Expectations
Trees of life require a bright location that is not in full sun. As an outdoor bonsai, the plant survives the winter outdoors.
also read
- What should you watch out for when transplanting thuja?
- The growth of Thuja Brabant
- Is there actually an increase in thuja dying?
Pouring behavior
As with all bonsai trees, you should keep the soil continuously moist without causing waterlogging. When the summer months are particularly hot, daily watering is required. By rinsing the needles, you ensure a humid climate in the crown.
Nutrient supply
If the tree is in the growth phase, which extends mainly from May to September, it needs sufficient nutrients for healthy growth. Apply a liquid fertilizer with the irrigation water every two weeks. During the winter months, reduce the intervals to intervals of two months.
Repot
Young trees require the earth to be replaced every two to three years. They grow faster, so it quickly becomes too tight for them in the planter. Older specimens have a slower growth rate and only need to be repotted when their root ball has completely grown through the shell. As part of this measure, you can shorten the roots so that a balance is created between the leaf mass and the roots.
Trees of life like this substrate:
- conventional potting soil with high permeability
- pure Akadama earth
- Mixture of universal and kiryu earth at 50 percent each
Overwinter
Thujas turn out to be winter hardy, although the light supply must also be guaranteed in the cold season. Since the needles need water all year round, the earth must not freeze in winter. Otherwise the roots can no longer guarantee the water supply, so that the leaves dry up and fall off. In the harsh winter months, protection is advisable to avoid red-brown discoloration of the needle.
Design and styles
Except for the broom shape, all styles are possible to bring the tree of life into an attractive miniature shape. Aesthetically free and strictly upright shapes or forest designs and small groups appear. A bonsai on rocks is also very feasible.
Cut
If you have a Conifer to bonsai corrective interventions are necessary. This way you keep the growth small. The needles of Thuja species are arranged in a fan shape in whorls, which are shortened at the beginning of each growing season by plucking the tip. Arborvitae can tolerate pruning back into the old wood without any problems, because they are characterized by strong budding.
Wires
This method is possible all year round to bend the branches into a desired shape. Wrap aluminum wire in a spiral around the young branches, which are easy to bend. Regularly check how quickly the branch is getting thicker. So that no unsightly marks remain in the bark, you need to remove the wire in good time.
