
Brad's Bonsais


Malus spp.: Crab Apple
Outdoor
Crab apples thrive in full sun and perform badly in shade. They are extremely hardy. Crab apples can handle frost but younger trees may need to be protected from severe freezing.
Watering
Keep soil wet by watering well in summer. When fruiting make sure the soil does not dry out as they use a lot of water to form. In winter, water less and keep soil moist. Foliage and flowers enjoy regular misting.
Re-Potting
Re-pot every two to three years in Autumn to allow for good flowering in spring. Use a deep pot to ensure a adequate supply of water for the tree.
Training
Prune branches after flowering to ensure the buds are not been cut off and allow for good buds for the following season to develop. Older branches can be quite tough and training by trimming will be easier. Looking at the pictures above. I am using the weight technique making sure I do not break any branches of this old tree. For weights use stainless steel bolts so that no rust occurs which will drip on the soil causing other complications.