How to Grow a Potted Mulberry Tree? Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Precautions

The mulberry tree can not only serve as a tall tree used as a landscaping plant, but can also transform into a small and delicate potted plant. However, there is a very big difference between growing a potted mulberry and the care methods for growing mulberry plants, because a mulberry growing outdoors rooted in the ground can absorb water and nutrients from the soil below while also enjoying natural washing, whereas a potted one relies entirely on artificial care.

How to Grow a Potted Mulberry Tree

The mulberry tree relatively likes light, and it has a fairly strong adaptability to climate. It can tolerate cold and can also grow in a relatively warm environment. It is relatively drought-tolerant and can also tolerate waterlogging. It has strong adaptability to soil and likes loose, fertile soil.

Mulberry Bonsai Planting Methods and Precautions

1. Planting time for potted mulberry

Generally, planting is chosen in winter and early spring, and the soil temperature is best kept stable at around 10—12 degrees C.

2. Preparation before planting potted mulberry

Select mulberry fruit seedlings of good quality and free of pests and diseases; prepare a container of suitable size, and for potted mulberry it is best to choose a relatively large pot. The mulberry tree does not have high soil requirements, and ordinary relatively loose and breathable garden soil is sufficient. It is best to add some coarse sand particles or coal cinders to the soil to help with drainage and prevent soil compaction. Before planting the mulberry tree, you can first add some decomposed organic fertilizer to the bottom of the pot as a base fertilizer.

3. Planting method for potted mulberry

When planting in summer and autumn, take care to avoid damaging the roots as much as possible and protect the mulberry seedling root system; when planting in winter and spring, lightly prune overly long main roots to encourage more lateral roots. Bury the mulberry seedling in the substrate, cover with soil and lift lightly to spread the roots, then gently pat the soil with your hand to compact it, then add a layer of loose soil, covering about 3 cm above the root crown, and water thoroughly to settle the roots.

4. Care after planting potted mulberry

It is suitable to place the potted mulberry in an open balcony or other ventilated, breathable, well-lit spot; keep the soil moderately moist, water promptly when the soil is dry, and drain promptly during heavy rain; loosen the soil and remove weeds, which benefits mulberry root growth; fertilize with the principle of small amounts and frequent applications. After the mulberry seedling sprouts and opens its leaves, you can apply 1 round of manure water or urea water fertilizer. Afterward, according to the specific growth situation, you can appropriately apply additional fertilizer 1—2 times. In addition, during the cultivation of the mulberry tree, special attention should be paid to the prevention and control of pests and diseases.

How to Fertilize a Mulberry Tree

1. Spring fertilizer for mulberry

Also called bud-promoting fertilizer. It is generally applied before the mulberry tree sprouts, mainly with quick-acting fertilizer. The application amount of spring fertilizer accounts for about 25%-30% of the annual fertilizer amount. Spring fertilizer can be applied in two rounds. The first fertilization is carried out in late March, applying about 1000-1500 kg of manure and urine per mu, and about 2 kg of urea; the first amount is generally about 70% of the total spring fertilizer. The second fertilization is carried out in late April, applying about 10 kg of urea per mu.

2. Summer fertilizer for mulberry

The fertilization time is from summer pruning of the mulberry tree to before rearing early-autumn silkworms, and it is generally divided into 2 fertilizations. The first fertilization is carried out immediately after summer pruning. The fertilizer is suitably organic fertilizer such as barnyard manure and compost applied together with chemical fertilizer, applying about 1055 kg of manure fertilizer per mu, 30 kg of urea and about 15 kg of phosphate fertilizer. The second fertilization is carried out after bud thinning, and at this time the fertilizer is mainly quick-acting fertilizer, applying about 15 kg of urea per mu. The summer fertilizer application amount is about 40%-50% of the annual amount.

3. Autumn fertilizer for mulberry

The fertilization time is after the autumn mulberry leaf harvest. Autumn fertilizer should not be applied too late, and at the latest should not exceed the end of August, otherwise delayed production of branch tips makes them very susceptible to freezing damage. The fertilizer mainly chosen is quick-acting fertilizer. Usually, about 15 kg of urea per mu is suitable. The autumn fertilizer application amount is generally about 10%-20% of the annual fertilizer amount.

4. Winter fertilizer for mulberry

Fertilization is carried out before the soil freezes in winter. The winter fertilizer application amount generally accounts for about 20% of the annual fertilizer amount. Organic fertilizer is suitable, such as barnyard manure, compost, river and pond mud, etc., and it can be turned into the soil together with winter plowing.

Mulberry Pest and Disease Control

1. Mulberry powdery mildew

In the initial stage of the disease, white powdery round spots appear on the underside of the leaves, then gradually expand and connect into patches, while the color of the upper side of the mulberry leaf turns light yellowish brown; in the later stage, in the center of these spots, dense small yellow grains form, which later turn black. This disease occurs mostly on leaves in the middle part of the branches, on varieties that harden early, etc. The main control methods are as follows:

1. Rear silkworms in batches in autumn, picking the mulberry leaves on the lower part of the branches first;

2. In the dry season, carry out timely drought relief to delay mulberry leaf hardening;

3. In the early stage of the disease, spray leaves with 50% thiophanate 1000-fold solution, and spray again after an interval of 10-15 days.

2. Mulberry brown spot disease

It mostly occurs on tender leaves, especially in weather with high temperature and high humidity and insufficient sunlight. In the early stage, it is a water-soaked sesame-seed-like spot, dark brown in color, which later expands into a nearly round or irregular spot. On the spot, white or slightly red powdery masses grow in a ring, after which the color turns blackish brown, the leaf color slightly yellows, and in severe cases the spots connect with each other, and the leaves wither, yellow and easily fall off. Main control is as follows:

In the early stage of the disease, spray leaves with 50% carbendazim 1500-fold solution or 75% thiophanate-methyl 1500-fold solution, which can achieve a relatively good control effect and causes no pesticide damage to silkworms.

3. Mulberry beetles

There are many species, mainly the black velvet chafer, brown chafer, copper green chafer, etc. The adults gnaw and eat mulberry buds, tender shoots and mulberry leaves, causing damage, especially severely affecting the tender buds of seedlings. The control methods are as follows:

1. Taking advantage of the death-feigning behavior of chafers, when the adults mate and feed at dusk, knock them down and kill them.

2. Use light traps to kill adults.

3. When plowing and turning the soil in winter, remove the larvae and the white grubs at the roots of seedlings along with the plow.

4. In the evening, spray 80% dichlorvos emulsion 1000-fold solution, or 50% phoxim emulsion 1000-fold solution to eliminate adults.

Although there are differences in the growing environment and the channels for obtaining nutrients, the living habits of the mulberry tree do not change, so as long as we master the living habits of the mulberry tree and then care for it appropriately according to changes in the environment, we can understand one thing and apply it to all.