How to Plant Meiren Mei (Meiren Plum)? Detailed Planting Methods and Precautions

Meiren Mei is a new hybrid variety of plum blossom, bred by crossing plum blossom with purple-leaf plum. It can be planted either as a solitary specimen or in groups. It combines the beautiful, delicate charm of plum blossom with the advantage of the dense red foliage of purple-leaf plum, making it an excellent choice for potted ornamental display or for making bonsai. How do you plant and care for Meiren Mei at home? Below, we will share it with everyone.

How to Plant Meiren Mei

1. Meiren Mei prefers a moist environment but is afraid of waterlogging. In early spring and early winter each year, you should water with the green-up water and the freeze-protection water. During the growing season, there is no need to water unless it is excessively dry. In summer, during high temperatures, drought, and little rain, water appropriately. After heavy rain or during continuous overcast and rainy days, drain accumulated water promptly to prevent root rot from excessive water, which can cause the plant to die.

2. Meiren Mei likes fertilizer. When planting, you can use decomposed and fermented barnyard manure as the base fertilizer, or you can use organic fertilizers such as chicken and duck manure or pigeon manure, but it must be thoroughly mixed with the subsoil. During its flower bud differentiation stage, you can apply some nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer, and no further fertilization is needed afterward.

3. Meiren Mei has no strict requirements for soil. Light clay, loam, and sandy loam can all support normal growth, with loam being the best. Because it is a hybrid of purple-leaf plum and Gongfen-type plum blossom, it combines the advantages of both and has a certain tolerance to salinity and alkalinity.

Meiren Mei Planting Methods and Precautions

I. Meiren Mei Planting Methods

1. Meiren Mei tolerates pruning relatively well, and the general tree shape is the natural open-center form. Keep 3 main branches, and retain 3 to 4 side branches on each main branch. Pruning is divided into winter pruning and post-bloom pruning: the former focuses on shaping, cutting off useless large branches as well as diseased and pest-infested branches, crossing branches, and water sprouts. Weak seedlings should be heavily pruned in winter, thinning out some branches, and long branches can be shortened.

2. Cleft grafting. Select vigorous one-year-old nursery stock as the rootstock, cut the trunk at 5 cm above the ground, and make a vertical cut on one side of the cut surface. For the scion, it is best to use 1-2 year old healthy branches free of pests and diseases from a Meiren Mei tree, cut them into scions with 3-5 plump buds, whittle the lower end into a wedge shape, insert it into the rootstock incision, align the cambium of the rootstock and scion, then bind tightly with plastic film strips.

II. Meiren Mei Precautions

During the grafting process, the grafting knife is required to be sharp and the force even, so that the cut surface is smooth. The grafting action should be quick. After grafting, if the grafted site is close to the ground, it can be covered with soil to prevent moisture loss. After the scion or bud survives, remove the film and covering soil promptly to facilitate cambium healing and the growth of new buds. For the rootstock, prune the rootstock and remove buds promptly so that nutrients are concentrated for the growth of the scion.

What Is the Difference Between Meiren Mei and Hongye Li (Purple-leaf Plum)

1. The young leaves of Hongye Li are bright red, and the old leaves are purplish red (when light is sufficient); the young leaves of Meiren Mei are bright red, and the old leaves are green. Meiren Mei trees have many short thorn-like twigs, while Hongye Li has very few. The color of the branches is also different: the small branches of Hongye Li are reddish brown, while the small branches of Meiren Mei are green.

2. The flowers of Hongye Li are single-petaled, with a relatively small flower diameter, no fragrance, and flowers and leaves appear together; the flowers of Meiren Mei are double-petaled, with a delicate fragrance, blooming before the leaves or with flowers and leaves appearing together. The fruit of Hongye Li is relatively small, dark red, with thin flesh and a sour and astringent taste; the fruit of Meiren Mei is relatively large, bright red, with thicker flesh and a sweet taste, and is edible.

How to Prune Meiren Mei

1. For field-planted Meiren Mei trees, pruning can be done during the seedling stage, when the plant height is about half a meter. Generally, keep 3-4 relatively vigorous branches and let them grow freely. This is how Meiren Mei naturally forms the natural open-center shape.

2. For mature trees or old plum trees, adhere to the principle of “prune strong branches lightly, prune weak branches heavily.” This is because heavily pruning weak branches enables the old tree to form water sprouts, which then grow into new main branches, thereby achieving rejuvenation. Note that to balance different branches, you can prune strong branches heavily and weak branches lightly, thinning them appropriately.

For a long time, plum blossom has been loved by literati and scholars for its unique grace and charm. As an ornamental plant, Meiren Mei can be enjoyed in all four seasons after planting, has high value, and has a wide range of uses, and is all the more highly praised. The editor has shared the methods for planting Meiren Mei with everyone. Are you tempted? Take action now and make your home beautiful.