How to prune a potted kumquat tree? Production and cultivation management of the Chunxiang kumquat bonsai
Recently, a reporter saw in the kumquat orchard of Wu Xuefen, a kumquat science and technology demonstration household in Xiaotang Township, Xiangshan County, that he has added another "science and technology" project this year - kumquat bonsai.
Last year Wu Xuefen earned 300,000 yuan from growing kumquats, and Chunxiang brought the greatest "sweetness", accounting for two-thirds of it. The Chunxiang variety not only has ample sweetness, a refreshing taste and a long ripening period, but also has beautiful fruit shape and individuality, making it appealing. "Isn't it nice for residents with the means to grow a few at home for people to admire?" So he had a sudden idea and planned to cultivate kumquat bonsai.
Wu Xuefen told the reporter that he specially bought green plastic buckets from Sanmen and planted 300 plants in mid-April. "200 yuan per pot, and now they are ready for sale." He is full of confidence about this.
I. Choosing containers
The containers for potted fruit trees should mainly be round, to help the root system spread evenly in all directions. At the same time, the containers need good water permeability and air permeability to ensure the oxygen demand for root growth and prevent root rot caused by water accumulation in the container.
Among containers of various materials, unglazed clay pots are most suitable for planting fruit trees. When using containers of other materials, in order to overcome the shortcoming of poor air permeability, a 5 cm thick layer of coarse sand can be spread at the bottom of the pot, and a layer of new tiles can be placed along the inner wall, then soil can be filled in and the tree planted.
II. Soil, fertilizer and water management
1. Preparing potting soil
The potting soil suitable for fruit tree growth is generally neutral (pH 4.5-7.5), humus-rich sandy loam or sandy soil. When mixing, use 4 parts matured garden soil, 2 parts river sand and 1 part plant ash, mix them thoroughly and evenly, crush them finely and sieve them. The culture soil should be disinfected before use, such as by steaming, baking or chemical disinfection (sprinkling in 1.5% formalin).
2. Fertilizer and water management
Because the root system of fruit trees can only absorb nutrients from the pot, the organic fertilizer in the pot alone is far from enough to meet the needs of fruit tree growth and development, so fertilizer and water management must be emphasized during the growing period. Fertilization should be mainly organic fertilizer, with reasonable combined application of chemical fertilizers. When potting, mix in fully decomposed organic fertilizer; before budding, apply a quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer once, with an appropriate amount of phosphate fertilizer, watering about 1 kg of fertilizer solution per plant to promote neat budding and flowering; after flower drop during fruit set, carry out foliar topdressing, using 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate plus 0.3% urea, spraying once every 15 days for 2 consecutive times, to promote young fruit enlargement and new shoot growth. Apply phosphate and potassium fertilizer 20-30 days before harvest, applying 40-60 grams of potassium dihydrogen phosphate per pot, then water thoroughly, which can increase fruit size and improve quality. After fruit harvest, apply a ternary compound fertilizer once more and water. Before leaf drop in autumn, apply decomposed farmyard manure as base fertilizer. During the dormant period, watering must be strictly controlled, to the extent that the potting soil does not become too dry.
3. Repotting
Because the nutrients in the potting soil are absorbed by the fruit trees or leached away by frequent watering, it is necessary to repot in time every 2-3 years and replace with new nutrient soil. After turning the root ball out upside down, cut off the old roots 2-3 cm thick around the potting soil, mix organic fertilizer with nutrient soil and fill the bottom, then repot with the root ball, add fertile soil around it, and water thoroughly once.
III. Crown control and shaping
1. Tree shape selection The tree shape of potted fruit trees can be shaped into imaginative forms according to different requirements such as the uprightness or drooping habit of the fruit tree species and varieties, such as natural round-headed shape, pagoda shape, single-branch cliff shape, double-branch antler shape, three-branch cup shape, weeping willow shape, dragon-curved shape, etc. They should not only be conducive to fruiting, but also have an aesthetic effect, improving their ornamental value.
2. Spraying for shaping Apply chemical control techniques to dwarf the tree body. In summer, during the vigorous growth period of potted fruit trees, spray plant growth retardants (such as chlormequat, paclobutrazol, etc.) on the leaves 2-3 times, which can make branches thick and strong, internodes shorter and plants dwarfed. In addition, the measures for promoting flowering, dwarfing and shaping by pruning mainly include: bud removal, pinching, branch bending, branch twisting, ringing, retraction, renewal, branch pulling, etc. And by opening the angles of branches and thinning out vigorous shoots, densely growing branches and ineffective branches, enhance light exposure and create the ideal tree shape.
IV. Flower and fruit management
When the number of flower buds on the fruit tree is large, flowers should be thinned during the bud stage, and fruit should be thinned after the physiological fruit drop period; if the number of flower buds is small, more flowers can be retained. At the same time, artificial pollination should be carried out.
Shaping and pruning According to the design, through trunk bending, branch bending, branch coiling, cylindrical shape, slanting trunk shape, double-trunk shape, fan shape, weeping branch style and many other shapes, to enhance beauty and promote the growth and fruiting of the potted tree.