If you've always wanted to try growing and caring for a bonsai, try privet. The shrub is absolutely easy to care for, making it the ideal plant for beginners. What do you need to consider when caring for privet bonsai?
How do I care for a privet bonsai?
Privet bonsai care includes proper watering without waterlogging, weekly fertilizing during the growing season, regular topiary and, if necessary, wiring in June. Young plants should be repotted every two years, older plants every three to four years.
How do you properly water a privet bonsai?
In summer, privet needs more water than in winter. The substrate should never dry out completely. However, waterlogging must be avoided at all costs.
What should you pay attention to when fertilizing?
When caring for it as a bonsai, give the bonsai some liquid fertilizer once a week during the growing season. There is no fertilization in winter. Avoid over-fertilization. Privet needs few nutrients.
When and how do you cut the bonsai?
- Basic cut in spring every 2 years
- Maintenance cut March / April annually
- Topiary all year round
Privet tolerates cutting very well. You can't go wrong when cutting. If you want branching, you must ensure that there is always a three cm length left on a shoot.
What do you have to pay attention to when wiring?
We usually wire in June. The wires must be removed after six months at the latest.
When does the bonsai privet need to be repotted?
As a young plant, the bonsai privet is repotted every two years. Later it will be sufficient if you transplant the privet every three to four years.
What diseases and pests can occur?
Diseases are rare and are usually caused by care errors such as too much or too little moisture and a location that is too dark. Infestations with mildew and other fungal diseases can occur.
Watch out for pests like:
- Whitefly
- Privet aphid
- Bigmouth Weevil
Why does privet bonsai lose its leaves?
Shedding leaves in autumn is normal as privet is not evergreen. If the leaves fall off in summer, the bonsai is too dark, too moist or too dry.
Is bonsai privet hardy?
The Chinese privet is not hardy and must be kept indoors over the winter.
Almost all other types of privet can easily tolerate temperatures down to minus 10 degrees.
Tip
As a substrate, the bonsai privet prefers water-permeable, slightly humus-rich soil. It should be water-retaining. It's best to use special bonsai soil (€5.00 at Amazon) from the garden specialist store.
