Technical Sheet - Zanthoxylum

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.

Also called Operculicarya, it blooms with male and female plants without easy dimorphism between sexes. In Bonsai, it rarely fruits, but to achieve this, one must have a plant of each sex.

Location: It can live outdoors all year round, being deciduous. If cultivated indoors, it is likely to want to renew its leaves in mid-summer.

It should not be overly protected in air-conditioned environments and requires plenty of sun, at least 2 to 3 hours a day (ideally early morning or late afternoon); rotate the tree 180° weekly.

Watering: Water abundantly until a good amount of water drains from the drainage holes to uniformly moisten the soil, always watering from above, never by immersion, using a fine nozzle watering can.

For watering tips, consult the watering technical sheet.

Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings (to confirm 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 more moderate until new growth begins.

If there is 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 specifically for foliar application, but ensure the leaves dry before night to avoid fungi.

Nutrition: From February to October/November, use a base plan composed of a complete fertilizer (Fertil Bonsai Humic, or Green & Gold Bonsai Organic or Biogold), and a biostimulant throughout the year (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: Always prune above the axil of a compound leaf. When cultivated indoors, it is common to perform a strong formative pruning in summer so it regrows with new leaves.

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

Repotting: With Bonsai Leafy Soil in February/March, before the start of budding and with strong pruning.

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

Wiring: Wiring can be done all year round.

For wiring instructions, consult the wiring technical sheet.