Care Guide for Syzygium (Brush Cherry) Bonsai Trees

The Brush Cherry Tree, also known as the Syzygium, is part of the Myrtle family and is found in South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. It produces petite white fluffy flowers during the spring and produces edible fruits in the form of bright red berries in the autumn. This bonsai tree also boasts dark green leaves which are of a pointy oval shape.

Caring correctly for any type of bonsai tree is crucial in order to ensure that your bonsai tree grows beautifully and healthily, giving you years of pleasure. However, not all bonsai trees are the same and different species require different care regimes. This article provides you with a care guide for the Syzygium bonsai tree (aka Brush Cherry).

Where should you place your Brush Cherry bonsai tree?

The first step to caring for any bonsai tree is to decide on the most suitable location to place it.

The Brush Cherry tree can be grown either indoors or outdoors. However, if you do grow yours outdoors, it is advisable (though not always necessary) to bring the bonsai tree indoors or into a greenhouse during the coldest months so as to avoid harsh frosts which can harm the tree. If temperatures fall below freezing, the tree should not be left outside for a prolonged period of time.

Brush Cherry bonsai trees enjoy warm, sunny areas, needing between four to six hours of sunlight daily. They require humid, rather than dry, air to keep their leaves healthy and green. So, when your bonsai tree is indoors during the winter, place it on top of a tray containing a layer of gravel and layer of water.

Routine steps to take to care for your Brush Cherry bonsai tree

1. Water

The Brush Cherry Tree needs a moderate amount of water to ensure it is not too dry but also not completely wet. The amount of water required will depend on the amount of sun and warmth which the bonsai tree is being exposed to. A rough guide to follow is below, but bear in mind that the regularity of watering is highly dependant on the tree's location:

• water your bonsai tree at least once, often twice, on very hot days
• water your bonsai tree between two and three times a week during warm winter weeks (if placed indoors in a warm area this will need to be increased)
• water your bonsai tree one or two times a week during the colder parts of winter (again, if indoors this will likely need increasing)

The perfect time to water the tree is just as the top layer of soil becomes dry to the touch. Excessive watering should be avoided as this tree does not like to be sitting in a constantly soaked substrate.

2. Sun

It should go without saying that any bonsai tree needs sun, but obviously each tree requires differing amounts. The Brush Cherry bonsai tree thrives on a plentiful amount of sunshine.

However, whilst the Brush Cherry tree enjoys warmth and the sun, it is important to note that during the peak of Summer the tree can potentially be burned by the Sun's UV rays. It is advisable to place the tree in partial shade on those super hot days.

3. Keep your Brush Cherry bonsai tree styled and tidy

One of the beauties of the Brush Cherry tree is that it is perfect for those who enjoy shaping and styling their bonsai tree.  As a miniature bonsai tree, it will need styling regularly to stay that way. The best way to do this is:

• to prune the canopy as the tree is growing, styling it into the shape you wish
• ensuring that any offshoot branches are neatly and regularly trimmed to ensure your Brush Cherry tree always looks tidy
• avoid cutting this bonsai tree from April until the end of its flowering period, as well as avoiding cutting during winter
• if you carry out wiring on your Brush Cherry tree, do so with care as the bark of these bonsai trees is very sensitive as well as thin, therefore, it is advisable to use a thin wire and never carry out wiring shortly after reporting this bonsai tree

4. Fertilising

To ensure a strong and healthy tree your Brush Cherry tree will need to be fertilized using a liquid bonsai fertilizer, and between March and September this should take place once every two weeks. During the colder months, providing your bonsai tree is kept warm in a bright place, once a month should be sufficient.

If your Brush Cherry tree is weak, or has recently been repotted, you should not use fertiliser as this can burn the roots of your bonsai tree. Fertilization should be avoided after repotting for three to four weeks.

5. Pests

Caring correctly for your Brush Cherry bonsai tree should help to ensure that pests stay away. However, these trees can be prone to aphids and, should an infestation occur, use a common aphid pesticide product to resolve the issue.

Scale are also a likely pest on this bonsai tree and the presence of these can be spotted by noticing brown or black bumps on the branches of the bonsai tree.  Insecticide and fungicides can be used to get rid of this pest.

6. Repotting

Syzygium trees are relatively fast root growers and, as such, need repotting every 2 to 4 years (depending on the size of pot it is in - the smaller the pot the more often it will require repotting). Repotting should take place in very early Spring and following the procedure there should be a period of several weeks without fertilizer. These trees prefer a well draining substrate and so a mixture of soil and Akadama is a great solution.

This guide is a basic overview of how to care for the Syzygium tree, however, should you encounter any difficulties or have any further questions, then please don’t hesitate to contact us.