How to care for Cotinus coggygria bonsai

About the making of tree shape

Cotinus coggygria generally grows on sunny and semi-shady slopes. It can withstand sunlight, drought and severe cold, but is afraid of wet soil. In early spring every year, when the Cotinus coggygria begins to sprout, you can go to the mountains and select old Cotinus coggygria stumps to make bonsai. The old stumps have been naturally formed after many times of being cut down and eaten by animals. With a little pruning and winding, they can be made into bonsai for viewing.

About planting and using pots

Cotinus coggygria is usually planted before budding, and the newly dug old stumps should be cultivated in loose and fertile sandy soil. Cotinus coggygria has strong adaptability and is not demanding on soil quality. Just use humus soil and add an appropriate amount of sand, then mix well. The choice of flower pots can be determined according to the shape of the tree. Generally, square or round pots are chosen for straight-stem Cotinus coggygria, while oval or rectangular pots can be chosen for slanted-trunk and curved-trunk Cotinus coggygria.

About maintenance and management

1. Choice of venue. They like light and should be placed in a place with sufficient sunlight and good ventilation, usually outside. However, in hot summer or low temperature in winter, it is generally necessary to move it indoors.

2. Watering and moisturizing. Cotinus coggygria is not tolerant of moisture, so be careful when watering it not to accumulate too much water in the pot. Just make sure the soil is moist. Another thing to note is to ensure that the air around the bonsai is moist.

3. Note on fertilization. Cotinus coggygria likes nutrition, so do not apply too much fertilizer to the potted plants, otherwise it will accelerate its growth and affect the visual effect of viewing.

4. Shaping and pruning. The cotinus coggygria tree has a strong growth ability and needs to be pruned when it sprouts in spring every year to ensure that its branches and leaves are not too lush and dense. At the same time, the branches should also be properly twisted to ensure the overall beauty of the potted plant.

5. Prevent and control diseases and insect pests. For common diseases and pests of Cotinus coggygria, such as damping-off disease and aphids, it is important to detect them as early as possible and treat them in time.