| Ginkgo Biloba Bonsai, the maidenhair tree, care and | | | | whereas male trees tend to be slimmer. Male trees |
| information | | | | are normally used in landscaping because the fruit of |
| Ginkgo biloba are deciduous prehistoric trees once | | | | the female trees have a foul odor. This is less of a |
| thought to be extinct until rediscovered in China. Teris | | | | problem in bonsai because they rarely fruit when |
| Andre van Beek states, "Botanical and historical data | | | | grown as bonsai. |
| suggest that the tree has survived because of the | | | | They do well as an outdoor bonsai because of their |
| protection afforded by humans" (529). So there is | | | | adaptability. It does well in full to partial sun. It is not as |
| some debate as to whether or not there are any truly | | | | picky as some bonsai about what kind of soil you pot |
| wild trees left. However, most do agree there are | | | | it in. A basic bonsai soil that is well draining and retains |
| some remaining in the wild in "east China, the West | | | | moisture works best. They are hardy in USDA zones |
| Tienmushan mountains, Zhejiang province, the southern | | | | 3 to 8A and can grow fine in the compact conditions |
| mountainous area and the Dabieshan mountains" | | | | of a bonsai pot. They are much more tolerant of |
| (Andre van Beek, 529). Fortunately for them their | | | | drought than other bonsai trees and they are not |
| popularity in bonsai and landscaping should keep it from | | | | prone to any pests. |
| ever becoming close to extinction. | | | | It will do best in a deeper bonsai pot instead of a |
| The maidenhair tree is very distinctive which makes it | | | | shallow one. If you live in an area where freezing |
| great for bonsai. Its fan shaped leaves consisting of | | | | temperatures are possible mica pots may be |
| two lobes turn bright golden yellow in fall. It has been | | | | preferred as their roots are sensitive to freezing and |
| referred to as the tree of forty gold crowns. They | | | | mica pots do better at promoting stable soil |
| were given the name maidenhair tree because their | | | | temperatures. The roots need to be protected from |
| leaves resemble that of the maidenhair fern. Even with | | | | freezing because they hold a large amount of |
| typical bonsai leaf pruning and defoliation techniques | | | | moisture there. In areas where freezing weather is |
| the leaves of the ginkgo biloba will not reduce in size | | | | possible you can bury the bonsai pot at level with the |
| very much so for proper perspective one should use | | | | ground and cover the surface with mulch. This will |
| them in kifu, medium, and dai, large, bonsai instead of | | | | shield the soil in the bonsai pot from temperature |
| mame. Female trees tend to develop a wider crown | | | | extremes. |