How to grow crabapple flowers? Learn to grow one of the Four Wonders of Spring flowers well
The crabapple flower is a plant native to our country, long known as the “national beauty,” with a great many varieties, delicate and beautiful. So, how do you grow crabapple flowers? Let's find out together!
1. Soil selection
The root and stem parts of the crabapple flower are tender and fragile, so when growing it you must choose loose, fertile, well-drained soil as the growing medium. If the soil is too hard or too sticky, it will affect its growth and hinder root development. You can also mix your own growing medium: use leaf mold and river sand mixed in a 7:3 ratio, then add an appropriate amount of cake fertilizer to make a nutrient soil.
2. Watering method
The crabapple flower has a certain tolerance for drought, but it fears waterlogging, so when growing it you must pay close attention to moisture. Keeping the soil moist is enough, but it should not be too wet, to avoid water accumulating. The soil also must not be too dry; if the soil is too dry, the plant's root absorption capacity weakens, which can easily cause the leaves to dehydrate, turn yellow or wither, and in severe cases cause the plant to die. In spring, water once every 3-5 days; in summer, when temperatures are higher and evaporation is greater, water once every 1-2 days; in autumn, water once every 4-6 days; and in winter, when temperatures are low and evaporation is slight and the plant is less active, water once every 15-20 days.
3. Fertilizing method
If you want the crabapple flower to grow quickly and bloom more brilliantly, fertilizing is essential. In addition to the fertilizer added when mixing the nutrient soil, you should apply a top dressing once every year after flowering. Each time, dig a trench beside the plant and work in decomposed organic fertilizer, cover it with soil and then water, so it is absorbed slowly and provides what is needed for growth. In autumn, apply another top dressing of organic fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote flower bud differentiation and meet its nutrient needs for growth.
4. Light and temperature
The crabapple flower generally blooms in spring, usually only once a year, but if light and temperature are managed properly, by cooling it and shading it you can make it bloom again in autumn. In summer, during the high-temperature, rainy period of June-July, move it to a cool, rain-sheltered place to lower the temperature; you can also set up shade and rain-shelter facilities, and reduce the amount of watering. In this way you can control the plant's vegetative growth. As time passes, gradually reduce watering until its leaves wither and fall off, causing it to enter dormancy. After dormancy, water lightly to maintain what the plant needs. Once it has passed through dormancy, place it in sufficient light, water and fertilize it, and promote its flower buds to sprout and bloom again.
The above is the crabapple flower growing method compiled for you by Tuliu.com. We hope it can help you!