Species originating from Madagascar, it is part of the Rutaceae family.
The Zanthoxylum Bonsai has deciduous, compound, bright green leaves, which emit a citrus scent when pruned.
It is also called Operculicarya, flowering on male and female plants, without easy dimorphism between genders. It is rare for Bonsai to bear fruit, but to achieve this we need to have one plant of each.
The Zanthoxylum Bonsai is a plant of dual location.
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Common Name: Zanthoxylum and Chinese Pepper Tree
Scientific Name: Zanthoxylum Piperitum
Characteristics: Originating from Madagascar, it belongs to the Rutaceae family.
Medium-sized tree, with deciduous, compound, shiny green leaves that emit a citrus scent when pruned.
It is also called Operculicarya and blooms with male and female plants without easy dimorphism between genders. In Bonsai, it rarely fruits, but to achieve this, we need to have one plant of each gender.
Location: It can live outdoors all year round, being deciduous. If grown indoors, it is likely that in mid-summer it will want to renew its leaves.
It should not be too protected in air-conditioned environments and wants a lot of sun, at least 2 to 3 hours per day (ideally early or late in the day), rotating the tree 180° weekly.
Watering: Water the soil abundantly until plenty of water comes out of the drainage holes, in order to evenly moisten the soil, always from above and never by immersion, using a watering can with fine holes.
Tips about watering, consult the watering technical sheet.
Let the top layer of soil dry between each watering (to check if the plant needs water, touch the soil with your fingers).
It tends to suffer from root rot due to excess water/lack of light, especially after heavy pruning, at which time watering should be moderated until new growth starts.
If you have a tray under the Bonsai, never leave any water in it (to prevent root rot).
There is no advantage in misting the leaves; only do so on days you fertilize and if the fertilizer is specific for foliar application, but ensure the leaves dry by nightfall to avoid fungi.
Nutrition: From February to October/November, with a basic plan composed of a complete fertilizer (Fertil Bonsai Humic, or Green & Gold Bonsai Organic or Biogold), and a biostimulant (Bio Bonsai Activ), which can also be combined with other products from our range.
Detailed information on how to combine these products with others from our range, or for a more specific nutrition plan, consult the complete nutrition plan technical sheet.
Pruning: Always done above the axil of a compound leaf. When grown indoors, strong formative pruning is usually done in summer so that it buds with new leaves.
Tips about pruning, consult the pruning and defoliation technical sheet.
Repotting: With Terra Bonsai Folhosas in February/March, before the start of budding and with strong pruning.
Details about repotting, post-repotting, and specific fortifiers you can use, consult the repotting technical sheet.
Wiring: Can be wired all year round.
Instructions about wiring, consult the wiring technical sheet.
