Cedar Bonsai

It's Needle Like Leaves are a Treat to the Eyes



Cedar Bonsai trees, the miniature form of the Cedar trees, are evergreen trees found mostly in the Mediterranean and the Himalayan ranges.

Cedar grows on to have needle like leaves and a grey trunk which remains smooth in the beginning but becomes rough with the progression of age. If you are planning to try your hand on the upright style and cascade style of bonsai then Cedar would be the perfect fit.

On Cedar Propagation

Cedar Bonsai can be cultivated from seeds or by grafting process.

If you want to use cedar seeds for your bonsai then, there are some important points that you need to take care of.

To start of with soak the cedar seeds in water for a day or two, and then dry them out by wiping them with a soft towel.

Once the seeds have dried out place them in small plastic bags and put them into a refrigerator for cold treatment. Ideally the refrigeration process should be carried out for a period of 30 days , but if you find the seed sprouting before 30 days then you could very well go ahead and remove it from refrigeration.

The ideal season for sowing your seeds is the spring season. While planting your cedar seeds using normal bonsai soil should be fine.

After planting ensure that you water the seeds properly without over hydrating them as too much of water might result in fungal infections. Once the needle like leaves start appearing in your bonsai plant then you could consider it safe for the further processes.

Temperature, Water, Feeding and More…

Although cedars grow in the full sun but most varieties would require some kind of protection from strong winds and extreme weather. This is to ensure that the branches don’t die out due to bad weather.

A cedar doesn’t need lot of water for their growth. During summer season the plant needs moderate amount of water and during the winters it will require very little watering. Although care should be taken against over watering the plant as excess water would lead to root rot, discoloration of the needles and will be detrimental to the overall growth of the plant.

The bonsai plant would also need fertilizers to augment the nutrient supplements it gets from the soil. Any normal bonsai feed can be used. Feed should generally be given in an interval of two to three weeks during the spring and autumn season.

Pruning of the cedar bonsai tree should only be carried out when the plant is healthy and strong, otherwise you run the risk of breaking the braches while carrying out the pruning and wiring exercise.

Pruning is an integral part of growing bonsai. For branch or trunk pruning, consider pruning at a point in between two internodes. Cut the branch half way through at an angle, and then rip it off the plant exposing some portion of the wood. Ensure that the wood does not get exposed till the roots.

This will promote growth and will give the desired shape to your plant. In addition you could also consider wiring your cedar bonsai to keep it in shape.

Hope you have fun growing your own cedar bonsai tree.




Return from Cedar Bonsai to Bonsai Hub home