🌱 Japanese Larch, #2320
Second try at Japanese Larch(Larix kaempferi), given only 3 or so of 10 dormant seedlings planted in Nov have any new needles.
Nursery replaced the 10 with thriving seedlings this May. Was cautioned that Larch do not do well in the Bay Area, but a final experiment.
Soil is 1:1 lava & pumice. Last failed attempt was woody compost and when wet stayed soggy. Possible cause of plant death. Literature suggests neutral clay, loam, sand—keep moist.
Soil: the best soil for larch bonsai is a well-draining mix that allows good aeration of the root system.
I use 100% akadama for my larch to help create a refined and well-scaled root system. Others prefer to include differing proportions of pumice and lava to reduce soil breakdown and maintain percolation through the root ball over a longer period of time.
Bonsai Mirai (excerpt)
The Japanese larch bonsai—Larix kaempferi—though rare to see in a Japanese bonsai exhibition, is, by far, one of the most amazing of the Larix species. With short, tight, and compact needles and magnificent branching, the Japanese larch produces the finest ramification if handled correctly.
The Japanese larch is durable and tolerant of both styling and repotting, displaying:
● Tremendous fall color
● Splendid color when pushing out in the spring
● Wonderful winter silhouettes; and
● Fantastic bark
Even though it is a deciduous conifer, the Japanese larch is an elongating species that gets its strength from its vascular tissue. Much like hemlock, the Japanese larch:
● Swells very quickly
● Gets wire bites in relatively fast; and
● Grows quickly in the spring
There is so much to love about the Japanese larch as a bonsai subject. Japanese larch bonsai is a species with several unique qualities and peculiarities. To cultivate this type of bonsai, it’s crucial to understand its physiology.
To maintain the water and oxygen balance, Japanese larch should be watered when the soil is damp.
The Japanese larch is usually pruned three times in the spring (see article)
Like the hemlock, the Japanese larch has a bad reputation for being root sensitive.
July 2023: most thrived and trunk hardened off and many branches elongated. Not sure of maintenance, but like redwoods chose to cut back to more inner nodes—especially upper branches to allow lower branches to thicken. Hope to help ramify and build density of needles. Will see.
