Pruning Methods for plum blossom (Plum Blossom)
As the first among the traditional famous flowers of China, the propagation techniques of plum blossoms are essential skills for horticulture enthusiasts. Mastering the correct propagation methods for plum blossoms can not only preserve the variety characteristics but also reduce the cost of cultivation. This article explains three practical propagation techniques with illustrated guidance for the key steps.
Core Propagation Technology of plum blossom
Key Points for Cutting Propagation
Early winter (around November) is the golden period for the hard-wood cutting propagation of plum blossoms. Choose sturdy branches with a diameter of 0.5-1cm, retain 3-4 buds, and cut the ends at a 45-degree angle to increase the area for root growth. It is recommended to use a mixture of perlite and vermiculite (3:1) as the substrate, and strictly control the cutting depth to one-third of the branch. When covering with plastic to keep moisture, it is necessary to ventilate for 2 hours daily, and maintaining a soil temperature of 18-22℃ can increase the survival rate to over 70%.
Details of Layering Propagation
Low-layer propagation is suitable for courtyard cultivation scenarios. Choose 2-year-old semi-lignified branches, and the width of the girdling should be 1.5 times the diameter of the branch, then press it into a soil trench 8-10cm deep after applying rooting powder. Maintain the substrate humidity at 60%-70% after layering, and new roots can be seen in about 60 days. For special varieties like 'Guli Hongmei', it is recommended to use the aerial layering method, as wrapping with moss promotes root formation more effectively.
Key Points for Seed Propagation
For seed propagation, attention should be paid to stratification treatment of the seeds: after harvesting the mature fruits in July, store them in sand at 0-5℃ for 120 days to break dormancy. The sowing depth should be 2-3 times the diameter of the seeds, with a row spacing of 15cm×20cm. A shading shed should be set up during the seedling stage, maintaining 4 hours of scattered light per day, and spray Multi菌灵 regularly to prevent damping-off disease.
Mastering these three plum blossom propagation techniques can achieve mass production transformation from a single plant to a plum garden. It is recommended for beginners to try cutting propagation first, use layering for older plant transformation, and employ seed propagation for variety breeding. By properly combining different propagation methods, one can create a plum landscape system that blossoms throughout the four seasons.