Worth knowing: The European Larch is a summer-green tree with horizontally protruding branches and a steady and mostly slender, and with age a bit more levelled crown. The initially smooth bark becomes quite interesting and deeply furrowed over the years. Its soft and delicate, limber needles standing in large numbers on the short sprouts and individually on long shoots, and are shed towards winter, after showing a golden yellow coloration during autumn. In Europe it is the only domestic deciduous coniferous tree, and it is perfectly suited for cultivation as a bonsai plant. Natural Location: The European Larch survived the last Ice Age most likely in the Carpathian Mountains and has its natural habitat in the mountain regions of Central Europe. Cultivation: Seed propagation indoors is possible throughout the year. To increase the germinability, you should keep the seeds initially for about a week in the freezer of your refrigerator for stratification. Then, spread the seeds onto moist potting compost or proper bonsai earth and put just a little compost earth on top. Cover the seed container with clear film to prevent the earth from drying out, but don’t forget to make some holes in the clear film and take it every second or third day completely off for about 2 hours. That way you avoid mold formation on your potting compost. Place the seed container somewhere bright and warm with a temperature between 20° and 25° Celsius and keep the earth moist, but not wet. Usually, the first seedlings come up after three to eight weeks. Place: The European Larch is best be kept in a very bright and full sunny spot. Since it prefers humitity, a place near a water container would be ideal. Care: Your bonsai should never dry out completely - especially during summer it needs plenty of water, but without waterlogging. It is rather fast-growing and requires from spring until mid August fluid fertilizer for bonsai plants every two to four weeks. During the winter: The European Larch is frost-hard and should hibernate outdoors in a place where it is sheltered from strong wind and direct sunlight. In areas with strong frosts, a coverage with winter fleece is recommended. Water the plant only on frost-free days. Picture credits: - © © Lynn Gerald Edmonds - About © : Contact SAFLAX - http://www.saflax.de/copyright - © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright - © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright - © © Lynn Gerald Edmonds - . - - © - - - © - - - © - - - © - - - © - -