What Fertilizer is Good for plum blossom
As the leading flower among China's top ten famous flowers, the cultivation and management of plum blossom, especially the fertilization techniques and fruiting characteristics, are of great interest to flower enthusiasts. This article deeply analyzes the fertilizer selection strategy for different growth stages through illustrations and text, and reveals which plum blossom varieties have the ability to bear fruit.
A Scientific Guide to Fertilizing plum blossom
1. Fertilization Plan During the Growth Period
March to May and September to November are peak growth seasons. It is recommended to use a 3:1:2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compound fertilizer. Alternating between organic and chemical fertilizers yields better results: apply 0.5 kg of mature soybean cake fertilizer per square meter, and spray 0.2% urea solution every 15 days on the leaves. It is important to avoid fertilizing during the rainy season to prevent nutrient loss.
2. Key Points for Applying Flower-Promoting Fertilizer
During the flower bud differentiation period (November to January of the following year), phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be increased. Spray 800 times liquid of potassium dihydrogen phosphate weekly, and apply bone meal in holes (30 cm away from the main stem in a circular trench). Experimental data shows that scientific fertilization can increase the number of flowers per plant by 40%.
Unlocking the Fruiting Characteristics of plum blossom
1. Characteristics of Fruiting Varieties
Fruit plum blossom varieties such as "Qingmei" and "Yanzhi Mei" have complete flower organs with well-developed pistils. Fruit development requires: ① cross-pollination configuration ② annual effective accumulated temperature ≥ 4500℃ ③ air humidity during flowering < 70%. The mature fruit contains malic acid, citric acid, and other organic acids, suitable for making candied fruit.
2. Differences in Ornamental Varieties
Ornamental plum blossom varieties like "Gongfen" and "Zhusha" are often artificially bred, with a pistil degeneration rate as high as 92%. Some varieties' fruiting ability can be improved through grafting, such as grafting "Guli Hong" onto fruit plum blossom rootstock, which can increase the fruit-setting rate to 35%.
Mastering a scientific fertilization system and variety characteristics can not only cultivate ornamental plum blossom with abundant flowers and leaves but also create unique plum blossom gardens that combine ornamental and edible purposes. It is recommended to choose suitable varieties based on the cultivation objectives and establish differentiated maintenance plans.