Japanese Privet bonsai care

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Originally from Japan and Korea, Japanese privet is an evergreen shrub. It has smooth branches that bear alternate, large, egg-shaped leaves.

Japanese privet is hardy in all climates except the harshest of winters.

It produces white flowers that are arranged in large panicles. Clusters of white flowers appear in mid and late summer. These flowers are followed by black berries. These berries are poisonous.

Japanese Privet bonsai is primarily grown as a bonsai for its attractive and lustrous dark green leaves. It is mostly grown as an indoor bonsai tree. It is also ideal for indoor bonsai enthusiasts with little experience.

Important : Keep your pets away from Japanese privet bonsai. It is toxic to pets. All parts of the tree may cause sever discomfort if ingested.

Read more about other bonsai trees species in : Types of bonsai tree

Best location to keep Japanese Privet bonsai tree

Japanese privet bonsai can be kept indoors all year long, provided you have at least one room that is unheated during the winter season. Read how to use grow lights to grow bonsai trees indoor for more details.

Keep the bonsai in a south or west facing window, windowsill or balcony.

This bonsai can also be kept outdoors from spring to autumn in a bright, sunny or partially shaded location. However, keep it shaded from the harsh afternoon sun.

An ideal temperature for Japanese privet bonsai is 68°F to 86°F (20°C to 30°C). Keep the temperature above 50°F (10°C) and you should be good.

This is a very hardy tree, and can tolerate temperatures as low as 10°F (-12°C). However, protect the tree from frost.

You can bring the bonsai back indoors (if placed outside) in the fall (before the onset of frost). Keep the bonsai in a cool and bright room. Although this tree can adapt to warmer temperatures in winter, avoid exposing it to high temperatures.

Japanese privet does not require any special humid conditions.

Please read indoor bonsai tree care to know the best practices to keep an indoor bonsai tree healthy.

IMP: Refer to do bonsai trees need sunlight for more indoor and outdoor bonsai location ideas. Also, refer sunlight requirements for indoor plants for more indoor gardening ideas.

Propagation of Japanese Privet bonsai tree

Japanese privet is very easily propagated through cuttings. Take semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings in late summer. Plant these cuttings in a cold frame of equal parts moist peat and sharp sand. In 5-12 weeks rooting should happen.

While using seeds, keep the seeds in a plastic bag filled with moss. Keep this bag in refrigerator for 3 months. Cold stratification is required to trigger germination. Sow the seeds in soil and keep the temperature at 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Seeds should germinate in 2 months.

Watering Japanese Privet bonsai tree

Japanese privet is a drought-tolerant tree. It can sustain short dry spells. Water the soil so that it is evenly moist. There is no need to mist the tree as it is not very particular about humidity.

Let the soil become a little dry before watering the tree again. If the bonsai is not watered enough, you will notice that the growth of the tree has slowed down. It will not branch profusely.

As the temperature drops in winter, reduce the watering frequency. It will not tolerate standing water.

You can use tap water. Do not water from overhead, instead water the tree from the base.

Read watering bonsai tree (for immersion technique) and indoor bonsai tree care for more details.

Wiring Japanese Privet bonsai tree

Japanese private bonsai is mostly grown in the broom and upright bonsai styles. All styles, however, can be achieved if training is done very early in the plant.

Wiring can be done at any time of the year. 1-2 year old branches can be easily wired. However, older branches should be suspended using guy wires (if training is unavoidable). The will also prevent the branches from scaring.

Read : Detailed guide on How to wire a bonsai. This extensive guide includes all the wiring techniques and Do’s and Dont’s. It will also show you other bonsai training techniques which can be achieved without using wires.

Pruning Japanese Privet bonsai tree

When to prune Japanese Privet bonsai tree?

How to prune Japanese Privet bonsai tree?

Young plants should be pruned radically. New shoots can be pruned to three or four pairs of leaves once it reaches a length of 2-8 inches (5-20cm).

Read how to prune a bonsai to know about the right technique of pruning and more about defoliating a bonsai tree.

Repotting Japanese Privet bonsai tree

When to repot Japanese Privet bonsai tree?

Japanese Privet bonsai trees can be repotted every 2 years in the spring.

Prune almost 1/3 of the total root mass.

Use a free-draining bonsai soil mix.

You can also make a bonsai soil mix by mixing loam, sand and peat moss (2:1:1). You can also mix lava chips, fired clay particles and sand in the ratio 1:1:2.

Please check out how to repot a bonsai to know everything about repotting and root pruning a bonsai.

Must Read: Bonsai Soil Recipes

Feeding Japanese Privet bonsai tree

Fertilize your plant every two or three weeks from late spring to late summer with a weak liquid fertilizer. During the winter, this may be extended to every five or six weeks, especially if the plant is not active.

Read more about bonsai fertilizer and its application. This will also give you more details on how to feed flowering bonsai trees.

Diseases and pest of Japanese Privet bonsai tree

Japanese Privet bonsai is very rarely attacked by pest. However, in those rare cases it can be infected by thrips, aphids, leaf weevils and scale insects.

For leaf weevils, you can apply some gamma-HCH to the soil. Aphids and scale insects can be removed manually. You can apply soapy water or rub methylated spirits or rubbing alcohol. If the infestation is severe, apply an appropriate insecticide. For thrips, you can use a spray of Rapeseed oil or put some Imidacloprid in the soil.

Japanese Privet can also sometimes get affected by yellow spots or brown spots.

Please make sure you read our comprehensive guide: How to identify and treat bonsai pests and diseases is a great resource for you to see all the organic and inorganic remedies you can use.