How to care for梅花 (plum blossoms) in a home setting
The editor answers netizens' questions about how to care for plum blossoms at home and the maintenance of potted plum trees in terms of green plant flowers. Let's learn about it together below.
Plum blossoms have a particularly strong cold tolerance and are also heat-resistant, with a tenacious vitality. Growing a pot of plum blossoms on the balcony not only allows it to be cultivated for many years, making our balcony more beautiful and picturesque, but the blooming flowers also emit a fragrant aroma. Through pruning and training, you can create an aesthetically pleasing potted landscape. It is not very picky about potting soil, and as long as you pay attention to watering and lighting, it can be well cared for.
How to care for potted plum blossoms? Remember "3 points" for a graceful shape, strong branches, and fragrant blooms!
I. Suitable types of plum trees for growing on balconies
When growing plum trees on balconies, it is suitable to use potted trees like the red plum, the 'Zhaoshui' plum, and the 'Lü'e' plum, or you can propagate them yourself using branches. Choose according to your preferences. No matter the type, they all have good cold tolerance, so there's no need to worry about leaving them on the balcony or terrace during winter.
II. Planting methods for potted plum trees
1. Choose the right potting soil
For young potted plum trees, you can use ordinary garden soil mixed with some coarse sand. For larger potted trees, you can use one-fifth decomposed leaf soil mixed with four-fifths river sand. You can also add some sawdust or river sand at the bottom of the pot to increase aeration and drainage. When planting potted plum trees, it's best to keep the original soil, and the soil clump on the roots doesn't need to be loosened. Directly plant it in the pot, with the pot diameter about 20 centimeters or more.
2. Acclimatization and care after planting potted plum trees
Water thoroughly after planting and then place it in a well-ventilated and well-lit area. After a week, gradually move it to a sunny and well-ventilated area for care. However, it should not be left in a shaded area for too long, as this can cause it to grow too quickly, resulting in weak growth, leafy but flowerless plants, fewer and less vibrant flowers, and a lack of fragrance.
How to care for plum blossoms at home
3. How to water potted plum trees
They prefer slightly dry growing soil, so the potting soil should not be overwatered or kept moist for extended periods, which can lead to yellowing leaves, leaf drop, and root rot. However, the soil should not be too dry either. When watering, make sure to water thoroughly when the soil is dry.
When new branches grow to 20 centimeters, control the watering to keep the potting soil slightly dry, which can promote bud differentiation and result in more flowers. Reduce watering in autumn and winter to make the branches more plump and solid. Plum trees do not like heavy fertilization, so when new branches appear, water with a dilute cake fertilizer once. When the leaves are very lush, water with an organic fertilizer once a month. After fertilizing, loosen the soil to keep it loose.
III. How to prune and shape potted plum trees
When each branch reaches 25 centimeters, you can pinch off the top part or trim the longer branches to encourage more flower buds, making them plump and promoting more flowers. Prune at least once a year and you can also prune according to your preferences to create styles like 'cliffside' or 'curved trunk'. How to care for potted plum trees? Remember three points for a graceful shape, strong branches, and many fragrant flower buds!
The above is the specific content on how to care for plum blossoms at home and the maintenance of potted plum trees for your reference and operation.