Page 37 - Tài liệu Ebook cây cảnh Bonsai Basics

OBTAINING YOUR BONSAI 39

earnest until the next spring, by which
time the plant is much stronger.

Cutting techniques
Although basically simple, taking
cuttings demands great care. This is the .a
price of achieving a high success rate.
CONT ATNER AND CONTENTS: Use
plastic, clay or, even better, peat pots.
Potting compost should be light: peat
mixed with sand is ideal.
PREPARING CUTTINGS: If leafy,
keep only the upper leaves. Cut off a
portion of the remaining leaves to limit
Cuttings should not be longer than about 10 em (4
transpiration and subsequent dehydra- in). Here, a Ficus benjamina cutting.
tion of the cutting. Remove the lower
leaves, but take care to retain the buds in
their axils. Dip the bases of the cuttings
in hormone powder, then gently shake
off excess.
PLANTING THE C UTTING: Give the
contents of the pot a good watering: the
best way is to stand the pot in water.
Make a hole in the compost for the
cutting with a stick or pencil. If you
insert the cutting without making a hole,
the rooting hormone will be left on the

Any lea,•es at the basc ofthe cutting (which would be
huried) should be removed.

..

To reduce evaporation from the leaves and help Clipping the cutting's lea,·es, using very sharp
pre,·ent deh)•dration of the cutting, clip away about secateurs. If you use a blunt pair you will probably
half the leaf blade. damage the tissues.