The legendary myrtle (Myrtus communis) originally comes from the Mediterranean region, but can also be cultivated in pots in more northern latitudes. As a bonsai, it decorates the garden in summer and the house in winter.
How do you care for a myrtle bonsai?
To cultivate a myrtle as a bonsai, use pruning, wiring and root pruning. Choose a bright location and ensure high water requirements. Please note that myrtle is more sensitive to wiring than other types of bonsai.
How can a myrtle grow into a bonsai?
With the well-known bonsai care measures such aspruning, wiring and root cutting the myrtle becomes an artistic unique piece. By cultivating myrtle in pots, its size is already severely limited. While the myrtle can grow into a meter-high tree in its homeland, it reaches a maximum height of 1.50 meters in the pot.
Which location is suitable for a myrtle bonsai?
The myrtle prefers aas bright location as possible and should be placed outdoors in summer. But it also thrives as a houseplant on the windowsill. For overwintering, it is best to place them in a frost-protected, bright place where temperatures do not rise above 15 degrees Celsius.
How should you prune a myrtle bonsai?
Through aregular topiary cut the myrtle remains compact and achieves the desired shape. Myrtle grows relatively quickly. As a plant with fine branching that is particularly easy to cut, it is particularly suitable as a bonsai. Young shoot tips should be shortened to two pairs of leaves. The pruning can go into the old wood, as it can also sprout new growth there. Even without pruning, the myrtle branches out on its own. If the myrtle is to bloom in the summer, it should no longer be cut from April onwards. As a bonsai, the myrtle also needs regular root pruning so that the roots do not grow too deep.
How much water does a myrtle bonsai need?
Because of its fine leaves and the resulting strong evaporation, the myrtle has ahigh water requirement Dryness of the ball should be avoided at all costs, just one time is enough to severely damage the plant. At the same time, the myrtle is also sensitive to waterlogging. Low-lime water should be used for watering.
Tip
Be careful when wiring
Unlike other types of bonsai, myrtle cannot be wired so easily. Since the wood is very hard and the branches are not particularly thick, there is a risk that they will break. The shape of the bonsai should be done by topiary rather than wiring.
