Small tree Malus spectabilis 'Xifu' sapling prices, flowering time, and bonsai cultivation and care techniques

Malus spectabilis 'Xifu' is a plant in the Rosaceae family, genus Malus, a small tree reaching 2.5-5 m tall, with strongly upright branches, and is a plant endemic to China.How much does a Malus spectabilis 'Xifu' sapling cost per plant? When does it bloom? What are its cultivation techniques? How do you care for it as a bonsai?According to Rosaceae data, Malus spectabilis 'Xifu' is delicate and charming when in bloom. Ordinary crabapple flowers have no fragrance; even the finest of crabapples——Malus spectabilis 'Xifu'——has no fragrance either; it is simply more brilliantly colored than other crabapple flowers when it blooms. Before the flowers open, the buds are vivid red, like specks of rouge; after opening they gradually turn pink, like rosy dawn clouds. The flowering period of crabapple is generally April—May, and the fruiting period is August—September.

How much does a Malus spectabilis 'Xifu' sapling cost per plant?

What are the cultivation techniques for Malus spectabilis 'Xifu'?

Crabapples are usually propagated by grafting or division, and can also be propagated by sowing, layering, and root cuttings. Plants obtained by grafting can flower earlier and can retain the original superior characteristics.

1. Sowing method

Although seedlings grow slowly, they often produce variation, so the sowing method is still used when obtaining large quantities of rootstock or for hybrid breeding. Common rootstock types used in northern China include Malus baccata, Malus spectabilis 'Xifu', and Malus transitoria, etc.; in the south, Malus hupehensis is used. Before sowing, crabapple seeds must undergo 30 days to 100 days of cold stratification. Fully stratified seeds emerge quickly and uniformly, and have a high emergence rate; seeds that are not stratified cannot germinate, or germinate very little. It is also possible to harvest the fruit in autumn, remove the flesh, let it dry slightly, and then sow it in a sand bed, allowing the seeds to after-ripen naturally. The covering depth of soil is about 1 cm, and plastic film is placed on top to preserve moisture; after emergence, remove the plastic film and promptly broadcast a layer of loose fertile soil. Strengthen fertilizer and water management during the seedling stage, and transplanting can be done in late autumn of the same year.

2. Grafting method

Use seedlings propagated by sowing as rootstock, and carry out branch grafting or bud grafting. Carry out branch grafting or bud grafting. In spring, when sap flows and buds sprout, carry out branch grafting; in autumn (between July and September), bud grafting can be done. For branch grafting, methods such as cut grafting and cleft grafting can be used. Select fully developed 1-year-old branches as scions, take the middle section (with 2 or more plump buds), and after grafting cover the scion with fine soil. For bud grafting, the “T” method is often used. About 10 days after grafting, if the bud is fresh and the petiole falls off at a touch, this is proof that the graft has taken, and after a few days the binding material can be removed. When the seedlings are 80 cm to 100 cm tall, train the scaffold branches, and thereafter only prune overly dense branches, inward-growing branches, and overlapping branches to maintain a rounded crown.

3. Division method

Carry out in early spring before budding or after leaf fall in autumn and winter. Dig out the suckers sprouting from the root crown, divide them into several individual plants, or take 2~3 rooted suckers as a clump for transplanting. After division and planting, water thoroughly in time, pay attention to preserving moisture, provide shade when necessary, and water during drought.

How do you care for a Malus spectabilis 'Xifu' bonsai?

1. Water and fertilizer requirements

The Malus spectabilis 'Xifu' bonsai should be kept with the potting soil moist at all times, but not waterlogged. During the growing period in spring and summer, it needs appropriately more watering, and during hot summer high temperatures, watering should be timely and sufficient.

Malus spectabilis 'Xifu' likes fertilizer and can be given appropriately more. After flowering in spring, mainly apply nitrogen fertilizer to promote the growth of branches and leaves. In summer and autumn, apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to facilitate flower bud differentiation.

2. Placement location

The Malus spectabilis 'Xifu' bonsai should be placed in a spot with ample sunlight and good ventilation.

In summer, shading is not necessary. It is relatively cold-tolerant; in winter, it can be buried together with the pot outdoors in a wind-sheltered, sunny place, or moved indoors with good light to overwinter, with the temperature kept at around 0°C.