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Tamarisk

Tamarisk

This unusual shrub has a fragile and downy aspect, which hides its real strenght. Tamarisk is very resistant to the wind, especially to the brackish one, so it is often used as breakwind barrier along the coasts. Its delicate leaves and flowers make it a wonderful bonsai shrub. Its small scale-shaped leaves grow along the thin and leafy branches rustling with the lightest breeze. Bunches of little pink-violet or brown-rosy flowers blossom abundantly from spring to summer. Tamarisk occupies a big area: from western Europe to China, but most of its varieties come from the Mediterranean basin and need protection during the winter.

 

Tamarisk
 
Detail
Detail
   
Exposure
Exposure
 

Sunlight, but shelter it from the strongest sun rays. Protect it also from winter frost.

 

Watering
Watering
 

Check the soil conditions every day and supply as much water as necessary to keep the soil always slightly wet.

 

Fertilizing
Fertilizing
 

Every 2 weeks, during the vegetative season.

 

Repotting
Repotting
 

By mid-spring, every 1-2 years according to the root-ball development. Use mould with a good drainage.

 

Pruning
Pruning
 

Shorten the growth of the year drastically in autumn. The new spring growth will develop vertically: bend it down wiring it or fixing a thin metallic net for some weeks, until the buds get their typical hanging shape.

 

Propagation
Propagation
 

By semi-wood cuttings in summer or by wood ones in winter. By layers in late spring or at the beginning of summer.

Bonsai styles

Informal Upright, Slanting, Prostrate, Cascade, Root over Rock and in Rock, Double Trunk and Group styles. Suitable for every size from small to big ones.

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