Can you bonsai a Schefflera?
The Dwarf or Hawaiian Umbrella Tree is a tropical tree with compound leaves which is very suitable for indoor bonsai. Bonsai really don’t like to be wet all the time, nor to sit in water for long periods, it is bad for their health. During the winter months, you may be watering once a week, or even less; in the summer, it may every day or every other day, depending on location and climate.The most common, and the easiest to care for, is the Ficus Bonsai. The Ficus is tolerant of low humidity and is very resilient, making it an excellent choice for beginners. Other popular indoor Bonsai include the Dwarf jade, the Fukien tea (Carmona), the Hawaiian umbrella (Schefflera), and the Sweet plum (Sageretia).The Ficus bonsai is the bonsai we recommend for beginners that are new to bonsai and do not have the time for regular waterings. Since the ficus is so resilient to underwatering, it makes it ideal for those that want a low maintenance tree.When repotting, only use bonsai pots with water drainage holes in the bottom of the pots. Immediately after repotting, the bonsai soil should be heavily watered. Do not forget to water your bonsai in the winter quarters.
How do you prune a Schefflera arboricola bonsai tree?
Pruning is a powerful tool with the Schefflera. New branches can grow from the axil of a branch, or the corner where a leaf stem meets a branch. When you trim the Schefflera, it is best practice to trim just below the umbrella-shaped leaves and leave the stem attached. Schefflera branching: To encourage bushier growth, shorten the shoot ends to the desired height. Your umbrella plant will sprout more shoots from where the cut was made, which will give your plant a fuller look.
What time of year should you trim a bonsai tree?
The best time to prune your bonsai tree is when it’s producing new growth. This can vary for different species of bonsai trees, but it’s generally between spring through early autumn. You may think this is a no-brainer, but the bonsai has very specific watering requirements. Approximately once a week or so (when the topsoil feels completely dry) immerse the entire bonsai plant in a bucket or basin of water. Once the air bubbles have risen to the top, the bonsai has absorbed enough water.How often you should repot depends on the size of the pot and tree species of your Bonsai. Fast-growing trees need to be repotted every two years, sometimes sooner. Older, more mature trees need to be repotted every three to five years. Repotting is not something that should be routine.Caring for a Bonsai tree is not nearly as difficult as it might seem. However, as Bonsai trees are planted in small pots there are a few basic guidelines for placement, watering, and repotting your trees.Keeping a Bonsai tree alive is not a difficult task, but there are a few things you should be aware of. Bonsai trees are planted in small pots with minimal space for water and nutrient reserves. That means you need to water and fertilize your tree regularly.