The Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial for Malus robusta
Malus robusta is a rare fruit with a long cultivation history in China, also known as Huailai crabapple, Haihong, etc. It is a deciduous tree plant of the genus Malus in the Rosaceae family, with large fruit and thin skin, and a single fruit weight of 8-14 grams. It is named for its oblate fruit with 6-8 obvious ridges. Affected by various factors, the areas on Earth where crabapples are concentrated for cultivation are very small. Let's take a look together at the cultivation techniques for Malus robusta!
Growth Habits of Malus robusta
The Malus robusta tree is robust and easy to manage, with advantages such as a well-developed root system, many fibrous roots, resistance to cold, drought, waterlogging, saline-alkali, pests and diseases, tolerance of barren and exposed conditions, tolerance of water and moisture, a high survival rate for transplanted seedlings, rapid growth, and suitability for all kinds of soil. It has wide adaptability. Malus robusta trees can be planted on flat land, hillsides, hills, and sandy wasteland alike, and with normal management their lifespan can reach over 180 years.
Propagation Techniques for Malus robusta
1. Grafting: The rootstock is generally a seedling, and both branch grafting and bud grafting can be used. Branch grafting is carried out before sprouting in spring, and cut grafting or cleft grafting can be used. Select well-developed 1-year-old branches as scions, take the middle section, and after grafting mound fine soil to cover the scions. Bud grafting is carried out in autumn from July to September, mostly using the “T” shaped method. About 10 days after grafting, if the buds are fresh and the leaf stalks fall off at a touch, the graft has taken, and after a few days the binding can be cut.
2. Division: This is mostly done in early spring before sprouting 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. When dividing, be careful to retain the fibrous roots of the suckers to ensure survival after planting. After division and planting, water thoroughly once in time, pay attention to preserving soil moisture, and shade if necessary.
3. Layering: Layering is carried out in spring. For small seedlings, branches can be bent to the ground and pressed into the soil. For large seedlings, the air layering method is used. The part where the soil is pressed should be cut with a sharp knife, and the soil should be kept moist. After roots develop, separate from the mother plant and plant separately.
4. Root cuttings: Root cutting propagation is mainly carried out when digging seedlings for transplanting. Cut thicker main roots into 10-15 cm segments, bury them shallowly in soil, and cover with grass on top to retain moisture. They root easily.
Cultivation Techniques for Malus robusta
1. Soil: Malus robusta is generally planted in the ground, and can also be grown in pots to make bonsai. Plant in spring. Because it dislikes waterlogging, it should be planted in a slightly elevated, sunny place that is not prone to water accumulation. The soil should be neutral to slightly alkaline, with a pH value not lower than 7. The soil texture should be loose, but not too fertile, as excessive fertility easily causes excessive vegetative growth and reduces flowering. The planting hole should be determined according to the size of the root system, and should not be too deep or too large; it is best if the root system can spread out. The planting depth should preferably be 10 cm from the ground. It is best to plant with a soil ball, and water thoroughly after planting.
2. Light: Malus robusta is suitable for growing in an environment with sufficient light, and grows poorly in shaded environments. If growing a potted crabapple tree, place it in a well-lit place during the growing season. In winter, it will not suffer cold damage even at a low temperature of -15°C, and can overwinter outdoors in the open. However, in exceptionally cold winters, cold protection measures need to be taken.
3. Fertilizer and water: Watering for Malus robusta is done together with fertilization. After leaf fall each autumn, apply 1 heavy fertilizing to replenish the nutrients consumed by flowers and fruit, preferably with decomposed organic fertilizer. At the same time, combine with winter irrigation. Before spring buds sprout, apply 1 application of organic fertilizer and water thoroughly once. The fertilization method in autumn and winter varies with tree age. For young trees, use ring-shaped trench fertilization, with the ring within 100 cm from the tree root. For older trees, use radial trench fertilization. For old trees, combine with intertillage and weeding, and broadcast organic fertilizer under the canopy, then turn the fertilizer into the ground 30 cm deep. After flowers fade, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer 2 times to ensure a certain fruit-setting rate. At the same time, pay attention to watering.
4. Pruning: The flower buds of Malus robusta are mostly formed by differentiation of terminal buds, and medium and short fruit branches are the main flowering branches, so medium and short fruit branches should be retained. Long branches should be shortened, and at the same time overly dense branches, dead branches, and pest- and disease-damaged branches should be cut off, then prune according to the desired tree shape. If you want the crabapple canopy to be full, then thin the dense and leave the sparse, cutting away overly dense branches, while for parts with sparse branches, prune downward so as to encourage more lateral branches and fill the gaps.