FEATURED TREE
Hornbeam
(carpinus)
Type: This genus has approximately twenty-five species from Europe, central eastern Asia, and North America. They are deciduous trees or shrubs with simple, toothed, and alternating leaves. The bark may be smooth or scaly, gray or gray-green dependent on the species. They are fairly undemanding and take pruning well. (Girogi, 83)
Style: Hornbeams are usually grown as informal upright trees. They are also grown in groves or group plantings, root on or over rock, slanting and semi-cascade styles. (Owen, 29) (Samson, 66-67)
Summer Placement: Partial shade in summer. Otherwise, place in full sun.
Winter Placement: Is winter hardy. Zones 3-9A. (BCI) Tolerates both heat and frost.
Watering: Keep well watered during the growing season with good drainage.
Feeding: Do not feed for six to eight weeks after repotting. Feed weekly for the first month after leaves appear and then every two weeks through autumn.
Wiring: From spring through summer. Some branch protection may be required. Remove as soon as the wire is seen cutting into the branch.
Pruning: Do heavy pruning in late winter before the buds burst. Accepts pruning well and heals quickly. Reduce new shoots down to the first or second pair of leaves from six to eight pairs. This is an apically strong tree and should be pruned accordingly. Reduce heavily at the apex and less as you move down to lower branches.
Repotting Season: Every second year until ten years old and thenas necessary when roots fill pot. (Tomlinson, 52)
Soil Mix: Basic soil mix.
Container: Prefer a deep container but adapt well to shallow containers. Looks good in a glazed pot in a complementary color.
References:
Bonsai Clubs International Species Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2010, from BCI.Com: http://www.bonsai-bci.com/ species/fukien.html. Editor. (Volume X, Number 1, 2002, November). Things To Do This Month. Bonsai Hai . Prairie State Bonsai Society. Tomlinson, H. (1990). Readers Digest Home Handbooks: Bonsai. Pleasantville, N.Y.: Readers Digest Association, Inc.
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