What does a plum blossom look like?
Plum blossoms that bloom proudly in the cold winter have been the flower of gentlemen praised by literati and literati since ancient times. As the first of the top ten famous flowers in traditional China, its unique flowering period and timeless character make it a classic choice for garden cultivation and garden landscaping. This article will comprehensively present the unique charm of this famous flower from botanical characteristics, cultural connotations to practical maintenance. Morphological characteristics of plum blossoms The overall shape of the plant can reach 4-10 meters long. The crown is wide oval or umbrella-shaped, and the bark is gray and green to form a natural texture. Branches are divided into two types: upright and hanging branches. The new branches are bright green and turn purple-brown after lignification. The 5 petals of the single-petal variety with special flower structure are arranged in a standard wheel shape, and the number of the double-petal variety can reach more than 30 petals. The color covers pure white, pink, deep red and gradient tones. The flower diameter is 2-3 cm and has a strong sweet fragrance. The purplish color of the calyx is an important identifying feature. The cultural symbolism of plum blossoms is the first of the four gentlemen, along with orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, and is called the four gentlemen, symbolizing the character of perseverance. In the Song Dynasty, Lin Bu's classic poem chanting plum blossoms,"Thin shadows are slanting across the water, clear and shallow", perfectly interprets the beauty of his artistic conception of shining shadows on the water. Application of auspicious patterns The carving pattern of "magpie climbing plum" is common in traditional buildings, implying that good luck is coming. The five-petal shape corresponds to the five blessings and is commonly found in Spring Festival decorations and porcelain patterns. Temperature and light control points for plum tree cultivation and management. Plum blossoms require low temperatures of-5℃ to 8℃ to complete vernalization, and tolerate low temperatures of-10℃ during flowering. Direct light needs to be guaranteed for more than 4 hours a day throughout the year, and proper shade needs to be covered in summer to avoid burns. Scientific fertilization strategy Apply nitrogen fertilizer after flowering to promote new branches, and increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer application in June to help flower bud differentiation. It is recommended to use decomposed organic fertilizer, and the annual fertilizer amount per plant is controlled within 500 grams. Water management techniques follow the principle of "dry pine and wet plum" to keep the soil moist during the growing period without accumulating water. Appropriate control of water during flowering period can extend the viewing period, and spray leaves every morning and evening to moisturize. Trim and pot changing skills Shape pruning timing and trim immediately after flowers to remove crossing branches, pests and diseases. Keep 2-3 plump outer buds for shortening, and use them with aluminum wire coil to create classic shapes such as curved dry and cliff style. The operation rules for pot replacement are to change pots in early spring every 2-3 years, retaining 1/3 of the protective soil. The new soil is prepared according to the ratio of murus soil: river sand: garden soil =4:3:3, and a 5-cm ceramsite drainage layer is laid on the bottom of the basin.
As a cultural symbol spanning thousands of years, plum blossoms not only carry the essence of Chinese aesthetics, but also interpret the beauty of nature with its tenacious vitality. By mastering its growth rules and maintenance points, you can reproduce the poetic landscape of "knowing it is not snow in a distance, so that there is a dark fragrance" in the courtyard.