Deciduous Bonsai
Deciduous bonsai trees such as Japanese Maple and Chinese Elm change their appearance with the seasons. After dropping their leaves in the winter, the bare branches demonstrate the bonsai form eloquently.
Most Popular Types
The most popular deciduous bonsai trees are maples, elms, ginkgos and apricot trees.
The standard Chinese elm can reach sixty feet. Indoor bonsai may keep their leaves, but should be taken out it the cold where they will behave in normal deciduous form, losing their leaves. These are easy for beginners because the growth is predictable and is forgiving of pruning errors.
Maples also make good beginning bonsai as they are sturdy, forgiving and the changing leave colors are fascinating. The most common maples bonsais are Japanese maple and trident maple.
A Japanese native, the ginkgo tree bears a healthful fruit. Leaves are fan shaped and turn yellow in the fall. Ginkgos can live 100 years but grow only 16 inches tall.
The Apricot bonsai is from China where both the fruit and flowers are of value. These plants only live for 9 years and grow 17 inches tall. Flowers begin in early spring with the fruit following in the summer.
Light
Deciduous bonsais should be outside during the spring, summer and fall seasons with ample sunlight. Deciduous bonsais can be brought inside for only a few days. During the winter they should be stored in cold, dark places (even buried) so that dormancy can be achieved.
Temperatures
As mentioned above, in the winter deciduous bonsai should be stored in the dark and where temperatures are cold.
Watering
Deciduous bonsai should be watered when the soil is dry and the soil should remain moist. Trees in direct sunlight, should be watered daily. Water until the water runs out of the pot. When in dormancy, water only every two weeks.
Toxicity
Deciduous bonsai trees are generally safe for humans and pets. Exceptions include Apricot which is moderately toxic and Chinese Elm and maple which are mildly toxic.
Growth
Deciduous bonsais should be trimmed to keep the miniature size and to shape them in a pleasing fashion.
Fertilize monthly except in winter.
Origin
Elm trees flourish throughout the northern hemisphere, whereas maple trees are native to North America only. Gingko and apricot trees are originally from China. The apricot now thrives on the US west coast.
Propagation
Like most bonsai, deciduous trees can be propagated either from cuttings or seed.
Dormancy
Both evergreen and deciduous bonsai trees enter a dormancy during the winter. During this period neither type of bonsai should be indoors. Keeping them outside in cold weather facilitates the dormancy period.
Unlike Evergreens, which keep their needles or leaves year-round, deciduous trees lose their leaves in the winter. “Deciduous” means “falling off at maturity”.
bonsai tree of chinese elm in autumn
Chinese elm in autumn
chinese elm bonsai
Chinese elm bonsai
Japanese maple bonsai
Japanese maple bonsai tree
Workshops at Growing Hobby
Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.