The sageretia, also called Chinese bird plum or sweet plum, and is a popular Bonsai species.
The leaves are small, light green, oval and shiny.
In late summer yellowish white flower panicles can develop.
So how do you care for your Sweet plum?
The sageretia likes a semi-shaded place
outside during the warm summer, but it can also be kept indoors all year round.
Indoors it should be placed at a window facing south or west,
but it needs protection from intense sunlight.
Keep the rootball moist, but not waterlogged.
Don't let the roots dry out completely because the sageretia's leaves and twigs dessicate quickly and
the whole tree can die easily from lack of water. This can happen if watering is forgotten only once
Apply solid organic fertilizer every four weeks or use a liquid fertilizer
every week during the growing season.
The sageretia's shoots can be trimmed back to 2 leaves all year round.
Frequent trimming of the shoots helps to develop a good ramification.
Healthy trees backbud very willingly if you have to do some more substantial pruning.
Don't trim the sageretia in late summer if you want flowers and fruit to develop
Repot the sageretia Bonsai every two years and use a standard soil mix which should retain enough water
but at the same time offer good drainage.
The sageretia can be propagated from softwood and hardwood cuttings.
Those root easily during the growing season
If your Sageretia is losing a lot of leaves, this is often the result of
improper watering or not enough light.
Again, make sure you place your Bonsai
warm enough with plenty of light. And water it generously as soon as the soil gets slightly dry.
Learn how to create your own bonsai trees by enrolling in one of our online Bonsai courses.
We explain techniques like pruning, wiring, and repotting, and you can ask questions to the teachers.
For the curriculums, and free lessons go to: www.bonsaiempire.com/courses