22-year-old Ligustrum Bonsai

Common Name: Chinese Privet

Scientific Name: Ligustrum chinensis

Characterization: Belongs to the Oleaceae family, and is found in China, Japan, and Europe.

Although there are several types of Ligustrums, this variety originating from China is the best suited for Bonsai.

It is an evergreen shrub with oval green leaves, which produces white flowers in the summer (rare in Bonsai due to pruning); there is also a variety with white and green leaves (variegated).

Location: It can live indoors near a window well exposed to the sun with a minimum of 2 to 3 hours daily and without air conditioning, where it should be rotated 180° weekly.

It can also live outdoors year-round as long as it is protected from strong winds and frost; it is very sensitive to lack of direct sunlight.

Watering: Water the soil abundantly until a good amount of water comes out of the drainage holes, to evenly moisten the soil, always from above, never by immersion, using a fine-spouted watering can.

For watering tips, consult the watering technical sheet.

Allow the top layer of soil to dry slightly between waterings (to check if the plant needs water, touch the soil with your fingers).

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 when you fertilize and if the fertilizer is for foliar application, but ensure the leaves dry by night to avoid fungi.

Nutrition: From February to October/November, follow 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 the rest of our range, or for a more specific nutrition plan, consult the complete nutrition plan technical sheet.

Pruning: Allow 6 to 8 leaves to grow, then cut back to the first leaves.

For pruning tips, consult the pruning and defoliation technical sheet.

Repotting: Use Leafy Bonsai Soil in February/March, with strong partial defoliation.

Details about repotting, post-repotting care, and specific fortifiers you can use are available in the repotting technical sheet.

Wiring: Can be wired all year. Usually, wiring is done at the end of Winter or the end of Summer along with structural pruning and partial defoliation.

Instructions on wiring can be found in the wiring technical sheet.