Bonsai, as a unique art form, concentrates the beauty of nature in the square inch. However, these exquisite botanical artworks sometimes face health problems and even death. Accurately judging whether bonsai is dead is crucial for bonsai lovers, which not only allows us to take timely rescue measures, but also avoids wasting time and energy on bonsai that has died. This article will explain in detail how to tell if bonsai is dead.
Observe The Overall Appearance Of Bonsai
1. State of branches and leaves
Leaf color and texture:Healthy bonsai leaves usually show a bright green, shiny state, which indicates that the chlorophyll content in the leaves is normal and photosynthesis is good. For example, coniferous bonsai needles should be green and elastic. If the leaves appear yellow, brown, white and other abnormal color changes, it may be a signal that there is a problem in bonsai. Yellowing may be caused by lack of nutrients, overwatering or pests and diseases; Browning can be a sign of disease or excessive drought; Whiteness may be associated with too much light or fungal infection.
The thinness of the branches and leaves:Normally growing bonsai branches and leaves should be luxuriant, evenly distributed. If you find bonsai branches and leaves begin to thin, such as a large number of gaps in the originally dense crown, or a large number of leaves on the branches, this may be a sign that the bonsai is dying.
This can be due to chronic malnutrition, root rot that prevents the absorption of water and nutrients, or exposure to severe pests and diseases. For example, when bonsai is attacked by a large number of scale insects, they will suck the SAP of the leaves and branches, causing the leaves to turn yellow and fall off, and the branches to wither, making the bonsai branches and leaves gradually sparse.
2. Trunk condition
Bark state:The bark of the trunk is an important indicator of bonsai health. Healthy bark should be smooth, elastic and normal in color. If the bark appears cracked, flaking, discoloration, etc., it needs attention. For example, some bonsai trees may have cracked bark due to improper watering or freezing damage, which affects the water and nutrient transport function of the trunk. If the bark is seriously peeled, exposing the xylem inside, and the xylem has signs of discoloration and decay, then the health of bonsai may have been very bad.
The elasticity and hardness of the trunk:By gently pressing the trunk with your hands, you can feel the elasticity and hardness of the trunk. A healthy trunk should have some elasticity, which indicates that the cell structure inside the trunk is intact and that there is sufficient water. If the trunk becomes dry, hard and inflexible, it may mean that the inside of the trunk has lost water or is being attacked by disease. For example, when bonsai is infected with root rot, the roots cannot absorb and transport water properly, and the trunk will gradually lose water and become wizened.
Check The Roots Of Bonsai
1. Appearance of root system
Color and texture:Healthy bonsai roots are generally white or light yellow, tough and resilient. When the roots appear brown, black, soft rot, etc., it is likely that the root system has a problem. For example, roots that turn brown or black can be due to root rot, which is usually caused by too much watering and poor soil permeability. If the root system is soft and rotten, and it is easy to break when it is gently pulled, then the absorption function of the root system may have been seriously damaged, which is a great threat to the survival of bonsai.
Root integrity:Check if the root system is intact and there is no obvious break, damage or absence. If a large number of roots are broken or damaged, it will affect the absorption of water and nutrients in bonsai. In the process of pot change or transplanting, if the operation is not proper, it is easy to cause root damage. In addition, some underground pests may also chew on the root system, resulting in incomplete roots. For example, insects such as grubs can bite into the roots of bonsai plants in the soil, leaving gaps or breaks in the roots.
2. Growth vitality of root system
The growth of new roots:Observing whether bonsai has new roots is one of the key factors to judge its life and death. You can look at the roots while changing POTS or by carefully pushing away parts of the soil. If there are white, fresh and fresh roots growing, it shows that bonsai still has vitality, and the roots are constantly absorbing water and nutrients to support the growth of the plant. On the contrary, if there is no new root generation for a long time, or even the original root system is gradually shrinking, then bonsai may be in a dying state.
The binding of roots to soil:A healthy bonsai root system will bind closely to the soil. When roots break away from the soil, or the soil around the roots is too loose, it can be a sign of root problems. For example, when the root system decays, the connection between it and the soil becomes weak and the soil is easily removed from the root system. In addition, if the water is not properly, resulting in soil compaction, roots can not breathe and grow normally, there will also be poor integration of roots and soil.
Observe The Growth Signs Of Bonsai
1. Seasonal growth changes
Spring germination:Spring is the peak season for most bonsai, and normal bonsai should sprout new buds in spring. If the bonsai does not show any signs of sprouting in the spring, for example, the branches that should have sprouted have remained dormant, and no new leaf or flower buds have appeared, this may mean that the bonsai is dead or in a state of extreme weakness. However, it should be noted that some bonsai may delay germination because of winter freezing, improper pruning and other reasons, but if it still does not sprout after a period of time, it needs to be further checked.
Fall leaves and dormancy:For deciduous bonsai, it will normally fall leaves and enter a dormant state in autumn. If the leaves of the autumn bonsai do not fall off normally, or there are abnormal conditions such as premature falling leaves, and the leaves are still hanging on the branches for a long time after brown, this may indicate that the growth rhythm of the bonsai is disrupted, and there may be health problems. Similarly, during the winter dormancy, if the bonsai has abnormal growth phenomena, such as budding in cold weather, it may be that the bonsai has been stimulated by adverse environmental factors, which is not conducive to its health.
2. Responses to environmental changes
The reaction after watering:Observing the change of bonsai after watering can give some information about its health. Healthy bonsai after watering, the leaves will gradually return to full, become shiny, this is because the water is absorbed through the root system and transported to the leaves. If the leaves of the bonsai are still dry and unchanged long after watering, or the soil is heavily waterlogged but the bonsai shows no signs of absorbing water, this may mean that the roots have lost their absorption function and the bonsai may be dead or dying.
Response to changes in light and temperature:When the light and temperature change, the healthy bonsai will have a corresponding physiological response. For example, when the light is enhanced, the leaves of bonsai will adapt to the light by adjusting the Angle and other ways to prevent the leaves from being burned. If the bonsai does not respond to light and temperature changes, such as the leaves do not have any self-protective actions under strong light, or do not show normal growth or dormancy changes when the temperature changes, this may indicate that the physiological function of the bonsai has been damaged.
Conclusion
This article focuses on how to judge whether bonsai is dead or not. First of all, starting from the observation of the overall appearance of bonsai, including the state of branches and leaves (such as leaf color, texture, sparsity) and trunk conditions (such as bark state, tree elastic hardness), these appearance characteristics can directly reflect bonsai health problems. It then emphasizes the importance of examining the root system in terms of its appearance (color, texture, integrity) and growth vigor (new root growth, root integration with the soil).
At the same time, observing the performance of bonsai in seasonal growth changes (germination in spring, dormancy in autumn) and the response to environmental changes (watering, light and temperature changes) is also helpful to judge. In addition, tools (magnifying glass, hygrometer thermometer) and professional detection methods (chlorophyll content detection, tissue analysis) are also available. Finally, it is pointed out that we should synthesize many factors and pay attention to the time and frequency of observation in order to accurately judge the life and death of bonsai and better maintain bonsai.
