Sakura: planting seeds and caring for a Japanese tree. Beautiful sakura bonsai from seeds: difficult, but possible How to grow Japanese sakura from seeds

Japanese sakura is known to everyone. The fabulous plant has been sung many times in various works of art. This plant is famous for its unique shades of leaves and flowers, which delight the eye of observers. all year round. Growing sakura used to seem like something impossible, but today everything large quantity gardeners boldly take on growing this plant. And they get excellent results with proper attention.

Sakura at home: description

Sakura is rightfully one of the symbols of Japan. This plant is associated with the tranquility and beauty of the “land of the rising sun.” The appearance of the tree amazes the imagination with a variety of colors that change in a range that is barely perceptible to the eye. Sakura is valued and worshiped not only in Japan, but throughout East Africa. There are many holidays and festivals where sakura is the center of attention.

The beauty of the tree has long attracted gardeners from all over the world.

Having such a work of art, created by nature itself, on your site is becoming one of the key goals for many connoisseurs of beauty. The plant is actively used for decorative purposes, which attracts landscape designers.

In the classical view, sakura is a cherry that has unusual flowers Pink colour. Moreover, the shades have an incredible variety. Sakura belongs to the serrata cherry class.

Several types of famous cherries are used in gardening. If you have a desire to grow cherries yourself, then you should carefully choose the variety. Each variety has its own characteristics and rules of cultivation and care.

Today, careful selection of sakura species leads to the emergence of new varieties that adapt to certain conditions.

Modern species are usually created by crossing different already known species. This is how plants are created with specified characteristics and are more resistant to different conditions growth. It is this approach that allows gardeners to open sakura. For crossing, cherry jedoensis is often used, as well as iniciza and lannesiana. The result is the varieties Spire, Shidare Yoshino, which are distinguished by their delicate shades of petals and resistance to frost down to minus 30 degrees.

The Halle Olivetti variety is also intended for cultivation in regions where severe frosts are possible. The plant reproduces well and allows you to create a spectacular site design.

To grow sakura at home, experts recommend choosing from the following varieties: Amanogawa, Shirofugen, Shirotae, Tai Haku. These varieties tolerate stressful situations well and actively reproduce by seeds. This way you can get to know each other better Japanese plants and gain practical skills in working with them. Sakura of these types is distinguished by its spectacular appearance and fully corresponds to the ideas about this tree.

You can’t just take seeds and place them in the soil - you won’t get the expected result. To properly grow sakura, you will need to comply with certain norms and rules, including the preparation of the soil and the seeds themselves.

During the period of working with sakura, gardeners developed certain rules:

Before directly planting seeds in the soil, they should be placed in warm water for 24 hours. The temperature should be 25-30 degrees. During soaking, it is recommended to add a certain amount of fungicide to the water, which helps effectively combat fungal diseases. This is a serious threat to the development of the plant, so it is important to secure the tree at the earliest stage when it is most vulnerable.
The best soil for sakura is coarse sand. This way, sakura seeds germinate quite quickly and guarantee good results. To speed up growth, you can pierce the seed coating to facilitate sprout germination. Be sure to disinfect the soil - this way you will eliminate possible organisms developing here and protect the seeds from damage.
At the stage of sowing seeds, fertilizers do not need to be applied - natural minerals in the soil and accumulated in the seed are quite sufficient at the first stage of growth.
The sand is moistened abundantly before planting - rapid growth will require the presence of large quantity moisture. Special shallow grooves are made in the sand, into which the seeds are placed. The distance between the seeding strips should not be less than 3 centimeters - the plants can interfere with each other and limit their development.

After placing the seeds in the ground, they are sprinkled with sand to additional protection and creating conditions for development. The top layer should be no more than twice the diameter of the seed.

To optimize cultivation, you should ensure the correct dimensions and parameters of the containers in which the seeds will grow. The container used should be wide enough for freedom of growth and development of the plant.

The depth should be approximately 5 centimeters - this way the root system at the initial stage of growth will have enough space for active growth. Be sure to make sure that the container has drainage holes, because normal water circulation allows you to saturate the plant with the elements necessary for development.

Planting seeds must be selected for a certain period of time, because seed development has a certain cycle. Optimal time serves spring, as well as late summer or early autumn. At this time, the seeds are active and can provide good results.

Some practical advice, which can be applied immediately:

Inspect the seeds - if the skin is quite strong, then make small cuts. Perform the work carefully so as not to damage the inside. This way you open up the opportunity for the sprouts to quickly gain strength and emerge above the ground.
Sow the seeds immediately after collection, without allowing them to lose their viability.
The number of seeds should be 1.5 times greater than the planned number of plants. This is due to the fact that not all seeds will germinate, so you should be on the safe side.
Depending on the size of the seeds, they can be planted one at a time (for large ones) and sown evenly over the entire surface of the soil (for small ones).
Provide protection from direct sunlight.
As the first shoots appear, you can increase the intake fresh air, I lift the film or glass lid that covers the seeds.

Following established rules Working with sakura seeds allows you to get excellent and healthier plants. Proper care during the germination stage determines the quality of the plant in the long term.

Sakura seedlings are quite fragile and susceptible to destruction even under minor stress. Therefore, it is important for the gardener to provide sufficient attention in the first stages of the plant's life. To do this, it is important to carefully monitor the degree of soil moisture - dry soil has a depressing effect on sakura.

From a certain point, depending on the variety, you can add potassium and nitrogen fertilizers to the soil. If the soil suffers from a lack of nutrients, then it is important to ensure the constant application of humus.

The optimal solution would be to combine fertilizing and watering the plant.

Sanitary pruning should be carried out before the spring sap flow and plant growth begin. During the growth period, they monitor the ambient temperature, for which they periodically cover the seedlings with film or, conversely, ensure free air exchange. When handled correctly, sakura quickly develops vigorously and results in an excellent and spectacular plant.

More information can be found in the video:

Sakura is the common name for certain types of cherry trees. Their harvest is meager, but during flowering the plants amaze with their beauty. A guest from Japan can be grown from seeds in domestic gardens. home tree may have the size of an ordinary sakura or be its copy several tens of centimeters high. Gardeners share their experiences, photos and video recommendations on how to avoid mistakes and successfully go through the long journey of growing a tree.

Sakura from seeds: preparation for planting

The basis for growing any crop is high-quality seed material. Sakura seeds can be bought in specialized retail outlets. Seed germination is poor - no more than 20%. On this score, gardeners advise:

buy more material;
use products different manufacturers to determine who has better quality.

Sakura seeds

The process of planting a tree requires the following actions:

Perform stratification. For seeds, natural winter weather should be imitated. To do this, put them in a bag of wet sand and place them in the warmest compartment of the refrigerator. The material should be stored at a temperature of +4...+5 °C for at least 2-3 months.
A couple of days before planting, soak the seeds for a day in lukewarm water.
To help seedlings break through the seed coat, scratch or pierce the outer layer mechanically.

Sakura seeds are planted in calcined or otherwise disinfected coarse sand. This substrate is most suitable for germinating seeds and, in addition, will protect the crop from diseases. An alternative to sand is moss or vermiculite. Use a wide and shallow container as a pot. Be sure to have drainage holes.

How to plant and pick sakura at home

Proper planting is half the success of future sakura growing:

treat the seeds with a fungicide;
moisten the substrate;
deepen the seeds half a centimeter into the grooves made (there should be at least 3 cm between them);
cover the planting with a thin layer of fine-grained sand;
cover the pot with film or glass;
leave at a temperature of +5…10 °C.

Seedlings should appear in 1.5-2 weeks. Until this point, care consists of keeping the top layer of soil moist, providing plenty of light, and gradually raising the temperature to room temperature. When shoots appear, plant them in separate pots. The distance between seeded seedlings should not be more than 10 cm if you move them to a new common container.

Sakura blossom

Picking - important condition normal development of sakura. Repeated transplants help strengthen the root system. Sakura seedlings are left untouched only in the cold season. They are placed in a cool, shaded room until spring. Key moment in picking grown seedlings - selecting new pots. The gardener has two options:

leave the crop to grow in a cramped container and form a bonsai version of the tree;
move it to deeper and wider pots and prepare the tree for the garden.

Features of tree care

Sakura varieties have many differences in cultivation techniques. To grow bonsai sakura, the roots are shortened every season, and horizontal cuts are made on the bark, right on the trunk. For garden tree these methods are irrelevant - you form a seedling in a room and then transplant it into open ground.

The rules for caring for a specific variety differ. common feature- trees are capricious and require daily attention. The tree needs soil enriched with humus, potassium, and nitrogen. During the season, sakura is watered with half a glass per day, in winter - less often. It is important for the plant good lighting and absence of drafts.

Sakura bonsai

The secret of the beauty of sakura is not only in large and abundant flowers, but also in the aristocratically built crown. It can be formed starting from 2-3 years of age of the plant. In the natural and miniature versions, the branches are arranged according to the same pattern. The crown can mean a straight trunk, a bend in the spirit of centuries-old Japanese cherry blossoms, or widely spread branches.

Advice. To create a wide crown, prune the main shoot when you think it is tall enough. You can also trim the side shoots to correct their direction.

How to prune bonsai sakura correctly

To grow miniature crops, experts use various tricks and techniques. The goal is to make even a young tree look like a hundred-year-old tree. For this:

Expose some of the roots by removing a small layer at the base of the trunk. It should be thick. To do this, regularly remove all vertically growing shoots.
The barrel should not be too long. Cut off part of the root at its base. When replanting, deepen the cutting area into the ground. Over time, new roots will grow on it. Then the tree can be picked again, removing the old rhizome.
The heaviest branch of the tree will be the bottom one. Which shoot to leave for its formation - decide based on the compositional idea.
For a broom-shaped crown, prune vertically growing branches as much as possible. For vertical - on the contrary, protect vertical branches. In this case, only horizontal ones are cut.

The bonsai tree needs all these manipulations constantly. Otherwise it will lose its shape. The gardener's goal is to maximize decorative effect from sakura. If you adhere to cultivation technology, provide the plant with a little care and attention every day, then the Japanese guest will delight you with lush, large and bright color every spring.

Growing bonsai: video

Sakura bonsai can reach large sizes in natural conditions. With proper care, it will fit in a small pot, while remaining an exact copy of a Japanese cherry. Sakura is a recognized symbol of East Asia, the flowering of which is accompanied by national holidays. It is possible to grow a reduced reproduction of such a tree at home, but this process is long and painstaking.

Description of the variety

Japanese sakura bonsai is a decorative tree that easily takes root in the house. It is resistant to increased indoor air pollution, but requires good lighting and daily watering.

Sakura is valued for its unusual flowers; in bonsai they reach 1 cm in diameter. In nature they are bright pink, but you can buy artificially bred varieties with red, green, purple and other colors. Individual flowers are collected in inflorescences.

How to grow a tree from seeds

Growing bonsai sakura from seeds at home is difficult, but possible. You need to prepare for the process in advance and be patient. In terms of formation time, bonsai is not inferior to ordinary trees, and you can get a full-fledged home garden in 10-20 years, provided daily care.

Sakura bonsai seeds can be purchased in special stores. It is better to take more seeds, because the percentage of their germination and survival rate is quite low. You need to be prepared for the fact that only 1-2 seeds out of 10 will turn into full-fledged trees. There is a certain algorithm for preparing and planting sakura bonsai at home:

The seeds are scarified (pricked) to speed up the germination process. The day before sowing, they need to be placed in water. room temperature.
Next, the seeds are placed in slightly moistened soil, deepening by 0.5 - 1 cm.
To germinate, sakura bonsai seeds must undergo stratification, which will imitate natural winter conditions. The container is covered with film and placed in the refrigerator for 2 months.
After this time, the seeds continue to germinate at room temperature and good light, maintaining constant soil moisture.

When the seeds begin to germinate, they need to be planted - transplanted into new soil. If seedlings are placed in a common container, the distance between them should not exceed 10 cm. It is best to plant the plants in separate bonsai pots - special flat pots.

It is worth consulting with the seller on how to grow sakura bonsai from seeds. Different varieties have their own preferences regarding soil, fertilizing or watering regime. Along with the seeds, you need to purchase all the necessary equipment and learn in advance about the rules for caring for dwarf trees.

Bonsai care rules

Those who have managed to grow a full-fledged bonsai tree at home admit that the plant is very capricious and requires daily care. Special attention allocated to the irrigation regime. In summer, bonsai needs half a glass of water a day, otherwise it can quickly die from drought. IN winter time You can water it less often. Equally important is the lighting in the room. Bonsai pots are located in the brightest areas, protected from drafts.

Bonsai are grown in flat pots with a diameter of up to 20 cm, so that the root system does not have the opportunity to grow. The plant is replanted annually, shortening the roots if necessary. The choice of soil must be taken responsibly - sakura grows well in soils with a high content of nitrogen, humus and potassium. Organic fertilizers are applied to the ground approximately a month before planting, nitrogen fertilizers are added directly with the seedlings.

When growing sakura bonsai, you can shape the crown at will, using available means. Trunk young tree fixed with wire or tension. When the plant reaches 25-30 cm in height, the main shoot is cut off so that the crown grows in breadth. After flowering, you can trim the side shoots, thus changing the direction of their growth. The rhizome is shortened at each transplant to prevent the tree from growing in height.

Another way to control the growth of the plant is to make horizontal cuts along the bark. They will release sap, which will weaken the bonsai and leave it dwarfed.

There are many varieties of crowns in sakura bonsai. You can leave the main trunk straight, or you can form unusual bends. If you follow the growing technology correctly and devote a small amount of time to the plant every day, it will bloom with decorative flowers every spring.

How to grow bonsai - video

How to grow bonsai from seeds at home? Ancient technology growing miniature trees requires a lot of effort and patience from the amateur gardener. But the result will not make you regret the effort expended. Bonsai will become the pearl of any interior.

Preparatory activities and planting

Each type of plant has its own method of planting seeds. Beech, spruce, oak, fir and pine seeds are ready for planting immediately after collection. If planting is planned for another time, the planting material should be placed in a container (can be wrapped in a piece of cloth) and placed in a cool, dark place for storage until planting.

How to grow bonsai from sakura seeds? Sakura is an ideal tree for bonsai. Its seeds have a dense shell, so germination is more difficult. Japanese cherry seeds require a period of dormancy and stratification. Stratification is the process of keeping seeds for a long time at a certain temperature to speed up their germination. To stratify, sakura seeds need to be placed for 3-4 months in a refrigerator in which the temperature is set at +4...+5 °C.

On the eve of planting, the seeds are soaked in warm water (25-30 °C) for 1 day. It is advisable to add a fungicide to the water to prevent fungal diseases. Spring, late summer and early autumn are best for planting seeds at home.

Sakura seeds are sprouted in coarse sand. It is recommended to calcinate or steam it before planting the seeds. Disinfection of the soil will protect plants from disease and death. There is no need to add fertilizer to the soil. The container for planting seeds should be wide, 5 cm deep. It should have drainage holes.

Prepared sakura seeds are planted in grooves made in well-moistened sand. During planting, it is advisable to slightly break, cut or puncture the hard shell of the seeds. This will help them grow faster and more friendly. The distance between the grooves should be at least 3 cm. The planted seeds are covered with fine sand on top. The thickness of the top layer of soil should be 2 diameters of the bone.

Seeds for germination can also be immersed in moist vermiculite or sphagnum moss. After planting the seeds, the container is covered with film or glass and placed in a cool place (plus temperature from 5 to 10 °C) for 1.5-2 weeks. The film will provide the necessary for germination high humidity soil. To prevent mold from appearing, you need to do regular ventilation. When the first shoots emerge, the film or glass is removed. The container with the sprouts is placed in a lighted place (not in direct sunlight).

Growing a tree from seedlings

How to grow bonsai from seedlings? When the sprouts reach a height of 4-7 cm, plant them in wide bowls filled with a mixture of peat, sand and humus garden soil. Plant roots that are too long should be shortened slightly with garden shears. Planting material must be deepened into the soil up to the first pair of leaves. The distance between seedlings should be at least 10 cm. Young plants must be watered regularly.

As the seedlings grow, they need to be pricked repeatedly. Diving is the transplantation of plants into individual containers in order to expand the area and improve root nutrition. Thanks to multiple transplants, a powerful, well-developed root system of young trees is formed.

For the winter, bonsai seedlings are placed in a cool place or left in room conditions on a cold windowsill behind a thick curtain. The plant is not touched until spring. In the spring, the dive continues. It takes 2-3 years to grow sakura. Only then will it be possible to begin forming a tree at home.

The rules for crown formation are as follows:

1The bonsaist’s task is to constantly restrain the growth of the tree and give it its characteristic dwarf shape.
2The trunk at the base of the tree should be thick. To achieve this effect, all shoots with a vertical direction of growth are pruned.
3A bonsai plant should look like a century-old tree, even if it is only 3 years old. To give the tree a characteristic appearance, the upper part of the roots is exposed. For this upper layer the soil is removed.
4At what level to start forming the crown, the bonsaiist decides by cutting off the lower branches. The first strong branch of the trunk will be the lowest one, not cut by the bonsai plant.
5The trunk is too long and needs to be shortened. To do this, cut off a circular strip of bark at the base and replant the tree, plunging the bare area into the ground. Roots later grow in this place. Old roots are cut off and the plant is replanted.
6If the broom style is chosen, vertical branches are trimmed as much as possible, allowing horizontal shoots to bush. If selected vertical style, the growth of the main trunk and side branches is encouraged upward.
7An already formed bonsai tree needs to be constantly pruned and pinched to maintain its ideal shape.

Forming the correct shape

Constant pruning of the roots and shoots of the tree helps to restrain growth. To weaken sakura, apply to its trunk sharp knife horizontal cuts. The juice of the plant is released from them. Losing moisture and nutrients, the tree weakens and slows growth. It is very important to make the cuts the right size. Excessive loss of sap can lead to the death of the plant.

Bonsai wire is used for the same purpose. It is pulled over the tree trunk, preventing it from developing. When the sakura reaches a height of 25-30 cm, the top is cut off. From this moment on, the tree will grow to the sides, releasing side shoots.

Pruning must be done before sap flow begins. If after pruning there are high-quality cut shoots left, they can be used for cuttings. Pinching shoots and branches will help increase the density of the crown. The more often pruning and pinching is done, the thicker and smaller the crown will be.

The tree is formed by fixing the shoots in in the required form and directing their growth in the desired direction using special bonsai wire. To obtain the necessary bending of the trunk or branches using wire, the branches are wrapped with it. When using wire, you need to make sure that it does not grow into the bark of the plant. To do this, you need to periodically remove it and rewind it in a new place.

The location chosen for the bonsai will determine the shape of the crown. If the light in the room is not diffused, the plant will have a more developed crown and stronger branches on the side where more light falls. When the tree is on the windowsill, it must be constantly rotated so that the chosen style is not disturbed. Morning and evening lighting will be optimal for a bonsai plant. It is recommended to place the tree in the shade from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To make it work beautiful tree at home, he needs to provide optimal lighting. Sakura is a light-loving plant; it needs a lot of bright light. Therefore, in winter and on cloudy days it is necessary to use additional lighting. With a lack of light, the shoots become thin and the petioles of the leaves become long.

In the spring, the plant is fed with ammonium nitrate, and in the fall with superphosphate and potassium sulphide. The tree slows down in poor soil. Therefore, fertilizers for bonsai plants should contain a minimum concentration of nutrients.

Necessary tools for work

Pruning is the main technique for forming a dwarf tree. The success of the bonsai technique depends on the quality of the wood cuts. Therefore, you need to prepare the necessary tools. Some amateur gardeners consider buying special tools wastefulness. However, using tools specifically designed for bonsai techniques will make caring for the plant much easier and will minimize the risk of its death.

The basic tool kit includes the following:

concave cutters;
wire cutters;
convex spherical cutters;
scissors.

Concave cutters are designed to cut branches flush with the trunk, creating an oblong indentation. The wound caused by the plant will heal quickly with a small scar. It is impossible to replace this tool with any other available tools. When planning to grow a tree using the bonsai technique, you should purchase concave cutters in advance.

Wire cutters cut bonsai wires neatly and symmetrically. Their rounded head does not injure the tree when cutting the wire.

Convex spherical pliers remove growths on trunks and roots, as well as unwanted roots. The cavity remaining after them quickly heals with a minimum amount of scars.

It is also worth purchasing special scissors for trimming thin roots.

Into an additional set of tools that will turn plant care into enjoyable activity, includes the following accessories:

root cutters and hooks;
root ball knife;
small Japanese saw;
thinning scissors;
tweezers with a curved nose.

It is also advisable to buy soil scoops, rakes and hemp brooms.

Root cutters are convenient for cutting roots during grafting and when replanting. The roots are untangled with hooks. The root ball is processed with a knife, large roots and small trunks are cut off. A Japanese saw is used to make cuts into branches. Use tweezers to remove unwanted buds, excess pine needles, dry leaves and insects.

For the bonsai technique, many more tools have been developed for filigree processing of trees, but a beginner bonsai artist only needs to purchase a basic set.

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Sakura - belongs to the tree-like representatives flora from the Plum family. Japan is considered the true homeland of this tree; it is in this country that mass cherry blossoms are observed in the spring, which attracts tourists so much. The flower of the plant has a variety of color shades, from white to dark pink. It is according to these characteristics that sakura are distributed by type. Homemade Japanese sakura is a separate plant variety that is able to grow and reproduce in our climatic conditions.

Many landscape designers More and more often they began to introduce the planting of this particular plant into their projects, because its beauty will not leave even the most inconspicuous area unnoticed. Every gardener wants to have this extraordinary cherry in his garden or country house. Since it is quite difficult to grow a full-fledged homemade sakura from seeds, most people resort to buying ready-made plants. But it is worth noting that Japanese sakura, grown with one’s own hands from seeds in ordinary home conditions, is not a myth, but a reality. In order to fulfill your fantasies or simply surprise your neighbors beautiful tree on the balcony of the apartment, first of all, you need to know the basic rules for growing sakura directly at home.

Preparing to grow sakura from seeds at home

First of all, it should be noted that the method of growing sakura from mature seeds directly at home has its positive aspects:

no need to spend money on buying plant seedlings:
Sakura takes root well, as from the very beginning it adapts to certain environmental conditions.

At minimum costs It is sakura, like an extraordinary tree, grown at home that will become an unsurpassed decoration of the living room or loggia. Growing beautiful sakura from seeds at home involves using the following varieties: Amanogawa, Shirofugen, Shirotae, Tai Haku.

The most important point in cultivating plants whose origin is foreign is to adhere to all the basic rules for planting and care from leading botanists and breeders. First of all, you need to know how to properly plant Japanese cherry seeds for growing at home.

Preparation planting material involves the following actions:

Before planting, seeds are carefully inspected and only whole, undamaged, healthy seeds are selected;
a day before planting, the seeds should be filled with water at room temperature with a small amount of manganese or a certain fungicide.

Important: the so-called process of soaking and disinfection is a very important point, since growing healthy sakura in certain home conditions is quite difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to exclude everything possible options damage by fungi or mold to a young, unprotected plant.

The frequency of planting plays a significant role; it is best to plant sakura from seeds in early spring or early autumn. This way the plant will enter the desired vegetation cycle and will grow up healthy and beautiful. To achieve visible results and obtain healthy plant, you must adhere to the rules of planting seeds and seedlings.

How to properly plant sakura seeds at home

For planting, use seeds collected from the plant after the flowers have dried; the storage time of planting material should not exceed 1 year;
it is necessary to plant 2 times more seeds than plants are needed, since there is a certain percentage of seedlings rising;
be sure to provide protection from direct sunlight;
adhere to the planting interval between seeds: for large seeds it is 5-7 cm, for small ones it is 2-3 cm.

By following the rules and using high-quality planting material, in just a couple of months you will be able to see young shoots, which will eventually need to be transplanted to a certain place on the site. Sakura, like home wonderful flower, you will feel great on the balcony.

Regardless of the variety and selection, sakura requires planting in a certain soil for normal growth and development of the tree body and further formation of flowers. That is why, when preparing for planting, you need to take into account the fact that the plant is predisposed to coarse-grained sandy soil; this is the kind of soil that should be used.

First of all, you will need to disinfect the soil; this can be done using special preparations or, directly, by roasting in the oven. Thus, they kill all unnecessary bacteria and fungi that can cause harm to both seeds and young plants.

The second one is very important point is the choice of container for planting. Depending on the desired number of sprouts and taking into account the interval between plantings, you should take a container of appropriate length.

For example: for 6 large seeds you will need a container at least 30 centimeters long.

It should be taken into account that in the early stages of development the root system of sakura is fibrous, the depth of the container should be from 5 to 10 cm.

The container is filled with soil, it is necessary to have a tray and drainage holes at the bottom for air circulation and moisture. You need to put pebbles or small stones at the bottom of the flowerpot.

Planting Japanese cherry from seeds in apartment home conditions involves the use of compact plastic containers, specially designed for growing seedlings. Such containers fit very compactly on a windowsill or on a cabinet.

Planting seeds:

sowing of seeds is carried out in soil with a humidity of at least 60%;
the bones need to be immersed to a depth of 1-2 centimeters;
The top of the container must be covered with polyethylene to maximize moisture retention and create a certain atmosphere;
watering should be carried out once every 2-3 days, before climbing, water using the soil method, after - only with a tray;
2 months after climbing, the plant can be transplanted into another container for single growth.

At the age of 6 to 9 months, sakura can be planted in open ground.

Feeding sakura from seeds at home and photos of flowers

It is worth knowing that at the time of germination, young cobs use nutrients from their own cotyledons, so fertilizing during planting is excluded, as this can provoke the development of fungi or oversaturate the soil with organic matter, which will ultimately slow down, rather than enhance, the growth and development of the plant.

Feeding with nutrients is carried out in a tray when the tree has reached a height of at least 5 cm, it is at this time that the root system has formed, is able to function properly, and requires additional nutrients.

It is necessary to take into account the fact that sakura requires constant care when growing at home, this applies, first of all, to feeding organic fertilizers in the period before flowering or on time. There is no need to apply fertilizer before entering dormancy.

The state of true peace corresponds to the seasonality and growing season of the plant, that is, with the onset of autumn and winter, sakura seems to fall asleep in order to renew its strength until next spring.

You can see how homemade sakura is grown on the balcony in the photo:

Sakura bonsai grown from seeds at home

Sakura bonsai, grown from seeds in ordinary home conditions, will ideally fit into the interior of a house or apartment. Bonsai should be grown in wide, shallow containers to prevent the root system from growing. During the growth period, when the plant has reached at least 25-30 centimeters, you can begin to form a crown. To do this, it is necessary to cut off the main podium so that the tree develops a wider crown. Unusual crowns can be made by tying the growing branches with wire to create a specific look.

Important: it is quite difficult to grow a sakura tree in the open ground from seeds at home in summer cottage conditions; it is best to use seedlings for further planting on the site.

Planting of seedlings is carried out in the fall; the age of the seedlings should be at least 6 months, and preferably more. The older the seedling, the more resistant it is to environmental factors. Very young seedlings will have to be wrapped for the winter when frost arrives, so as not to lose the plant.

Planting rules are identical to growing from seeds; any type of soil must be mixed with sand for maximum survival rate of the sprout. Do not forget about fertilizer and watering, and also periodically drain the soil around the tree to improve air exchange in the root system. Proper care of sakura will not require much time, the most important thing is to do everything clearly and according to the rules, and the efforts made will give an unsurpassed result.

After the home sakura surprises you with its first flowers, you can collect seeds and give advice to your friends on how to properly grow Japanese cherries with your own hands.

Check out homemade sakura in the photo below:

How to grow bonsai from seeds at home? The ancient technology of growing miniature trees requires a lot of effort and patience from the amateur gardener. But the result will not make you regret the effort expended. Bonsai will become the pearl of any interior.

Seeds for germination can also be immersed in moist vermiculite or sphagnum moss. After planting the seeds, the container is covered with film or glass and placed in a cool place (plus temperature from 5 to 10 °C) for 1.5-2 weeks. The film will provide the high soil moisture necessary for germination. To prevent mold from appearing, you need to do regular ventilation. When the first shoots emerge, the film or glass is removed. The container with the sprouts is placed in a lighted place (not in direct sunlight).

Growing a tree from seedlings

For the winter, bonsai seedlings are placed in a cool place or left indoors on a cold windowsill behind a thick curtain. The plant is not touched until spring. In the spring, the dive continues. It takes 2-3 years to grow sakura. Only then will it be possible to begin forming a tree at home.

The rules for crown formation are as follows:

1 The bonsaist’s task is to constantly restrain the growth of the tree and give it its characteristic dwarf shape.
2 The trunk at the base of the tree should be thick. To achieve this effect, all shoots with a vertical direction of growth are pruned.
3 A bonsai plant should look like a century-old tree, even if it is only 3 years old. To give the tree a characteristic appearance, the upper part of the roots is exposed. To do this, the top layer of soil is removed.
4 At what level to start forming the crown, the bonsaiist decides by cutting off the lower branches. The first strong branch of the trunk will be the lowest one, not cut by the bonsai plant.
5 The trunk is too long and needs to be shortened. To do this, cut off a circular strip of bark at the base and replant the tree, plunging the bare area into the ground. Roots later grow in this place. Old roots are cut off and the plant is replanted.
6 If the broom style is chosen, vertical branches are trimmed as much as possible, allowing horizontal shoots to bush. If the vertical style is chosen, upward growth of the main trunk and side branches is encouraged.
7 An already formed bonsai tree needs to be constantly pruned and pinched to maintain its ideal shape.

Forming the correct shape

Constant pruning of the roots and shoots of the tree helps to restrain growth. To weaken the sakura, horizontal cuts are made on its trunk with a sharp knife. The juice of the plant is released from them. Losing moisture and nutrients, the tree weakens and slows growth. It is very important to make the cuts the right size. Excessive loss of sap can lead to the death of the plant.

The tree is formed by fixing the shoots in the desired shape and directing their growth in the desired direction using special bonsai wire. To obtain the necessary bending of the trunk or branches using wire, the branches are wrapped with it. When using wire, you need to make sure that it does not grow into the bark of the plant. To do this, you need to periodically remove it and rewind it in a new place.

To make a beautiful tree at home, it needs to be provided with optimal lighting. Sakura is a light-loving plant; it needs a lot of bright light. Therefore, in winter and on cloudy days it is necessary to use additional lighting. With a lack of light, the shoots become thin and the petioles of the leaves become long.

Necessary tools for work

Pruning is the main technique for forming a dwarf tree. The success of the bonsai technique depends on the quality of the wood cuts. Therefore, you need to prepare the necessary tools. Some amateur gardeners consider buying special tools a waste. However, using tools specifically designed for bonsai techniques will make caring for the plant much easier and will minimize the risk of its death.

The basic tool kit includes the following:

concave cutters;
wire cutters;
convex spherical cutters;
scissors.

Wire cutters cut bonsai wires neatly and symmetrically. Their rounded head does not injure the tree when cutting the wire.

Convex spherical pliers remove growths on trunks and roots, as well as unwanted roots. The cavity remaining after them quickly heals with a minimum amount of scars.

It is also worth purchasing special scissors for trimming thin roots.

An additional set of tools that will turn caring for a plant into a pleasant experience includes the following devices:

root cutters and hooks;
root ball knife;
small Japanese saw;
thinning scissors;
tweezers with a curved nose.

It is also advisable to buy soil scoops, rakes and hemp brooms.

For the bonsai technique, many more tools have been developed for filigree processing of trees, but a beginner bonsai artist only needs to purchase a basic set.

Hanami or cherry blossom viewing is one of the main holidays in Japan. Every year, millions of local residents and tourists come to specially designated places to see the blossoming color of this amazing plant. You can enjoy the beauty of sakura in your summer cottage, but planting a tree requires special conditions.

Sakura - description

Based on its origin, sakura is classified as a small serrated cherry. Fans will be surprised, but this is a tree of the Plum genus, belonging to the Rosaceae family, and its second name is finely serrated bird cherry. Japan and the Korean Peninsula are considered the birthplace of sakura. It is also found in some areas of China, growing mainly on mountain slopes in mixed forests.

Gardeners value sakura for its amazing beauty during the flowering period, when inflorescences appear on the tree, having, depending on the variety, a varied palette of shades, ranging from white and soft pink to deep purple.

In Japan, sakura is found with yellow, reddish and even green flowers!

You can grow a tree from a seed (seed) or from a cutting. The best specimens are considered to be seedlings from the island of Hokkaido. Important detail– sakura, sprouted from a seed or cuttings, is planted on a hill, which will have a beneficial effect on its development.

How to grow sakura from seeds at home?

Gardeners use only a few varieties of ornamental cherries to grow at home. This is a rather capricious type of tree, so not all conditions for growth are suitable for it. To increase survival rate, modern breeding involves crossing existing sakura species so that the new variety is more stable and adapts faster.

Suitable varieties

Sakura varieties suitable for cultivation by amateurs:

Spire;
Shidare Yoshino;
Halle Olivetti;
Shirotae;
Shirofugen;
Kikushidare;
Tai Haki.

All of the listed varieties are resistant to stressful situations and low temperatures. They also successfully propagate by seeds, and not just cuttings. Another plus is the high decorative factor.

How to choose seeds?

Inspect the seeds. The skin should be elastic and strong, but not dry, the surface of the seed should be free of cracks and stains. You can make a small cross-shaped incision on the seed, but the procedure should be performed extremely carefully, otherwise it will be damaged inner part. If you are not confident that you can make a clean cut, it is better to leave the seed as is. This will slow down growth a little, but you will be sure that the strongest seedlings have survived;
The seed is planted immediately after collection, otherwise it will lose its freshness and germination;
Always sow about one and a half times more seeds than required. Not all of them will rise, so you need to make sure you're safe in advance.;
Large samples are planted in the ground one at a time, small ones - over the entire surface;
Seedlings are placed in a warm place with diffused light. Direct sunlight should be minimized;
The seedlings are covered with a film or glass/plastic lid;
When the first shoots emerge, lift the cover from time to time to provide fresh air.

Planting conditions: step by step

Of course, you shouldn’t expect sakura to bloom lushly from an ordinary seed that was simply stuck into the soil and watered with water. Growing this tree requires special care. Competent cultivation includes a set of rules and regulations for the preparation of seeds, soil, planting containers and watering/lighting regimes.

Soil preparation

Preparatory stage, which precedes planting, consists of soaking the seeds. They are placed in lukewarm water for a day, its temperature does not exceed 30 °C. Experienced gardeners It is advised to drop a little foundationazole, granosan or mercuran into the container with the soaked seeds to counteract fungal diseases. It is worth protecting the future sprout already at an early stage of development;
The soil should consist of sand with coarse-grained fractions. Sakura feels most comfortable in it, receiving sufficient moisture and air. The seeds will germinate faster and their germination is guaranteed as much as possible. Before planting, the soil should be disinfected to eliminate pest larvae and pathogenic bacteria;
Fertilizers are not applied at the sowing stage, since at this stage the natural concentration of minerals in the soil is sufficient for the seeds;
Mandatory procedure Before planting, moisten the sand, since seeds will need sufficient moisture to grow.

Sowing sakura seeds

Make furrows on the surface of the soil with a depth of approximately 2 - 2.5 cm. The distance between the furrows should not be close, about three centimeters on each side is enough;
Place the seeds in the furrows, lightly screwing them into the soil, at a distance of at least two centimeters from one another;
Sprinkle the plantings with sand. The thickness of the top layer is equal to twice the diameter of the seed.

When choosing a container for laying soil and sowing seeds, keep in mind that it must be wide enough for the development and growth of seedlings to proceed unhindered;
The optimal depth of a container or plastic cup/pot is at least five cm. It must have drainage holes in the bottom, which guarantees balanced circulation of water in the soil to saturate the root system the right amount moisture;
After the seeds germinate and the sprouts strengthen, the container will need to be changed to a more durable and spacious one. If you plan to grow sakura, the new pot, on the contrary, should be cramped. For garden planting you will need a deep and wide tub.
Sakura seeds are usually planted in spring, late summer or early autumn. In any case, it must coincide in cyclicity with the biological rhythms of the plant’s growing season. Only then is a quality result guaranteed.

If you devote enough time to planting during the germination stage and follow all instructions, the future tree will be healthier and stronger.

Care and watering

Sakura is not the most durable plant. A growing seedling can be destroyed by a draft, an excess of direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation, a sudden change in temperature and an incorrect watering regime. Do not allow the soil to dry out: the root system should develop without stressful situations so that the seedling is stronger and stays as stable as possible in the soil. When planting in season, the volume of required liquid per day in a container up to 5 cm deep is half a faceted glass (100 ml); in the winter season, watering is carried out less frequently.

The variety of sakura determines the type of fertilizing applied. The standard choice is nitrogen and potassium fertilizers. If there is a deficiency of nutrients in the soil, you can supplement the deficiency by regularly adding humus.

Additional care tips:

For proper care Sanitary pruning is carried out behind the plant, it is advisable to do it before the spring movement of tree sap begins in the trunk;
Sakura should not be sprayed during flowering: this can kill pollinating bees;
To prevent the tree from being infected with aphids, its trunk is treated with Vaseline, which prevents the movement of the carrier ants.

Transplantation into open ground

After two years, the seedlings are transferred to open ground. Conditions for transplanting sakura into open ground:

The diameter of the landing hole is 35–40 centimeters, the depth is about half a meter.
Don't forget to add to the bottom drainage layer from pebbles, crushed stone, small stones or expanded clay.
You can mix the type of drainage you have with a small amount charcoal.
The soil that is backfilled needs to be separated from debris of branches, extraneous roots, etc.
The hole is filled halfway with it, after which the seedling is planted and filled with the remaining soil mixed with humus, river sand and field soil.
After strengthening the sakura in the hole, trample the soil near the planting circle, water it generously and add the top layer.
It is necessary to make a watering circle near the trunk. If the latter is too thin, drive a peg into the soil and make a support post out of it.

A planted tree needs no less careful care. It is also regularly watered, the trunk is covered for the winter, weak branches are cut off and fertilizing is applied. With proper handling, sakura will delight you with the first fragrant flowers three years after sowing the seeds. Flowering period is approximately seven days every spring.

When we mention the phrase “Japanese cherry”, a bright picture with sakura trees buried in lush pink blossoms immediately emerges from the depths of our memory.

In Japan, sakura is traditionally considered a symbol of female beauty and youth; many beliefs and legends are associated with it. The flowering period of this plant is celebrated by the Japanese as a general family holiday. Decorative cherry trees were brought to Russia at the beginning of the 20th century by Professor Krasnov and planted in the Batumi Botanical Garden, and later in the Sukhumi Arboretum.

Description of the tree

In fact, sakura is a generalized name for several forms of East Asian species of finely serrated cherry, having double flowers. Belongs to the Pink family. IN natural environment in their homeland, Japan, these trees can reach a height of 20 meters.

The crown is round, spreading. Tree bark – red to Brown, with small cracks. Large oval leaves, jagged at the edges, green in color, in autumn they turn from dark purple to brown tones.

The flowers are painted in colors from bright pink to white and are collected in brushes of 7–9 pieces. There are cherry blossoms with red, yellow and crimson flowers.

The flowering of one tree lasts no more than a week, but since there are many types of sakura and they bloom at different times, this beautiful spectacle can be enjoyed for about two months.

Modern garden varieties Sakura are created by crossing sharp-serrated wild cherries with cultivated relatives, as well as through grafting. Now there are about 400 varieties of this elegant plant. It is quite understandable that many gardeners want to have such a beauty on their plot.

Sakura fruits and their uses

Sakura, as an ornamental plant, does not produce valuable fruits, which is why it differs from ordinary cherries, which are a fruit tree.

Of course, fruits exist and are called sakura-no-mi in Japanese. They are so small, hard and sour in taste that the Japanese use them only in pickled form and for making wine and jam.

The size of the berries is about 8 mm, the skin is smooth, from pinkish to dark red in color.

Good to know: The leaves of the tree are also suitable for food - after pickling or salting, they become sweet-salty, sour or spicy in taste and, together with the fruits, they are added as a seasoning to rice.

Planting in a garden plot

Considering the homeland of its growth, sakura is very thermophilic and can die at outside temperatures below -15C. For cultivation in Russia, the best varieties are those grown on the northern islands of Japan, where the climate is at least somewhat similar to ours.

The place for this tree is chosen to be quiet, protected from drafts, and with a high degree of illumination. The area must be well drained to avoid stagnation of water, or a mound of soil must be prepared on which the seedling is planted.

Sakura loves light loamy soil of neutral or weak acidity, containing a lot of humus. In heavy soils, it is necessary to add some kind of loosening agent, for example, sand, compost, vermiculite.

As when purchasing any planting material, it is necessary to carefully examine the root system so that it has a sufficiently branched shape for better survival in a new location. You cannot cut the roots, you can only carefully straighten them with your hands.

Annual trees no more than 1 meter high with mature wood (reddish bark color) are best suited.

Gardening advice: for getting abundant flowering plant a couple more cherries of a different variety nearby.

Tree care

Sakura is more demanding to care for than cherry. It needs not only regular watering, but also spraying of the foliage, especially in hot summer weather. However, it also does not like excess moisture in the soil - the root system may die.

In the spring, before the buds open, it is necessary to carefully thin out the tree crown, removing dry, excess branches. Since sakura does not tolerate the cutting procedure very well, the cut areas must be treated with garden varnish or other antiseptic.

Sakura requires regular spraying with fungicides to prevent fungal infections and damage from pests (such as aphids): first spray before bud break, then a month after the berries set.

Application of organic and complex mineral fertilizers has a beneficial effect on the overall development of the plant and its productivity; cherry is especially responsive to potassium and phosphorus. Application rates depend on soil fertility. From autumn fertilizing are excluded. For the winter, it is better to wrap young trees with some material to prevent it from freezing and also protect it from rodents.

How to grow sakura at home, watch the following video: