The tiger tongue bonsai tree is widely preferred by many people for cultivation indoors. They are not only easy to care for, having an impressive shape, but also have a strong air purifying effect.
In terms of feng shui, the tiger tongue tree helps attract wealth, bring good luck, and ward off negative energy. In general, this is a type of tree that carries a lot of meaning and is highly popular.
When planting and caring for the tiger tongue tree, you need to be aware of the following tips to help the tree grow:
If there is a lack of nutrients, the young shoots of the tiger tongue tree will grow slowly and turn yellow. Moreover, many believe that the tiger tongue tree not germinating can also affect the family’s finances.
To supplement the tiger tongue tree with nutrients is not difficult, you just need to feed the tree with a few of these yellow seeds. That is soybeans – a natural nitrogen fertilizer.
However, soybeans are hard, so they cannot be used directly. If you bury them in the pot, they can sprout and grow, resulting in the loss of the soybeans and not only that, they will also compete for nutrients with the tiger tongue tree.
Therefore, to let the tiger tongue tree “enjoy this snack”, first, you need to boil and crush the soybeans then bury them in the pot. Note that you should only bury them around the edge of the flower pot, not close to the roots to avoid generating heat during the decomposition process, which can burn the roots.
A lot of things around us are by-products of soybeans, such as soy bran and soy residue. After these two things are fully fermented, they are also a highly effective fertilizer. With this method, you need to ferment the soy bran with water for about 6 months to 1 year to fully ferment it, then dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:1000 and use it to water the tree, which works well.
Water the tiger tongue tree with this “rich water” every 10 days, after about 4 times, the young shoots will grow up like mushrooms after rain, and within a year, they can grow up to 2m tall.
Of course, in addition to using soybeans, you can also use urea. This is a very common nitrogen fertilizer, just take a tablespoon and bury it around the flower pot, the nutrients will be released after each watering and the tree roots will gradually absorb them.
In addition, you can also give the tiger tongue tree “medicine”. That is aspirin, dilute 1 aspirin tablet with 1 liter of water and water the tree with it. This helps balance the soil pH, avoids compacted soil, and promotes good root development, allowing the tree to grow up to 2m tall.
Some methods of propagating the tiger tongue tree
Propagating the bonsai tree by dividing the cluster
In fact, the best method of propagation for the bonsai tree is dividing the cluster. This involves waiting for some small lateral shoots to develop at the base of the tiger tongue tree’s main stem, and when these lateral shoots grow to about 7-9 cm, you can use a sharp knife to cut off some of the lateral shoots.
It is preferable to cut the shoots in the spring or fall to facilitate the tree’s growth. At that time, the lower stem is cut and transplanted into a new pot to develop into a new tiger tongue tree.
The tiger tongue tree propagated by the cluster division method can retain its original characteristics, including the gingham spots on the leaves.
The lower part of the tiger tongue tree will produce strong lateral roots, which can be split (each section has a few leaves), and then can be divided into a new tree.
Propagating the bonsai tree by cutting hydroponic leaves
The leaves of the bonsai tiger tongue tree can be used for propagation by hydroponics or cultivation in soil.
With the hydroponic propagation method, after the leaves of the tiger tongue tree develop, you can choose to propagate in the spring and fall, with the optimum temperature being from 18-25 degrees C, and the humidity should be maintained at 50% – 65%.
Prepare a few sharp knives or shears in advance, and disinfect the knives or shears before cutting the leaves. You can briefly soak them in boiling water or spray some alcohol to sterilize them.
Choose strong leaves of the tiger tongue tree and cut them directly close to the base of the leaf, near the ground.
Because it is propagated by hydroponics, you need to treat the part of the leaf in contact with water. Typically, leaf cuttings for propagating various plants are cut directly at the bottom incision. However, for the bonsai tiger tongue tree, you need to cut a reverse V shape at the bottom of the leaf.
After the leaves of the tiger tongue tree are cut, you can leave them in a well-ventilated and shaded place for 1-2 days to dry the wounds. After that, prepare a transparent container, it can be a plastic or glass bottle, filled with suitable clean water.
Note that the water level should not be too high, slightly higher than the top of the V-shaped incision at the bottom.
This is to ensure that both sides of the leaf can be immersed in the water, while the central part is in contact with the water surface, which helps the shoots to sprout better.
When you immerse the leaf of the tiger tongue tree in water, roots will grow at the top of the V-shaped incision, then the roots will grow strong and young shoots will sprout and gradually grow, emerging above the water surface.
After you place the leaf of the tiger tongue tree in water, keep it in a location with diffused light for no more than 3 hours a day, avoiding direct sunlight. Just provide mild light every day, keep it warm and moist, and have good ventilation, and it will be fine.
In such an environment, the bonsai tiger tongue tree will develop roots after 3-4 weeks, and after 2 months, the roots can grow into strong shoots.
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