Myrtle bonsai care

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A bonsai enthusiast can create a fine specimen of Myrtus bonsai tree in a relatively short amount of time.

It is a shrub with a vigorous growth habit.

Mainly two varieties of Myrtle are used to make bonsai:

• Myrtus communis bonsai tree : It is also known as ‘common myrtle’. It is an Broadleaf evergreen shrub with aromatic foliage. The leaves are small dark and glossy and the bark is rough.
  
  In the summer months, white flowers with golden centre are followed by black fruits. The flowers look like fireworks bursting in the sky at night.
  
  It also has a dwarf cultivator – Myrtus communis ‘compacta’. In addition to its fragrant evergreen small leaves, it also produces delicate white flowers with numerous long stamens.
  
  
• Myrtus apiculata bonsai tree : It is a small, tender tree with cinnamon-colored bark. The bark peels off to reveal cream beneath.
  
  Leaves are oval, evergreen, and dull green. A small, white flower is followed by a red or black fruit in the summer.

Best location to keep Myrtle Bonsai

Because myrtle trees are subtropical, they require warm temperatures throughout the year, but with slightly reduced temperatures in winter so they can rest.

High temperatures are not a problem if humidity is also high, but they are stressed if they are exposed to direct sunlight on a hot day.

An ideal temperature range in summers ranges between 70-85°F (21-29°C).

If kept outdoors, you can keep it in full sun. But, provide the bonsai pot some shade in the afternoon. This will prevent the roots from overheating.

In indoor settings, keep the tree in a bright window or windowsill. However, protect it from direct hot sunlight or direct sunlight through the glass of the window.

In winter, it can be kept at a temperatures of 41-50°F (5-10°C).

Winter temperatures that are too high will prevent the plant from going dormant and may exhaust it.

Protect the tree from cold winds.

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 Myrtle

Myrtle tree can be propagated by using cuttings or air-layering or sowing seeds.

Watering Myrtle Bonsai

Make sure the water is soft (lime-free) or you can also use rainwater (the best option).

Monitor your tree’s water requirements carefully during spring and summer when growth is strongest, and increase watering if necessary. However, do not overwater.

Overwatering will lead to wet soil which can cause root rot.

Flowers should never be sprayed as it will lead to fading and dropping. However, you can spray the foliage to increase humidity.

In winter, reduce watering to a bare minimum.

Read watering bonsai tree for more details.

Wiring Myrtle Bonsai

Aluminum wire should be used to avoid damaging thin bark.

Older branches allow less movement than younger ones, however you can wire the branches up to three years old.

You should cut older branches back and shape the new, pliable shoots with wire.

Pruning Myrtle Bonsai

When to prune Myrtle bonsai?

How to prune Myrtle bonsai?

To control this species’ growth, which is particularly strong from the bottom, pruning is necessary in spring and summer.

Keep the bonsai’s strength evenly distributed by cutting suckers that appear at the base of the trunk.

Let branches grow to six inches, then cut back to two or three leaves in the early stages of training.

After basic branch shaping is achieved, clip new growth back to two leaves once four sets of leaves have emerged.

Pruning should be stopped during flowering. Continue pruning when the flowers have finished blooming.

When a bonsai is mature, this is the right time to open up its foliage so that more light can penetrate in the tree.

Pinching Myrtle Bonsai

Every time the tree looks untidy, trim the foliage clouds with sharp nail scissors.

It is necessary to “pull away” cleanly the many adventitious shoots that produce from branches and trunks all over the tree. This can sometimes prove to be time consuming.

By cutting off these shoots, you may leave a short stub from which many more shoots will grow rapidly.

As mentioned earlier, if you wish to avoid the growth of many unwanted shoots, you can do main pruning of the tree when the bonsai is in rest (in winter).

Repotting Myrtle Bonsai

When to repot Myrtle bonsai?

Myrtle bonsai tree can be repotted every 2nd year in spring.

Do not hard prune heavy roots. You can reduce the size of thick heavy roots gradually over few years. If the roots are pruned too much, the tree will drop its leave. Ans these leaves will take sometime to grow back. So be careful.

You can use a lime-free and free-draining, bonsai soil mix.

OR

You can also use a soil mix consisting of 40% grit and 60% organic matter. For the organic matter, you can use ericaceous compost.

Must Read: Bonsai Soil Recipes

Must read : Choosing the right bonsai container

Feeding Myrtle Bonsai

In spring and summer, fertilize myrtle bonsai tree with a well-balanced fertilizer at half strength.

As long as temperatures remain above 55°F (12°C) in the fall and winter, fertilize every two to three weeks.

Before and during the flowering on the tree, do not apply fertilizer. Feeding the tree at this time will lead to vegetation growth.

Fertilize again after flowering as you would in spring and summer.

Read more about applying fertilizer to bonsai in bonsai fertilizer and its application.

Diseases and pest of Myrtle Bonsai

It is possible for spidermite infestations to occur in a congested area of foliage. Aphids can also attack the young shoots of the tree. Apply a systemic insecticide if you can not remove them manually.

Myrtle bonsai care

In case, your passion for bonsai is a little casual and you don’t want a tree which needs regular attention, don’t opt for this tree. These trees are vigorous growers and will need you to maintain them quite frequently (on a weekly basis at times).

Spray water on the tree as often as possible.

If supplied with hard tap water, myrtles will slowly deteriorate because they are calcifuge trees- lime-haters. Hard water will cause yellowing of leaves.

Whenever possible, use rainwater and treat the soil with a soil acidifier 3-4 times a year.

In case your tree is affected by lime, you can repot the tree in fresh soil.

Inspect the tree for dead branches in the dense foliage. Remove them when detected.

What to look for when buying Myrtle Bonsai

Often, most of the bonsai specimens found in nurseries are small in size and moderate in quality. But they can always be trained into a great Myrtle bonsai.

If you are lucky, you might find a larger and more structured bonsai specimen. These examples are a little more expensive, but they are a good investment.

Overwatering can cause the roots to deteriorate, so check the bonsai before making a purchase.

Don’t buy a tree that is unstable in its container. Gently move the tree and check if it is holding on to the soil firmly.