A Dream Tree, Tamarind Bonsai Trees



references: art, bonsaimary.com, catalog, pampangatalents.com, photos, facebook.com, bonsai4me.com, pinterest.com, zacsarian.com, shutterstock.com.

A dream tree, 
Tamarind Bonsai Trees


Tamarind bonsai trees give the appearance of age, even as young trees. They're especially noted for the delicate leaves and deep, rough, furrowed bark.  Despite the delicate looking leaves, the Tamarind is very sturdy. They tolerate heavy pruning, extensive root manipulation, wiring and even a little neglect.


They most often grow as an upright tree. This makes it a very good subject for the formal upright style.  
Tamarindus indica, are readily available as fruit trees in the tropics.  In some countries, this tree grows wild and artists have the opportunity to collect them. 


Although it grows in many areas of the tropical world, Tamarindus indica is indigenous to Africa. It is one of the most widely distributed tropical fruit trees in the world. In nature, it is slow growing and reaches heights of 40 to 60 feet. The fruit or “pods” are used for seasoning everything from soups to jams.  You may be familiar with one very popular use - Worcestershire sauce.


Tamarind Attributes


The fragrant flowers resemble small orchids!  The new buds have a vibrant pink color which falls away as it goes into full bloom. They are about one inch-wide, cream colored with orange and red streaks.  
The deep furrows in the bark of Tamarind bonsai trees appear at an early age, and continue to develop with time.  The "fruit" is a brown somewhat flat, (plump when ripe) bean or pod. They most often appear on new branches. The pods are average 5 inches long. 
If you prune your tree too frequently, it may not bloom or fruit.
Although foliage can be trimmed any time of year, spring is the best time to remove branches for bonsai styling.  New growth will need frequent pruning during summer.
Roots should be pruned during periods of warm nights.
Few Potential Problems
Aphids on new growth and powdery mildew (especially in humid environments) are possible problems. 
Powdery mildew occurs occasionally and is a type of plant fungus. It can easily be treated with a fungicide. If the mildew is mild, sometimes defoliation will resolve the problem.
Over watering, can cause leaf drop as well as branch die-back.  With a coarse, fast draining bonsai soil, this should not be a problem.  Otherwise, the Tamarind is susceptible to very few pests and/or diseases.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Art of Bonsai