How to grow plum blossom bonsai? Detailed guide to cultivation methods, precautions and shaping techniques

“A few branches of plum by the corner of the wall, blooming alone in the bitter cold” - this poem vividly depicts the growing habits of the plum blossom. In the biting winter wind, it can still stand tall and proud. In the past, knowledge of the plum blossom came from books, but now the plum blossom has made its way into the homes of flower lovers. So what are the cultivation methods for the plum blossom? Let's learn about them together.

Cultivation methods and precautions for bonsai plum blossom

I. Cultivation methods and precautions for bonsai plum blossom

1. Soil

Although the plum blossom is not very demanding about soil quality, you should still choose loose, fertile soil, and do not water the bonsai frequently. Excess water is hard for the roots to absorb, and since drainage is inconvenient, the roots can easily rot. You can buy soil specially formulated for plum blossoms on the market.

2. Temperature

The plum blossom blooms in winter, which is also its most vigorous growing season. Although it is not afraid of severe cold, this does not mean it does not need light. If there is not enough light, its photosynthesis will slow down, it will develop poorly, and the number of flowers will decrease. It likes humidity, so if you place it indoors, keep the area well ventilated.

3. Humidity

If the plum blossom is still growing, water it appropriately. If it is summer and the weather is hot, you can spray water mist around it to ensure the humidity it needs. In summer, it generally needs watering two or three times a day; in spring and autumn, relatively less, only once or twice. In winter, water only when the soil in the pot is dry.

4. Fertilizing

The plum blossom has strong vitality and does not need constant care, nor should you fertilize it from time to time. If winter is approaching, fertilize it once before winter arrives. If it is about to bloom, also fertilize it once before that. If you plan to plant a new pot of plum blossom, first prepare base fertilizer, which is the basic condition for ensuring its healthy growth.

5. Pruning.

Pruning the plum blossom has many benefits. Removing dead branches and fallen leaves first makes the plum blossom more ornamental; secondly, nutrients will not be wasted, otherwise the dead branches and fallen leaves will take away nutrients needed by the branches and trunk. So we should remove these dead leaves and withered branches. If the plum blossom grows many side branches, we should also cut some off, so that nutrients can be used where they are needed.

6. Pests.

The plum blossom rarely gets pests, but pest problems cannot be ruled out. If your plum blossom is unfortunately attacked by pests, you can spray pesticide, but be sure to pay attention to the solution ratio, otherwise the plum blossom itself will be harmed and its petals will turn yellow. If you spray the flowers to death too, the loss will outweigh the gain.

7. Diseases

If the plum blossom suffers from disease, the most common symptom is yellowing leaves, and the whole tree looks listless. First check whether there are pests. If not, then it is disease. You can spray some nutrient solution on it. It does not need to be sprayed every day; once every 7 days for about 30 days will show results. Also, do not use too much; just make sure it covers all parts of the plant.

II. Precautions

When the summer weather is too hot, do not let it be exposed to direct sun; provide appropriate protection.

How to shape plum blossom bonsai to look beautiful

1. Pot selection: For plum blossoms, purple clay ceramic pots or glazed ceramic pots are suitable. Generally, they should not be too shallow. Slanting-trunk and curved-trunk styles mostly use medium-deep trough pots, round pots, square pots, hexagonal pots, etc.; the cliff style mostly uses tall cylindrical pots.

2. Soil: Plum blossoms are not strict about soil, but loose, well-draining soil rich in humus is best. For potting, pond mud that has been frozen and crumbled and mixed with 30-40% rice husk ash is commonly used as the growing medium.

3. Planting: It is best to do this in November-December, or after flowering. Generally, slanting planting is preferable, as it makes it easier to create momentum when shaping. Before planting, a shaping prune can be done. When potting, base fertilizer can be placed at the bottom of the pot.

4. Processing: Plum blossom shaping mostly uses “rough bending and fine pruning.” Once the trunk reaches 1 cm in diameter, it can be bent and tied. Side branches can also be roughly bent. Palm fiber or metal wire can both be used. The rest is shaped by pruning. For new flower branches each year, according to shaping needs, they can also be bent and tied with palm fiber. Processing of the trunk and large branches is best done in winter, while processing of new branches is best done in September of autumn. Be careful not to damage the buds.

5. Tree form: Generally speaking, for Chinese plum blossom bonsai, the trunk should be slanting or horizontal, and the branches and leaves should spread out. But it should not be simply sparse; it should achieve density within sparseness, with proper balance of sparse and dense, to be rich in painterly quality.

What types of plum blossom landscape arrangements are suitable

1. Roaming dragon style

This is the traditional style of Anhui-style bonsai, in which the trunk forms several S-shaped bends from the base to the top, like a roaming dragon. The side branches all emerge from the convex bends of the main trunk and are also bent to a certain degree, symmetrical left and right, and aligned on the same plane above and below, which is very interesting.

2. Split-trunk style

A traditional style of Suzhou-style bonsai, in which a thick, unshaped plum trunk is split open, part of the xylem is removed, and carving and processing are carried out to achieve the effect of “dead wood meets spring.”

3. Knot style

A traditional style of Yangzhou-style bonsai, in which, during the plum's seedling stage, the main trunk is tied into a knot or wound into a circle, and over time it forms a knot-like shape, appearing ancient and unusual.

4. Downwind style

Also a traditional style of the Yangzhou school, in which all the plum's flower branches are tied toward the same side, like the effect of flags fluttering in the wind

The flower language of the plum blossom

Braving frost and snow, blooming to welcome spring, noble and proud in character, not seeking glory or profit.

Placing plum blossom landscape arrangements at home is a very good choice. Not only is the shape beautiful and pleasing to the eye, but its strong and noble character, standing proudly in the cold wind, can also give people an inspiring spirit of striving upward.