How to cultivate plum blossoms: plum blossom cultivation techniques and management methods.

How to cultivate plum blossomsIntroduction to the cultivation and management techniques of plum blossoms in the field of green plants and flowers, please refer to the detailed introduction below.Plum blossoms are native to southern China and have a history of cultivation of more than 3,000 years in our country. They can not only be grown outdoors for ornamental purposes but also as potted plants and for making plum stakes. The flowers can be extracted for essential oils, and the flowers, leaves, roots, and seeds can be used in medicine. The fruit can be eaten, pickled, dried, or smoked to make black plums, which have the effects of relieving cough, stopping diarrhea, promoting salivation, and quenching thirst. Let's take a look at the cultivation techniques of plum blossoms together!Growth habits of plum blossomsPlum blossoms prefer a warm climate and are not very cold-resistant. Only the杏梅系 (xingmei series) varieties can tolerate -25°C low temperatures, while most can tolerate -10°C low temperatures. They are relatively drought-resistant and do not tolerate waterlogging, with a lifespan of up to a thousand years. The flowering period is particularly sensitive to changes in climate, prefers higher humidity in the air, but avoids heavy rain. They can tolerate high temperatures, growing even at 40°C, and develop best in areas with an average annual temperature of 16-23°C. They are very sensitive to temperature and bloom when the average temperature in early spring reaches -5 to 7°C. If they encounter low temperatures, the flowering period is delayed, and if they bloom during low temperatures, the flowering period can be extended. During the growing season, they should be placed in a sunny and well-ventilated area. If they are in a shaded environment with insufficient light, they will grow weakly and bloom sparingly. Do not bring them indoors too early in winter, and it is best to do so in the last ten days of November to allow the bud differentiation to fully go through the vernalization stage. In winter, they should be placed in a sunny indoor area with a temperature of around 5°C.Propagation methods of plum blossoms1. Seed propagation: Plum blossoms are propagated by directly sowing the fruit kernels, with attention to collecting fully mature fruits from good-quality mother plants with large fruits and small kernels. It is best to sow in autumn, with a specific time in the last ten days of September, watering sufficiently and covering with fine soil or sand. In the following spring, when the seedlings grow to 10-15 centimeters, they can be transplanted from the seedbed. If spring sowing is chosen, the seeds should be cleaned and dried, then stratified and stored in moist sand, and sown in early spring. Seed-propagated plum trees can tolerate drought and have a vigorous growth habit, suitable for planting on hillsides, but this method of propagation results in unstable heredity and large variations.2. Grafting propagation: In addition to using the seedlings of plum trees as rootstocks for grafting, peach, mountain peach, plum, and apricot can also be used as rootstocks, with plum rootstock being the best. Grafting methods include cleft grafting, bud grafting, or split grafting. Whether it's a branch graft or a bud graft, after survival, the seedlings should be cultivated in the nursery for 1 to 2 years before planting. Using peach as a rootstock is easy to survive and is commonly used in production.3. Cutting propagation: Cutting propagation of plum blossoms is simple and the technique is not complex. Treating cuttings with indole acetic acid 500ppm or naphthyl acetic acid 1000ppm aqueous solution can improve the survival rate and promote rooting in difficult-to-root varieties. The best time for cutting propagation of plum blossoms is November when the leaves fall and the branches store plenty of nutrients, making it easy to root and survive. Select one-year-old sturdy branches 10-12 centimeters long as cuttings, and when planting, most of the branches are buried in the soil, leaving only 2-3 centimeters above the ground and one bud outside. The cutting site should have loose soil and good drainage.Cultivation techniques of plum blossoms1. Planting methods: Plum blossoms can be planted in the ground in the south and cold-resistant varieties can also be planted in the Yellow River Basin, but in cold northern regions, they should be potted and overwintered indoors. They can be planted from after defoliation to before spring germination. To improve the survival rate, avoid damaging the roots and transplant with soil balls. Ground planting should be done in a sunny and windward location. For potted plants, use a mixture of 3 parts of decomposed leaf soil, 3 parts of garden soil, 2 parts of river sand, and 2 parts of decomposed manure as the growing medium. After planting, water thoroughly and place in a shaded area for maintenance, then move to sunlight for normal management after recovery.2. Fertilization and water management: During the growing season, attention should be paid to watering, keeping the potting soil slightly moist but not waterlogged or too dry. Follow the principle of watering when the soil is dry. Less water should be given on cloudy and low-temperature days, otherwise more water. In summer, water twice a day, once a day in spring and autumn, and thoroughly in winter. Apply a good base fertilizer before planting, mixed with a small amount of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and apply potassium dihydrogen phosphate again before flowering and after flowering, supplemented with decomposed cake fertilizer. In June, a compound fertilizer can be applied to promote bud differentiation. After defoliation in autumn, apply an organic fertilizer such as decomposed manure.3. Pruning and shaping: Ground planting plum trees can be pruned 20 days after flowering. The natural tree shape should be maintained, with crossed branches, upright branches, dry branches, and dense branches cut, and side branches shortened to promote flowering and lush leaves. Potted plum trees should be pruned heavily after potting to lay the foundation for making bonsai. Usually, plum stakes are used as the scene, grafting various postures of plum blossoms. Maintain a certain temperature, and plum blossoms can be seen blooming during the Spring Festival. If you want to see blossoms on Labor Day, you need to maintain a temperature of 0-5°C and a humid environment, and move them outdoors in early April to a sunny and well-ventilated area for maintenance.4. Flowering control: Potted plum blossoms are generally for home decoration. After defoliation in winter, they should be placed indoors with a temperature of 0-5°C. After the New Year, gradually increase the temperature to 5-10°C, ensure sufficient sunlight, and frequently spray water on the branches, with the water temperature close to the room temperature.Pest and disease control of plum blossoms1. Leaf rolling disease2. Chlorosis3. Anthracnose4. Tinea disease5. Scale insects6. Red蜘蛛 (Red spider mite)The above introduction on how to cultivate plum blossoms, techniques and management methods of plum cultivation, hope this article can bring you help in green plant management!