Page 64 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2017Q3

BUCIDA SPINOSA CARE GUIDE Propagation: From cuttings, as seeds are difficult On January 2017, I started to cut away most of the
to germinate. To propagate from cuttings, hard
Common Name: Black Olive branches and the upper portion of the main trunk.
wood won’t work, even under a mist system. Soft
General information: Though commonly called wood ones will, but one rarely gets a soft wood Only one lower branch was kept.
‘black olive tree’, this native of the upper Florida cutting longer than 2 inches.
Keys (some consider it native, others do not) is not
the edible olive we know and love, but does pro- Propagation from seed. The tiny flower
duce a small, black seed-capsule. Black olive is a 40 progresses to green seeds, then tan and then brown
to 50-foot-tall evergreen tree with a smooth trunk in about 2 months. Gather the seeds as soon as they
holding up strong, wind-resistant branches, form- fall, for they are more vital and willing to germinate
ing a pyramidal shape when young but developing in the first ten days after they ripen. Seeds should
a very dense, full, oval to rounded crown with age. be planted in large community pots in a well
Sometimes the top of the crown will flatten with drained mixture of vermiculite, peat and loam, and
age, and the tree grows horizontally. The lush, dark allowed 25 to 35 days for germination. Be patient,
bluish-green, leathery leaves are two to four inches for they grow very slowly. When they are 2 inches
long and clustered at branch tips, sometimes mixed tall, transplant them from the community pot to
with the 0.5 to 1.5-inch-long spines found along individual pots. Cover each pot with a plastic bag
the branches. for 5 days and put in the shade. Keep in the shade
for 3 to 4 weeks, being careful to keep them moist,
Bucida comes highly recommended by Lesniewicz, but watch for and avoid powdery mildew. Once
who says, “This delicate tree from Florida and the they are growing well, if you wish to force them Later on the trunk on the right was wrapped with
Caribbean grows into a bonsai almost by itself.” to grow faster and taller than their usual 2 inches raffia and afterwards some thick wires were applied.
An unusual bonsai subject which may increase in a year, bend down the branches lower than the This trunk will be bent down to create a cascading
popularity as an indoor tree. It is very salt tolerant, growing tip. (Quoted from page 20, Vol 4, No. 4 of style bonsai. A drastic bend is needed to achieve the
making it a good choice for bonsai lovers by the sea. “Florida Bonsai” magazine.) intention without destroying the bark. That was the
Family: Combretaceae reason for wrapping it with raffia. The angle of the
According to tropical bonsai grower, Mary Miller:
Lighting: Full sun - its natural environment is the “The best way to grow them from seed is to allow trunk will be rotated to the right when potted to lower
hottest parts of Florida and the Caribbean. the cascading branch and increase the angle..
the seed to drop directly from the tree into a tray
Temperature: Grows well in zones 10B through of soil without touching the seed. They rarely grow
11. Do not expose to freezing weather or better yet, from cuttings with any size. They can be grown
temperatures below 40 degrees. A tender plant from ‘tip’ cuttings (two or three clusters of leaves
which has been grown successfully as an indoor from the end of the branch). However, tip cuttings
bonsai. are best grown with an automatic mist system.
Watering: Likes to be well-watered and should not Even then, many do not survive.”
be permitted to stay dry. Feeding: Likes frequent Repotting: Repot in late winter, pruning roots
fertilization which promotes vigorous growth. only moderately. Use a fast draining bonsai soil
Pruning and wiring: New shoots need to be with a high sand and lime content.
shortened only by a little. It is best to pinch them Pests and diseases: No pests or diseases are of
back. In nature, the Bucida is generally windswept, major concern but occasionally bothered by sooty
which makes this an excellent choice for bonsai mould and bark borer. Eryphide mites cause galls
style. The plant’s natural growth makes it ideal for but no control is needed.
bonsai. It changes direction at every internode,
making a bend of 25 to 35 degrees, which can be
incorporated into the styling.

62 | BCI | July/August/September 2017