Content
- Aparter Blickfang: Chinese pepper tree bonsai
- Botanical characteristics
- Location
- Fertilize and water
- Cutting and wire
- wintering
- Tips & Tricks
Aparter Blickfang: Chinese pepper tree bonsai
For the education of the bonsai not the real pepper is used - this is suitable rather than shrub-like climber not as bonsai - but the Chinese pepper tree. Alternatively, you can also train the Brazilian and the Peruvian pepper tree to bonsai, but these two species need much more heat than their namesake from China.
Previous article Insert fresh pepperBotanical characteristics
The Chinese pepper tree, botanically Zanthoxylum piperitum, is also called Szechuanpfeffer or Anispfeffer. The plant has its home in southern China, which also makes it one of the tropical plants and is best kept in a greenhouse or winter garden. Despite the name similarity the pepper tree is not related to the real pepper (Piper nigrum), but belongs instead to the family of the rhododendrons and is thus the citrus plants botanically much closer. Its fruits, flowers and leaves are used in both Japanese and Chinese cuisine. It is a shrubby worm-like plant that - uncut - can grow up to two meters high. In addition, Zanthoxylum piperitum develops strong spines.
Location
The Chinese pepper tree comes from the tropics and therefore needs a warm and partially shaded location. Full sun usually does not like the plant. The plant should be kept in the apartment or in the greenhouse, but can also go outside during the summer. The temperature should not be less than 5 ° C.
Fertilize and water
As a tropical plant, the Chinese pepper tree has a very high water requirement. To increase the humidity for a short time, spray the plant out of a watering can. For pouring, both mains water and rainwater can be used. The soil should always be moist, but not dripping wet. Fertilization takes place during the growth period with an organic liquid fertilizer. Only in winter, as well as directly after repotting fertilization is not necessary.
Cutting and wire
Of course, a bonsai tree is not naturally small, which is why it should be cut regularly. The Chinese pepper tree undergoes such a shaping cut every four weeks from May to September. But not only shoots, branches and twigs have to be cut back, also the roots. The rooting takes place in the course of potting every two years. The desired shape is obtained by the tree through the wire, whereby the branches and branches are brought in the required direction with the help of wrapped aluminum wire.
wintering
Since the Chinese pepper tree naturally does not tolerate frost, it is essential that it is kept indoors or in the greenhouse. Both hibernation under cold conditions at around 12 ° C and staying in the heated living room are possible. However, it should be noted that the warmer the tree, the more light it needs. Warm wintered pepper bonsai should be better ergo irradiated with a plant lamp.
Tips & Tricks
You can also grow your own Chinese pepper tree from seed and educate it from the start. The purchase of special bonsai seeds is not necessary.
IJA