An important task during the summer period.
This myrtle bonsai specimen has been part of the In Arte Bonsai collection since 2008. The cultivation of this yamadori began from the moment of its rooting and the creation of the primary structure. In 2015, it participated in the national exhibition organized by Ubi and was included in the catalog of the best bonsai and suiseki. Since then, this specimen has continued to grow, increasing the number of pads thanks to an increasing branching.
In June 2020, I carried out a complete defoliation, an important and necessary step in this project. This work aimed both to completely renew the foliage and to perform a good cleaning and selection of branches. This type of operation, which requires a significant amount of energy from the tree, must always be prepared with good quality fertilization already from the previous year and must be done in a long time distance from repotting.
Having prepared this myrtle for defoliation for a year and a half, it was already full of young leaves and branches after just twenty days. This was followed by a period of free growth to allow the new shoots to strengthen.
By August 2020, the myrtle had developed a new vegetative mass and was ready for pruning and cleaning. August is generally not recommended for important aesthetic work due to the high temperatures. Instead, it is important to intervene with pruning and cleaning work to increase air circulation within the plant masses. In this case, in addition to significant pruning, I also worked on the deadwood, which had become green due to the moisture conditions of the pot: after cleaning with a water gun, I applied a jin liquid.
Now the myrtle can face the heat more easily, and in September, with the decrease in temperature, it will start to grow abundantly, allowing for an increase in branch volumes.
Carmelo Bonanno
