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tamarind bonsai care guide Tamarindus indica bonsai care guide

Tamarind bonsai care

Tamarind bonsai tree tamarindus indica bonsai tree

Tamarind

( Tamarindus indica )

Country of Origin : India
Bonsai Styles : Informal upright, group, slanting
Zone : 10 – 11


Tamarind is an evergreen, slow growing shrub with small pinnate leaves that are very similar to the leaves of an acacia tree.

Read more about acacia bonsai tree.

The feathery, compound leaves of the tree are delicate, pinnate and bright green in color.

The trunk of the tree has thick bark which is very rough and has deep fissures. It is brown to dark brown in color.

The roots of the tree are normally spread out very evenly across the surface of the soil, which lends the tree a very aged appearance.

Its foliage, texture of bark, drought tolerance, cold hardiness (in mature trees), and growth habit make the tamarind bonsai tree one of the ideal bonsai specimens.

Furthermore, it is also a very good tree to be grown as an indoor bonsai tree.

Read more about other bonsai trees species in : Bonsai tree care

tamarind bonsai tree pods Tamarindus indica bonsai tree pods
Left : Tamarind pods Right : Tamarind seeds
The fruit of the tamarind tree is a legume. It is slightly curved, 10 to 15 cm long, and has a brownish color. The pods contain 4 to 12 seeds. Pods will mature in fall and summer.

Tamarind bonsai tree not poisonous to pets

The leaves, pods and even the bark of the tree are edible. Tamarind bonsai tree is not poisonous to pets or humans. In fact your parrot is likely to feed on it in case the tree is fruiting.


tamarind bonsai tree with pods Tamarindus indica bonsai tree with pods
Tamarind bonsai tree with pods. Image from Source.



Best location to keep Tamarind Bonsai

Before getting into the details of positioning of the tree, its good to know that : In order for the tamarind to flourish, it needs a dry weather and has a high drought resistance, making it ideal for semi-arid areas.

These trees can be kept in full sun or partial shade.

In fact, tamarind bonsai trees can be kept indoors for the whole year. It can be kept in any location in the house which receives at least 2 hours of bright sunlight.

It can also be kept outside in summer. But keep the bonsai container in a location which receives indirect sunlight. Also, protect it from strong winds.

Winter temperatures should be in the range of 55°F – 70°F (13°C – 21°C).

IMP: 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 Tamarind

Tamarind can be propagated by using seeds and cuttings.

In case using cuttings, take hardwood cutting (at least 8 inches long). Apply some rooting hormone and plant it in a pot with growing medium. Water the pot.

You can make the growing medium by mixing cocopeat or any peat and perlite and fungicide (optional). After planting, cover the while thing with a plastic bag.

You should see new leaves emerging from the cutting in about 2 weeks.

You can also propagate the tree using seeds. Do not use seeds which are thin or shriveled. Choose a seed which looks round and thick.

Trim off the edges of the seeds using a plier or a nail clipper. Make sure you trim the bottom of the seed so that the roots can come out.

As you will trim, you will see white inner section of the seed. Now plant the seed (about an inch deep) in the pot. Water the pot.

Cover the pot with plastic and keep the pot in a warm place. In about 2 weeks you should see the seed germinating.



Watering Tamarind Bonsai

These trees can tolerate drought when planted on the ground. However, watering care should be taken of when growing in bonsai pot.

Even though they tolerate drought, they love and grow best in moist soil. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.

Depending on your environment, adjust your watering in summer. The frequency of watering will reduce in winter.

Furthermore, even though the tree adapts to dry conditions, increasing the watering a little bit is not a bad idea.

Younger Tamarindus indica bonsai tree will need more watering. On the other hand, mature bonsai trees will require relatively less water.

Younger trees will need water because their roots are not fully established.

Read watering bonsai tree for more details.



Wiring Tamarind Bonsai

Wiring of tamarind bonsai can be done at any time of the year. However, be careful not to try and bend the branches too much.

The branches of the tree are brittle and you will risk breaking the branches by applying too much pressure.



Pruning Tamarind Bonsai

When to prune Tamarind bonsai?

How to prune Tamarind bonsai?

You can prune your tamarind bonsai at any time of the year. However, make sure that you prune back to a secondary branch or a bud.

Choose your primary branches wisely and remove the rest of the branches. Prune in a way the shoots from the branches have a consistent spread.

Prune the branches which are growing straight up. Keep the lateral growing branches. This will give you a beautiful umbrella shape.

Also remove the branches and shoots which are drooping down so that the trunk is more visible. Prune one of the branch if two branches are growing close together from the trunk.

Leaf pruning is not needed. However, if you want to have a closer look at the ramification of the tree, you can completely defoliate the tree at the end of winter.

This will also help in producing smaller leaves.



Repotting Tamarind Bonsai

When to repot Tamarind bonsai?

Tamarindus indica bonsai tree can be repotted every 2-3 years.

It is possible to perform a little root pruning. It is advisable to remove the old bottom part of the cuttings. (in case the tree was grown using stem cutting).

You can use a basic free-draining, moisture retentive bonsai soil mix as a potting soil.

OR

Mix Fine sand, compost, peat and garden soil in the ratio of 1:1:1:1.

Must Read: Bonsai Soil Recipes

Must read : Choosing the right bonsai container



Feeding Tamarind Bonsai

Throughout the growing season, apply feed every two weeks.

In winter, if the bonsai is kept in a warm location, you can apply feed every 3-4 weeks. However, apply weaker strength ( preferably half strength) feed.

Read more about bonsai fertilizer and its application.



Diseases and pest of Tamarind Bonsai

Tamarind bonsai tree can be attacked by scales and red spider mites.

Use a systemic insecticide or remove them manually or by a gentle water jet. You can also use some insecticidal soap, soap solution or Neem oil solution.



Tamarind bonsai care

Tamarind tree can grow in most kind of soils. One thing you should take care of however, that the soil is free draining.

Provide young tamarind trees some protection from frost. They will get affected but they will recover soon. As the tree will mature, it will become more and more cold tolerant.

In case the tree is subjected to extreme water stress, the tree will start dropping its leaves. Water the tree in such cases.

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