If the holm oak with its imposing height is too big for the garden, you can cultivate a holm oak bonsai as an alternative.
During your holiday in the Mediterranean you can admire holm oaks in all their splendour. They grow up to 25 meters high, have a bony growth habit and a rounded crown. In Germany, the outdoor plants are a rarity, because holm oaks are not up to permanent frost. It may only be possible to cultivate holm oaks outdoors in very mild regions, such as the wine-growing regions in south-west Germany or around Lake Constance.
If you don't want to do without all the splendor of the attractive trees in your home, you don't have to pack your bags, but with the cultivation of the holm oak (Quercus ilex) as a bonsai you get more than one alternative. The small trees are in no way inferior to their larger relatives in the wild in terms of growth and charisma. Find out now how you too can become a bonsai gardener.
Hospital as a bonsai - is it worth it?
In any case, tens of thousands of hobby gardeners around the world enjoy the mini trees, which with a life expectancy of up to 500 years will also bring joy to their offspring. There are, of course, some differences with regard to bucket maintenance. If you follow the tips and advice below, you will easily get started with bonsai cultivation.
Advantages and disadvantages compared to cultivation in a pot
Advantages
- The characteristic growth habit can be clearly identified.
- A bonsai usually gets older than a container plant.
- The plants take up less space.
Cons
- Bonsai culture is more demanding.
- The bonsai must be pruned regularly.
- The bonsai is particularly susceptible to frost.
- Higher acquisition costs when purchasing the plant.
Hospital bonsai - the right location
If the holm oak is grown in the bonsai pot, it requires a rather small supply of substrate and nutrients. A bright location is very important for the mini trees. In their natural habitat, the holm oaks form long taproots that go deep into the groundreach in and ensure the supply of water and nutrients. No taproot can form in the shallow planter. Plants have to use photosynthesis to provide the energy needed for growth. So make sure you have a full sun location. This can be on the balcony or terrace during the summer months.
» Tip: Plants in flat planters are particularly vulnerable to frost. Therefore, the bonsai should move to the winter quarters in good time.
Only a location in full sun ensures that more oxygen and sugar is formed than is needed for the maintenance of the plant. The resulting surplus of energy ensures the growth and formation of the thickened trunk typical of the holm oak.
» Tip: Wind and rain can hardly harm the bonsai. This hardens the leaves and gives the plant resistance to bacteria and pests.
Water the holm oak bonsai correctly
The water requirement of the bonsai can be classified as average. Care must be taken that the soil does not dry out completely. This would lead to the death of the fine root network after a short time. More frequent watering is necessary, especially in summer. To be able to assess this better, carry out a soil test. If the top layer of soil has dried slightly, the watering can is used, if necessary several times a day.
» Tip: If the soil has dried out, a dipping bath will help the bonsai to soak up moisture and recover quickly.
If possible, use rainwater to water and spray the leaves. Alternatively, stagnant tap water can also be used - kCalciferous water leaves ugly leaf spots. However, regular showering of the plant is beneficial to ensure higher humidity levels while removing dust and dirt buildup from the leaves. In winter, the plant is watered less. But the bonsai must not dry out even in the cold season.
Watering holm oak bonsai in keywords
- Water frequently, especially on warm days
- Substrate must not dry out
- spray more often
- Use rainwater
- Drying immersion bath
- Water less in winter
Fertilize holm oak bonsai correctly
In order for the holm oak to develop well in miniature, you should use a specialBuy bonsai vital fertilizer. This is given at three-week intervals during the growing season. The fertilizer is easy to dose and is added to the irrigation water. Fertilizers are reduced in autumn. Since it is an evergreen plant and photosynthesis also takes place in winter, a little fertilizer can be applied once a month even in the cold season.
Our recommendation
Horn oak bonsai fertilizer in keywords
- use complete bonsai fertilizer during the growing season
- fertilize every three weeks
- in winter maybe fertilize every four weeks
Pruning holm oak bonsai - but how?
Pruning measures are particularly important when caring for bonsai. In order for a bonsai, i.e. a mini tree, to develop, the roots, shoots and branches must be cut back regularly. This is best done four to eight weeks apart during the growing season between May and September. The pruning decides on the final growth form and should be done with care. In Asia, there are traditions in this regard that have been carried out for thousands of years.
When cutting, ensure that the crown, trunk and roots are proportionate. From the end of April, it is regularly shortened to a maximum of two sheets. If you want your bonsai to branch finely, you should shorten all terminal buds by the end of May. If, on the other hand, the branches are to quickly increase in size, then they are not cut. Just wait until the branch is what you want and then cut.
Wiring Holm Oak Bonsai
Wiring is a common method of growing bonsai. By wiring, the tree can be brought into shape faster than if you trust in natural growth. You can provide the branches with a special wire and move them in the desired direction wrapped with this aluminum wire. Wiring is usually done in spring, but no later than May. The wire should be removed again in May, as the trees will then begin to grow thicker and the wire would grow into the branches or trunk.
When does a holm oak bonsai have to be repotted?
Once you have just started growing bonsai, regular repotting is necessary. Young plants should be placed in a new bonsai pot every two years at the latest. For older specimens, it is sufficient to transplant every four to five years. The best time for repotting is late winter or early spring. In any case, the plant should not yet be treated with thebudding have started. When transplanting, you can remove a third of the roots. Place the plant in a substrate consisting of acadamia soil, pumice granules and bonsai soil.
What diseases can holm oak bonsai attack?
The plants are susceptible to mildew infestation. Scale insects or spider mites also occasionally occur. In order not to endanger the plant, you should get appropriate antidotes. In mild cases, it also helps to shower the plants with a hard jet of water or to treat them with a stinging nettle or garlic solution. Rubbing the leaves with milk is also a proven home remedy for powdery mildew.
Holding holm oak bonsai - what should be considered?
The plant should move to its winter quarters in good time. Light frosts of up to -5 degrees are tolerated, but not over a longer period of time. It's better if you provide adequate winter quarters in good time. The bonsai plants overwinter in a bright, frost-free room. At temperatures of about five to ten degrees, the plants can be housed until spring.
» Tip: Keep an eye on the plants in the winter quarters so that no pests settle in or the plant dries out. There is less watering in winter, but the holm oak bonsai must not dry out.