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Home: How to Train Bonsai LespedezaLespedeza plants or forage is the kin to the pea family. The leaves grow three leaflets. Forage is produced from the leaves to manage erosion. Lespedeza has counterparts, which include Lespedeza thunbergii. This native, China, Japan, etc, plant has shrubs that grow up to 6 ½ -feet across arched branches and light green eclipsed leaves. The leaves have silky undersides. The flowers are brilliantly shaded purpose, and are shaped like butterflies. The bicolor is native grown specie also grown in Japan, China, and throughout Manchuria. The tree grows up to 10-feet tall and develops amazing shapely branches. The branches grow dark green leaves at the crown and underneath the leaves are shades of blue-green. Red and purple flowers flourish at the tilts of the branches, which begin to flower in August and September. Propagation starts with seeds, cuttings, or layering. Growing seeds is obsolete when growing thunbergii. If you sow the seeds in May, likely you will struggle to produce quality bonsais. If you manage to sow the plants, you will need care instructions. To care for your plants place the plants in complete sunbeams. Temperatures desired by the lespedeza is warm environments. This plant will not survive frostbite, so keep away from frost. At the end of winter, you can prune your plant however and re-grow if the plants has been frostbite. How to pot: You will need to pot the plant in a medium depth container. Use a blue and glazed container for the best results. How to clean: Get rid of fading flowers. About one-third down, prune the roots. The plant grows slow, but needs room, so after pruning re-pot your plant into a larger pot. How to re-pot: In the spring each year, re-pot your plants. Before you send the plants to another pot, prune one-third of the roots. Soil: Lespedeza enjoys half leaf mould and loam mixtures. Permeable garden soil with lighting, dry climates, and sand is a favorite. How to wire: To train your bonsai you will need to wire in the spring. At the end of summer, remove the wiring. Create raffia from pines and wrap it around the wire before placing it on your plant. How to water: Moderate water is sufficient to care for Lespedeza. Dry grounds is a favorite of this specie. When the flower buds start to take its shape, you can increase water intake. Again, do not waterlog your plants. How to spray: The only known pests that target Lespedeza is the group of aphids. The plants are subject however to rhizoctonia, which is a fungal disease. You want to spray light mist over the foliage during the summer. How to feed: In spring and fall supply extra feeding, and weaken your feed in the fall and ONLY provide your plant with slow-moving macrobiotic fertilizers. How to prune: Sub-branches should be pruned when the branches are long. Cut back one-third of the branch and leave a couple of nodes. Once you get into the development stage near the ending of winter prune the plant. Cut the plant in fad-style, or very low. DO NOT allow your plant to get frostbitten. Now that we have reached the end of the road, I would like to encourage you to check out Crab Apples or Malus Apples, which are easier to train as bonsai.
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