How to care for potted plum blossoms
The editor will tell you how to care for potted plum blossoms and share information about the cutting propagation methods and timing for plum blossoms, as well as content related to green plants and flowers. Let's proceed with the introduction.
Plum blossoms belong to the Rosaceae family, Prunus genus, deciduous trees, and sometimes refer to their fruit (plum) or flower (plum blossom). They are native to southern China and have a cultivation history of more than 3,000 years. There are many varieties for both ornamental and fruit tree purposes. Many types can be grown outdoors for ornamental purposes, as well as potted flowers and creating plum stakes. Let's take a look at how to care for potted plum blossoms together!
Growth habits of plum blossoms
Plum blossoms prefer warm climates and have weak cold resistance. Except for the杏梅系 (xingmei series) varieties that can tolerate -25°C low temperatures, most can only tolerate -10°C low temperatures. They are relatively drought-resistant but intolerant of waterlogging and have a long lifespan, reaching up to a thousand years. The flowering period is very sensitive to climate changes, preferring higher air humidity but avoiding heavy rain. They can tolerate high temperatures and can grow at 40°C. They 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 encountering low temperatures, the flowering period is delayed, and if it blooms 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 in a shaded environment with insufficient light, they will grow weakly and bloom sparingly. Do not bring them indoors too early in winter; it is best to do so in the last ten days of November to allow the flower buds to go through the vernalization stage. In winter, they should be placed in a sunny indoor area with a temperature of around 5°C.
How to pot plum blossoms
After 2-3 years of cultivation and pruning in the nursery, plum trees can be planted in pots to create potted plum blossoms or landscapes for appreciation. The potting soil is generally prepared with one part decomposed leaf soil and three parts garden soil, mixed with a small amount of sandy soil. This type of soil is loose, rich in nutrients, and has good ventilation and drainage. It does not harden and crack when dry, nor does it clump together when wet. Potting usually occurs after the ground thaws in early spring. It is better to use earthenware pots. Place a layer of broken pot pieces flat at the bottom of the pot for drainage and to prevent nutrient loss while increasing the area for ventilation and aeration. Trim the long main roots and a few lateral roots, leaving more fibrous roots. First, pour in a small amount of soil, then place the plum stake in the pot, add soil, and shake the pot to make the loose soil settle and bind with the roots. Water thoroughly and place in the sun.
Fertilizing methods for plum blossoms
Plum blossoms are tolerant of poor soil and do not require a lot of nutrients. Generally, excessive fertilization is not needed as it can lead to lush growth without flower buds. However, it is also not good to have too few nutrients, which can lead to poor growth. Potted plum blossoms often have poor growth due to the limited soil in the pot and the loss of nutrients from leaching. In addition to applying a base fertilizer and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer when potting, it is also necessary to apply decomposed human urine and cake water fertilizer during the growing season. Fertilization should start when new roots have grown 3 centimeters long (about 15-20 days after potting) and follow the principle of increasing gradually from less to more and from dilute to concentrated to avoid damaging the roots from too much or too concentrated fertilizer. Fertilize once a week during the growing season. When new shoots have grown and water is being withheld, control the application of nitrogen fertilizer to avoid excessive growth of branches. At the same time, spray phosphorus-potassium fertilizer on the leaves or apply quick-release phosphorus-potassium fertilizer weekly to promote flower bud formation. After the physiological differentiation of flower buds is complete (around the time of the start of autumn), fertilize with water 2-3 times a month. Before the Spring Festival, when the flower buds are swelling, apply 1-2 times with quick-release fertilizer (human urine or urea) to promote flowering.
Watering methods for plum blossoms
1. Plum blossoms are most afraid of waterlogging but should not be too dry. The roots of plum trees cannot be in waterlogged soil for long periods, otherwise, they may rot and die. As a broad-leaved species, plum trees require more water during the summer growing season. If water is insufficient, it will weaken photosynthesis and reduce the accumulation of nutrients, affecting the normal growth and flowering of the plum stake. The frequency and amount of watering depend on the temperature, humidity, and drainage of the potting soil. The soil should be kept moist during the growing season. When the branches reach 15-20 centimeters in length, before flower bud differentiation, follow the principle of "water when dry, and water thoroughly when watering." Water when the new shoots are wilted and drooping, then "hold back water" to control the growth of new shoots, accumulate nutrients, and promote flower bud differentiation.
2. Plum buds are early maturing and can sprout 2-3 times during the entire period of vegetative growth. If watering is not properly controlled and secondary new shoots are allowed to grow, flower buds will not easily form, resulting in no or few flowers the following year. However, excessive water loss can also lead to the inability of leaves to recover after watering, with leaf tips turning yellow and falling off, also affecting flower bud differentiation. If severe leaf wilting is observed, the entire plum plant can be soaked in water for 40 minutes before being removed to potentially restore normalcy. From late July to August, after the physiological differentiation of flower buds is complete, normal watering should be resumed. During the winter when temperatures are low, water less frequently but maintain air humidity to prevent flower buds from drying out and falling off.
How to care for potted plum blossoms
Disease and pest control for plum blossoms
1. Plum blossoms have many diseases and pests, but none are catastrophic. The main pests include aphids, longicorn beetles, tussock moths, plum caterpillars,舟形毛虫 (zhoucheng moths), and杏球蚧 (xingqiu scale insects). Longicorn beetles are the main borers of the trunk and cause significant damage. Adult beetles can be captured in June and July, and larvae can be killed after hatching or by using dichlorvos solution soaked in cotton wool and inserted into the burrow. Aphids can be controlled by spraying 800-1000 times the concentration of dichlorvos every 10 days starting from early April, or by using water浸泡 discarded tobacco to spray, which is often effective.
2. Anthracnose and powdery mildew are the main diseases of plum blossoms, affecting leaves and leaf tips. Small brown spots appear on the leaves, which gradually expand and become circular with concentric rings, then form gray spots, leading to leaf drop. Spraying benomyl 500-600 times the concentration or thiophanate-methyl 600 times the concentration every 10 days starting in May can prevent these diseases. Additionally, a 5°C lime sulfur solution can be sprayed on the plum trees in early spring.
Pruning techniques for plum blossoms
1. Plum trees have a strong tendency to sprout and can produce too many branches. If left unpruned, they often result in a disordered tree shape, which affects ventilation and light, and is not conducive to abundant flowering. Moreover, it can easily lead to diseases and pests. Since plum flowers often form on the current year's new branches, proper pruning is necessary for both ground planting and potted plants, as well as for creating stakes and landscapes, to ensure healthy growth and beautiful tree shapes, as well as to achieve the goal of strong branches and abundant flowers every year.
2. For large plum trees, young trees can be pruned 60-80 centimeters from the ground, leaving 3-5 buds, and allowed to grow naturally outward. Gradual pruning and bud removal can form a "natural open" tree crown shape, which suits the natural branching habits of plum trees, provides good ventilation and light, and utilizes space effectively, leading to rapid formation of the tree crown, vigorous growth, and expanded flowering area. Pruning of young plum trees should follow the principle of minimal pruning of strong branches to maintain balanced growth, leaving lateral or outer buds to grow horizontally. For mature trees, the principle of "strong branches weak pruning, weak branches strong pruning" should be followed to promote the formation of flowering branches. In addition, dead, diseased, pest-infested, dense, and vigorous branches should be cut off at the base.
3. In the transition between spring and summer, dense buds should be thinned to save nutrients and promote ventilation and light. For plum trees that have bloomed, pruning should be done after flowering. Branches less than 30 centimeters long and flowering branches 11-25 centimeters long have abundant flowers and should be encouraged to produce more of these types of branches. For potted plum trees, leave 2-3 buds and prune heavily, or pinch the tips of new scions when they reach 10 centimeters in length to promote the growth of lateral branches, making the plant矮 and shaping quickly. For mature plum stakes, in addition to leaving 2-3 buds for heavy pruning, the number and length of branches and the direction of the cut should be considered.
Shaping methods for plum blossoms
1. Curved trunk style: Curved trunk style potted plum landscapes are "straight without posture, and upright without scenery." The main trunk should be curved rather than straight. Bend the main trunk into an irregular curve, requiring a natural bend with 1-3 curves. For young trees with thin trunks, it is easy to tie a thin rope around the base and slowly bend the trunk to the desired degree, then tie the rope in a suitable position to secure it. The bend should gradually become smaller from bottom to top, or use appropriately sized wire, fix it at the base, wrap it around the main trunk, and then bend it as needed. For thicker trunks that are difficult to bend, make 2-3 horizontal cuts on the inside of the trunk, reaching 1/3 to 1/2 of the wood, wrap the wound with plastic wrap, then bend the trunk. Check regularly to avoid embedding it in the tree and affecting growth.
2. Oblique trunk style: Oblique trunk style potted plum landscapes are elegant and unique, loved by many people, and easy to cultivate and create. When potting,倾斜 the main trunk to one side to form the style. For semi-prostrate and hanging style small landscapes, which are graceful, beautiful, and elegant, the smaller side of the four radiating roots is cut off, the thicker side is planted straight in the pot, the main trunk is horizontal, close to the pot surface, to form a semi-prostrate style. The hanging style is formed by bending the front part of the main trunk below the pot surface. Exposed roots can show the "rock elegance and fragrance,盘根错节 (interlocked roots)" with thousands of postures. After potting, select stakes with low height and many thick lateral roots, remove them from the soil ball in the fall of the same year or the following spring, place them in the pot with cultivated soil, and after several rinses, they form plum roots resembling eagle claws.
3. Attached wood style: Attached wood style potted plum landscapes mature quickly and are easy to shape. Select dead tree stakes or dead plum stakes, make grooves along the branch for the current or second-year branches to tie in and secure. After a few years of cultivation, the young tree grows rapidly and swells, appearing to be part of the ancient stake.
4. Plum stake style: Plum stake style potted plum landscapes have different styles in various parts of China. For example, in Yangzhou, the main trunk is split in half to expose the old trunk, called "split plum." In Shandong and Henan, the main branches are bent left and right to form a screen style. In Anhui and Sichuan, the main trunk is bent left and right, resembling a dragon, called "dragon meander plum."
This article shares detailed information on how to care for potted plum blossoms and the cutting propagation methods and timing for plum blossoms, hoping to provide help in green plant management!