Lighting:
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Full sun, partial shade in the hottest part of
midsummer.
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Temperature:
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A reasonably hardy plant, to at least zone 5.
Most hawthorns dislike extreme heat. Resistant to windy
conditions.
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Watering:
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Generous - do not allow the soil to dry out
completely. Increase the amount of water in the summer. C.
marshalii is an especially thirsty plant, as its native habitat
is marsh, and will die if ever allowed to dry out. Hawthorn likes
to be misted in dry weather, but avoid misting the flowers when in
bloom. Moisture trays can be used to provide needed humidity,
especially for C. marshalii.
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Feeding:
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Every 14-30 days from spring-autumn, stopping for a
month in midsummer. Use half-strength plant food or bonsai food.
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Repotting:
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Every 1-3 years in early spring or autumn. Always
leave a strong root system. Up to 1/3 of the root mass may be
removed if the tree is a strong grower, but hawthorns are
sometimes prone to rooting problems.
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Styling:
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Prune back shoots to the first two leaves as necessary.
Hawthorn grows quickly and needs constant pruning to kep inder
control. The best time for major branch pruning is before the
leaves come in, as the intricate structure of the branches may be
clearly viewed. May be wired during spring and summer. Remove faded
fruits and flowers; it may be necessary to remove some of the
fruit from young bonsai to prevent the plant from exhaustion.
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Propagation:
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May be grown from seed, but will not flower until
at least 20 years old, which makes cutting grown and grafted
plants the better option. Needs cold treatment before sowing,
and the Samsons warn that it may take up to three years for the
seeds to germinate. Air-layering may be used in spring,
softwood cuttings in summer, and grafting in late winter or
early spring. Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's scarlet' rarely
fruits and is usually propagated by grafting.
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Pests etc.:
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Gall-forming aphids, caterpillars, powdery mildew,
scab, rust, leaf blight, bacterial fireblight. May expereince
rooting problems.
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