| The Ochna serrulata makes an interesting outdoor | | | | When pruning Ochna serrulata, plant form and |
| bonsai subject for growers in Zones 14-24, or | | | | structure should be considered. It is necessary to |
| anywhere with winter protection. Its foliage is | | | | prune to regulate growth and remove root |
| attractive as the leaves change color during the | | | | suckers and trunk sprouts emerging from latent |
| seasons, its flowers are striking, and the seed | | | | buds. You will also want to thin overly dense |
| formation is unique. This evergreen shrub from | | | | branches from the miniature canopy that may |
| South Africa has a slow-growing, spreading habit | | | | reduce air circulation and light from reaching the |
| and a trunk that can develop the character traits | | | | flower buds. To increase bonsai height, pinch or |
| that are desired in the cultivation of a bonsai. | | | | cut out the growing tips of the lateral branches. |
| Ochna serrulata prefers a soil that is slightly acidic | | | | To increase the fullness, pinch or cut the terminal |
| and should perform well in most bonsai mixes. A | | | | buds at the end of branches. Location of your |
| balanced fertilizer should be used most of the | | | | cuts is important. If it is too close to the |
| year, with attention paid to iron to maintain the | | | | vegetative bud or flower spur, the bud or spur |
| deep green leaf color. As winter approaches, | | | | may die. If too far from the point that you want |
| switching to a 1-5-5 fertilizer will reduce leaf flush | | | | to induce growth, an inactive stub will remain that, |
| during the coldest months, while still providing the | | | | lacking metabolic activity, will usually shrivel, |
| right balance for maintaining root health and | | | | desiccate, and abscise, leaving dead tissue that |
| preparing for flower bud development. As with | | | | may leave an entry point for disease. In most |
| most bonsai requiring iron, I like to add a couple of | | | | cases, the cut should be about one quarter inch |
| non-galvanized washers or spent nails to the soil | | | | from the bud you want to encourage, and the |
| mix. The acidic soil promotes the rusting of the | | | | cut should be made at about a forty-five degree |
| iron providing a satisfactory iron chelate for the | | | | angle so that the apex of the cut is above the |
| plant. | | | | bud. |
| Ochna serrulata has durable fine-toothed oblong | | | | I want to emphasize the importance of a sharp |
| leaves that are a bronzy color as the plant flushes | | | | tool for all garden pruning, whether it is a pruning |
| out with new growth during the spring, which then | | | | knife, shears or saw. Nice clean cuts will callus |
| changes to a rich deep green as the leaves | | | | over more quickly and easily than ragged cuts |
| mature. The serrated leaves have barbs, but they | | | | that have torn the bark. If the cuts are clean, the |
| are soft barbs, that are visually pleasing and easy | | | | active cells in the cambium layer of the stem or |
| to work around. The flower buds are held close | | | | branch will grow inward and neatly close off the |
| to the stem and will develop into bright yellow | | | | open wound. (Writing this short article on Ochna, |
| buttercup-type blossoms in early summer. The | | | | made me realize, that perhaps more complete |
| flowers themselves are very attractive, but the | | | | information on pruning plants in general, should be |
| spent flowers are unique. The yellow flower petals | | | | the subject of next few articles. |
| will abscise, but the sepals will remain and slowly | | | | Because Ochna serrulata likes a bit of shade for |
| turn an intense red color. From the center of the | | | | best performance, it should make a great bonsai |
| red sepals green seed fruits will develop, ripening | | | | for any balcony that is not south facing in Zones |
| to a shiny vivid black color. When the fruits have | | | | 14-24, or anywhere with winter protection. With |
| ripened, the appearance of the black fruits against | | | | attractive foliage, striking flowers, and unique |
| the red sepals looks very much like the eyes, | | | | seed, this slow-growing shrub can be trained to |
| ears, and nose of a mouse. This is why the plant | | | | develop the character traits that are desired in a |
| is often referred to as the "Mickey Mouse Plant", | | | | bonsai subject. |
| and a reason why young and old love it. | | | | |