SAFLAX - Bonsai - European Larch - 75 seeds - Larix decidua
The only European pine species with autumn colouring / Outdoor Bonsai
The European Larch is a summer-green tree with horizontally protruding branches and a steady and mostly slender, and with age a bit more levelled crown. The initially smooth bark becomes quite interesting and deeply furrowed over the years. Its soft and delicate, limber needles standing in large numbers on the short sprouts and individually on long shoots, and are shed towards winter, after showing a golden yellow coloration during autumn. In Europe it is the only domestic deciduous coniferous tree, and it is perfectly suited for cultivation as a bonsai plant.
Natural location: The European Larch survived the last Ice Age most likely in the Carpathian Mountains and has its natural habitat in the mountain regions of Central Europe.
Cultivation: Seed propagation indoors is possible throughout the year. To increase the germinability, you should keep the seeds initially for about a week in the freezer of your refrigerator for stratification. Then, spread the seeds onto moist potting compost or proper bonsai earth and put just a little compost earth on top. Cover the seed container with clear film to prevent the earth from drying out, but dont forget to make some holes in the clear film and take it every second or third day completely off for about 2 hours. That way you avoid mold formation on your potting compost. Place the seed container somewhere bright and warm with a temperature between 20° and 25° Celsius and keep the earth moist, but not wet. Usually, the first seedlings come up after three to eight weeks.
Place: The European Larch is best be kept in a very bright and full sunny spot. Since it prefers humitity, a place near a water container would be ideal.
Care: Your bonsai should never dry out completely - especially during summer it needs plenty of water, but without waterlogging. It is rather fast-growing and requires from spring until mid August fluid fertilizer for bonsai plants every two to four weeks. The early spring, before sprouting, would be the best time to cut your bonsai to its basic form. The new shoots can easily be pruned during the year by plucking out the shoot tips (pinching). The best time for wiring is after the basic form shaping in spring, or alternatively in early summer after the first growth period. The wire can stay on the plant until autumn, as long as it doesnt grow in. Even older branches are flexible enough to bring them with wiring in the desired shape. Young plants should be repotted every two years, matured trees every three to five years. Ideally, you shift your bonsai in early spring, before sprouting, with a modest, but proper root pruning into a new pot with mixed soil for needle bonsai plants.
During winter: The European Larch is frost-hard and should hibernate outdoors in a place where it is sheltered from strong wind and direct sunlight. In areas with strong frosts, a coverage with winter fleece is recommended. Water the plant only on frost-free days.
Bonsai ability: Yes
Picture credits :
Due to technical restrictions, the links to the image rights cannot be specified here.
14993-larix-decidua-seed-package-front-german.jpg - © Lynn Gerald Edmonds - About © : Contact SAFLAX
saflax-multipicture-german.jpg - Frank Laue - © Saflax
14993-larix-decidua-cultivation-instruction-german.jpg - Frank Laue - © Saflax
14993-31-Larix-decidua.jpg - © Lynn Gerald Edmonds - .
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