2. Species and varieties The main varieties used for flower and tree cultivation are Hongmei, Zimei, Green Sepal Plum, Pinzi Plum (with three flowers in each branch), Zaomei, Fine Plum (with petals as small as calyx), Apricot Plum (with big leaves), Mao Mei (with hairy leaves, pedicels and flower tubes), Bingmei (with snow-white flowers) and ZhaoShui Mei (with drooping branches).
3. Habits are native to the south of the Yangtze River in China, and also distributed in the southwestern mountainous areas and southern Tibet. Like warm and humid climate, it belongs to cold-resistant flowers and trees in the south. The early flowering period is 65438- 10 in Guangdong province, 65438-February in Sichuan province and February-March in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. It needs plenty of sunshine and a well-ventilated environment. Acidic soil with loose topsoil and slightly sticky subsoil is better because it is not strict and barren. It is more resistant to drought and water and humidity.
4. Propagation methods Most rare varieties cultivated in China are propagated by grafting or cutting. When grafting, wild plum or apricot should be used as rootstock, which can greatly prolong the life of plum. It can be cut or split, but the survival rate of bud grafting is high in July and August. The grafted buds do not germinate in the same year after survival. Softwood cutting can also be carried out after the flowers wither in spring, but the survival rate is very low because of the difficulty of rooting. High-branch layering can also be carried out in summer, which is not only easy to take root, but also quick to emerge, and some will bloom in the coming year.
5. Cultivation and maintenance When plum blossoms are planted in the courtyard, the plant spacing should not be less than 4m× 4m. After digging the planting hole, a large amount of organic fertilizer should be applied and thoroughly irrigated after planting. From the first year, it is necessary to carry out plastic pruning to make the tree a natural happy crown, so that three lateral main branches will emerge from the trunk 50 ~ 60 cm high, leaving no central main branch; This kind of tree is not tall, its center is open, which is conducive to ventilation and light transmission, and its flower buds are diversified. After defoliation, cover the soil under the crown once a year in autumn, and apply some organic fertilizer at the same time, and then topdressing again after flowering in early spring of the following year to promote the growth of new branches and flower bud differentiation.
After potted plum blossoms are put into pots, they should be pruned again to form dwarf trees. If you want to make bonsai, you should tie the branchlets as soon as possible and forcibly tie the thick branches into a tree by pulling the rope.
Plum blossoms can't overwinter in the open air in the north, but can only be potted. After the leaves fall in winter, move into a cold room or corridor and let it sleep. At this time, the buds are covered with branches. After New Year's Day, I moved to a room around 10℃ to see more sunshine. Spray water on the branches once a day, and they will bloom around the Spring Festival. In late April, it should be moved outdoors and maintained in a sunny and well-ventilated place. Pot soil should be dry and wet, and liquid fertilizer should be applied twice before beginning of autumn to promote flower bud differentiation and bud pregnancy.