Suitable pine varieties
Many Scots pines have twisted, very short needles, which are particularly effective in their bonsai shape. Basically you can use any subspecies of the Scots pine. However, we particularly recommend:
- the Scottish Scots Pine (length of the needles: 3.5 cm)
- the Engadine Scots Pine (length of the needles: 2.5-3 cm)
- the bog forest pine (length of the needles: 2.5 cm)
also read
- What is the difference between the black pine and the Scots pine?
- Keep a pine tree as a bonsai
- Cutting pines as bonsai - impressive tree design from Japan
Advantages and disadvantages of Scots pine in bonsai shape
Many conifers are often kept as bonsai. This form of cultivation is a little more laborious with Scots pine, but it is definitely worth it.
advantages
- dense growth through short needles
- two-colored trunk
- almost all forms of design are conceivable
- branches that are very flexible and easy to wire even in old age
disadvantage
- some subspecies lose their needles quickly
- the varieties mentioned above are not available everywhere
Care tips
Location
It is best to place your Scots pine in a sunny place. If there is too little light, the tree forms longer needles.
Watering and fertilizing
Keep the substrate moist throughout. Drainage protects against waterlogging and the associated death of the roots. In order to prevent budding, you should only water sparingly in spring. Mix the substrate from Akadama and humus in a ratio of 2: 1. The fertilizer is applied from May to August with organic ball fertilizer.
Cut
Shorten the candles by the beginning of summer. New buds will soon form here. From the point in time at which the new shoots become lignified, cut them back to a third. You can wire the jaws for support. So that the tree is not damaged, you should cover the wire with raffia.
Repot
Every two years you should repot your Scots pine and make a root cut.
Overwinter
Your bonsai pine must not get frost. Winter the plant on the windowsill.
