Cultivation Chart by Wu Yee-sun Adapted in part for our geographic area by Dierk Neugebauer Additions to this chart are encouraged and welcome. Type of Plant Soil Change Soil Mix Fertilizing Pruning & Clipping Training Miscellaneous Matters Fukien Tea Every 2 or 3 years, in spring or summer. Earth or fertilized soil. Once in spring, late summer & early autumn Any season except winter. Susceptible to cold. Should be moved to warmer environment if temperature falls below 8 Celsius Chinese Elm Usually every 2 or 3 years Earth or fertilized soil - 7 parts sand - 3 parts Do Spring or summer In the case of old trees, the soil must be changed each year, and roots trimmed to prevent decayed twigs. This should be done in early spring. Red Pine Every 4 or 5 years during March to April Earth - 6 parts Sand - 4 parts Once in spring and again in September. Liquid fertilizer to be prefered. Before the long, new shoots form into needles. Clip young twigs in early spring if development not desired. October to April Avoid applying solid fertilizer Prunus mume Cherry Blossoms Hall's Flowering Crab Every 1 or 2 years when flowers fall Earth - 4 parts granulated fertilized soil - 2 parts sand - 2 parts leaf mold 2 parts 4 weeks after soil change, 2 times a month until Sept. using liquid fertilizer; then once in Sept. Clip twigs when flowers fall. Must not let plant bear too many fruits. Pick all, leaving 2 or 3 for ornament. Otherwise plant will not bloom the following year. Murraya paniculata (Common Jasmin Orange) Every 2 or 3 years in warm springtime. Earth Once every 2 months except in winter Spring, summer or autumn, but not winter Never clip the twigs during cold spells, or they will wither. Susceptible to cold. Should be moved to warmer environment if temperature under 8 Celsius. Sageretia theezans Every 2 or 3 years in earlu spring. Earth or fertilized soil Once in pring before rainly season and once in early autumn. Any time except cold periods. Frosty Red In spring each year Earth - 7 parts Sand - 3 parts Need not be fertilized when plant blooms or bears fruit. Begin from August and add phosphorus fertilizer during Sept. & Oct. Do not clip twigs during blossoming time. Early spring Averse to strong sunlight. Should be put in well ventilated place with a little sunlight from the east. Requires plenty of water. Place pot in bigger container with water up to drain hole of smaller pot and fruits will be plentiful. Kraunhia Floribunda (Creeper plant) In early spring each year. Earth - 5 parts Sand - 5 parts Once a month except during blossoming time. When leaves fall in late fall. When leaves fall in late fall. Likes plenty of water, but does not fear strong sunlight. Otherwise same as Frosty Red Lonicera Japonica (Creeper plant) Once every 3 or 4 years in spring. Earth or fertilized soil. Do. Anytime except in cold weather. Likes plenty of sunlight. Podocarpus macrophyllus Every 3 or 4 years Earth - 6 parts Sand - 4 parts Once in early spring and again in early fall. Anytime except in winter. Autumn and winter. Should be put in cool place with some sunshine. Ezo Spruce Every 5 years, in Mar. or Oct. Earth - 7 parts Sand - 3 parts Once in spring & autumn, except winter - apply liquid fertilizer once a week in summer. Clip off tips of new shoots if long shoots not desired. April or Oct. but not in summer. Requires water & fears heat. Keep in cool, ventilated place during summer & fall. Acer palmatum Every 2 or 3 years in spring. Earth - 6 parts Sand - 4 parts In early spring & late summer apply diluted fertilizer once a month In early summer clip off leaves, leaving stem every 2nd or 3rd year if tree healthy. New leaves will turn from green to a lovely red. In July when twigs are pliant Do not water the plant on the day training or clipping is carried out. Larix Leptalepis Mid autumn or cold winter Earth - 5 parts Sand - 3 parts Leaf mold - 2 parts Except in summer, apply diluted liquid fertilizer once a month. Early spring before new buds. After leaves have fallen off. In summer keep in cool & ventilated, shaded place. Pterocarpus marsupium Each spring Earth, fertilized soil, leaf mold and sand in equal parts. Except during blossoming and fruit bearing periods, apply liquid and phosphorus fertilizer once a month. Early spring before buds. Do not use iron or copper wires as fragile branches are easily broken. Takes plenty of water but cannot stand heat or cold. Black Pine Five-Needle Pine Nishiki-matsu Every 4 or 5 years in Mar., autumn or Nov. Earth - 6 parts Sand - 4 parts Twice in spring, once in autumn. Liquid fertilizer preferable. Needles to be clipped as in the case of red pine. Winter. The Japanese pine has a narrow base. When removing, care should be taken not to harm the roots through shaking. Azalea After blossoming or early spring. Earth or fertilized soil. Apply fertilizer once or twice in spring to hasten flowers. Apply liquid fertilizer once every 10 days. Anytime after blossoming, but not in winter. Takes splenty of water & fertilizer. Should be kept in warm, shaded, well ventilated place. Pomegranate Apricot Late spring when weather begins to turn warm. Earth - 4 parts Fertilized soil - 4 parts Sand - 2 parts 2 or 3 times in spring; 3 times in summer & autumn. Phosphorus fertilizer will help yield more fruits. Early spring or after blossoming time. Summer Fertilizing & plenty of sunshine required. Susceptible to cold. Mespilus cuneata Every 2 years in spring or Oct. Earth or fertilized soil - 6 parts Sand - 2 parts Leaf Mold - 2 parts Once a month except winter. Spring, summer or winter, but not autumn. Phosphorus fertilizer must be applied if fruits are desired. Chinese Juniper Every 2 or 3 years, early spring to May Granulated clay - 5 parts Earth - 2 parts Sand - 2 parts Charcoal chips - 1 part From Mar. through May, apply liquid fertilizer 2 times & once in autumn. Overlong buds should be clipped off with finger nails. Winer Likes water but averse to acid. When changing soil put in some charcoal chips in the mix to neutralize the soil. Cryptomeria japonica Every 2 or 4 years in mid Apr. Not in autumn or winter. Granulated clay - 7 parts Leaf Mold - 1 parts Sand - 2 parts Apply liquid fertilizer 2 or 3 times in Apr. & once in Oct. Spring before budding or summer after budding. Not in autumn or winter. Must avoid the north-western winds of winter. Should spray branches and leaves with water. Juniperus rigida Every 2 or 3 years in Apr. Earth - 6 parts Sand - 4 parts Spring through autumn, but not winter Anytime except cold winter. Late spring when weather begins to turn warm. Averse to the chilly north-wesstern winds of winter and dry weather during which period branches & leaves should be sprayed with water once or twice daily. Bougainvillea glabra (creeper plant) Every 2 or 3 years in warm springtime. Earth - 7 parts Sand - 3 parts At least once a month. Any time. Likes plenty of sunshine. Waering should be regulated during blossoming. Susceptible to cold. Should be moved to warmer environment if temperature under 8 Celsius. Serissa foetida Every 2 or 3 years, spring or summer. Earth or fertilized soil. Once a month. Spring, summer or autumn. Summer or autumn. Takes plenty of water. Should be kept at cool, well ventilated, shaded place facing east. Ficus retusa Every 5 or 5 years, spring or summer. Earth & sand in equal parts. Once in early spring & in early fall. Any time. Likes sunshine. Watering should b e regulated. The banyan tree grows abundantly, but its trunk & branches do not easily develop in size. Celtis sinensis Every 3 or 4 years in early spring. Earth - 5 parts Sand - 5 parts Do. Do. Likes sunshine. Watering should be regulated. Baeckea frutescens Every 3 or 4 years - early sring or Oct. Do. Once in early spring, summer & autumn. Early spring before budding. Likes water. Takes to habitual surroundings. Glyptostrobus pensilis Every 2 or 3 years in early spring. Fertilized soil. Once every 2 months without break. Spring through early fall, but not in winter Requires plenty of water. roots should be immersed in water all the time. Maple Every 2 years in spring. Earth - 6 parts Sand - 4 parts Apply from spring through autumn, diluted liquid fertilizer once a month. Pluck leaves in early summer if tree is healthy to encourage branching. June to July Pluck eaves retaining the stem, which falls off in about 10 days and new shoots grow. Averse to strong winds. Blinds should be used to protect plant from scorching sun during summer and autumn. Reprinted from Man Lung Artistic Pot Plants, 1974 edition with permission.