best done in winter, when the plant goes into hibernation, so it does not lose sap and does not negatively affect its development. First of all, you should remove dead, diseased, damaged, etc. branches. to later delete others you don’t want.
Of course, it is better not to cut too tough and to be careful about the places of cuts so as not to contract diseases.
Plagues and diseases
Although it is quite hardy, the green aphid can easily attack you, especially on dainty shoots. Another pest to deal with is the limpet whitefly.
When it comes to diseases, Root rot (due to excess water) can be fatal to these specimens.
Multiplication
Sweet Amber Bonsai Propagation carried out by seeds (which are very simple to sprout and transfer) as well as by cuttings and layering. The latter may be a little more complex to achieve if this is your first time doing it.
Now that you know about the common sweetgum bonsai, would you dare to have one in your home?