Heavenly Bamboo
(Nandina domestica)
Country of Origin : Japan
Bonsai Styles : Informal upright, clump, twin trunk, group, landscape
Zone : 7 – 10
Heavenly Bamboo, also known as sacred bamboo makes an attractive bonsai specimen when grown in a shallow bonsai pot.
These plants have leaves that look like ‘bamboo leaves’ and are usually red for several months. This is especially true in areas with good light. Leaf shape and color vary considerably with the season and even between plants, however, generally, the leaves are bright green and become red.
Leaves do not shed in winter, but they often turn from copper to bright red and return to green in spring.
Several tiny white flowers grow in loose spikes before a cluster of red berries appear on the tree.
Despite its common name, Nandina domestica is not a bamboo (In its genus, it is the only species). It is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub.
Despite Nandina domestica‘s popularity as a garden plant in temperate zones, because it is cold-hardy, it is considered half-hardy in shallow containers.
It produces a lot of new shoots from the base of the plant. It is not able to produce a thick attractive trunk we see in many other bonsai species. The heavenly bamboo plant is highly suitable for clumps or groves of bonsai style.
The plant’s base may become woody after a number of years, at which point it can be exposed by raising the bonsai tree in its container.
Best location to keep Heavenly Bamboo Bonsai
The Heavenly Bamboo bonsai tree likes to spend the entire year in most normal indoor settings, as long as there is sufficient air circulation and enough light. However, direct sunlight should be avoided.
Despite this, it would be beneficial for them to spend the warmer months outside while under shade.
To ensure good air circulation, place near an open window in the summer, and spray with fresh water twice a day.
It can withstand mild overnight frost. However, keep it protected from frost.
It should not be placed in temperatures below 45°F (7°C).
The temperature should be kept below 53°F (12°C) in winter.
Refer sunlight requirements for indoor plants for more indoor gardening ideas. Also, refer to do bonsai trees need sunlight for more indoor and outdoor bonsai location ideas.
Propagation of Heavenly Bamboo
Heavenly bamboo can be propagated using seeds, root division, stem cuttings or grafting.
However, the best and the most preferred way of propagating heavenly bamboo is by using stem cuttings.
Take soft cuttings in summer and plant them when roots form.
You can also propagate the tree using runners which have formed roots.
Watering Heavenly Bamboo Bonsai
Water the plant regularly. Specially in the initial growing season for development of a good root system.
Heavenly bamboo trees that are grown in containers need more care regarding watering. Moreover, quite often these plants are grown in shallow container. This means that watering frequency will increase even further.
Keep the soil moist at all times.
Read watering bonsai tree for more details.
Wiring Heavenly Bamboo Bonsai
You can wire young branches, emerging from the main trunk.
Wiring can be done with copper or aluminum wire.
Pruning Heavenly Bamboo Bonsai
When to prune Heavenly Bamboo bonsai?
How to prune Heavenly Bamboo bonsai?
Even though Nandina domestica doesn’t produce strong branches, it will produce a lot of fine shoots when subjected to hard pruning. It is possible to form dense heads of foliage rapidly, but the foliage will be too loose and open in proportion to the slender trunks.
Prune old stems to the ground level or right back to the woody stump-like base.
Thinning the many new shoots will prevent them from overcrowding. This light trimming of the side shoots will keep the shape of the bonsai tidy.
Leaves are “pinnate” – consisting of many tiny leaflets on a central stalk. In case your bonsai tree starts to look a little unkept, remove about half of the leaflet by cutting along each central stock.
Cut each stem back to the ground as soon as it becomes too tall or outgrows the design. New stems will grow from around the wound and from the thicker roots.
Afterward, you can decide which stem you would like to keep.
As the landscape constantly changes and develops, bonsai takes on a whole new dimension.
Pinching Heavenly Bamboo Bonsai
In order to maintain an overall neat appearance, the tips of side shoots should be trimmed.
You should not pinch off the flowering shoots, which usually appear in early summer from a near-apical bud on the previous year’s growth.
Repotting Heavenly Bamboo Bonsai
When to repot Heavenly Bamboo bonsai?
Heavenly bamboo bonsai tree can be repotted in spring.
Repotting can be done every 3 to 4 years.
This is also a good opportunity to divide the clumps.
Now these clumps can be used to propagate new plants on different containers or you can even spread them in the same bonsai container to widen the look of your bonsai.
You can use a basic free-draining bonsai soil mix as a potting soil.
OR
You can also use a soil mix consisting of 30% grit and 70% organic matter.
Must Read: Bonsai Soil Recipes
Must read : Choosing the right bonsai container
Feeding Heavenly Bamboo Bonsai
Apply a low nitrogen fertilizer throughout the growing season.
A high nitrogen diet will result in overly large leaves and stunted growth.
Read more about bonsai fertilizer and its application.
Diseases and pest of Heavenly Bamboo Bonsai
These trees are generally trouble free. However, new shoots can be attacked by aphids.
Remove them by hands or use a systemic insecticide.
Heavenly Bamboo bonsai care
Since Nandina domestica is unable to produce strong branches from the trunk, it is best to abandon all attempts to produce a treelike form. The natural growing habit of the plant can be used to represent a bamboo grove.
Protect the heavenly bamboo bonsai tree from cold winds in winter. As cold winds can scorch the leaves.
Nandina domestica bonsai tree is a good candidate for indoor bonsai. However, to achieve this, keep the bonsai tree in a cool location in the house in winters. For more location ideas, refer best locations to keep plants in house.
What to look for when buying Heavenly Bamboo Bonsai
Plants from some commercial producers can’t withstand the shock of transport because they are too young. As a result, the roots weaken and start to wither. Be sure to buy a plant that is sturdy and firmly attached to the soil in its pot.
Older specimens of the species are stronger and more resilient than young specimens. Do not buy a young nandina bonsai tree that appears weak.
Don’t worry about the style when making a purchase. The appearance of the tree will change very quickly. Rather, when making a purchase, look for plants that are clearly in good health and have plenty of stems. The clumps can be divided into several smaller groups in spring.
