Detailed Explanation of Key Cherry Blossom Cultivation and Management Techniques
Cherry blossom is a deciduous tree of the genus Prunus in the rose family (Rosaceae). Depending on the variety, its flowering period occurs successively from March to May. The inflorescences are corymbose or racemose, usually bearing 3 to 6 flowers. Flower colors include white, pale green, pink, and red. Petals may be single, semi-double, or double, with the double-flowered ones being the most beautiful, some having more than 50 petals. The flowers are large and vivid, like clouds and rosy clouds, extremely magnificent.
Cherry blossoms are mainly planted in the ground; for container growing, the pot should be deeper and larger. A mix of leaf mold and garden topsoil can be used as potting soil, and a layer of crushed charcoal pieces or crushed hard plastic foam blocks should be placed at the bottom of the pot to enhance air permeability and drainage and prevent root rot. Repot and change the soil once every 2 to 3 years. When transplanting or repotting and changing soil, it is best to keep the root ball intact. In the north, this should be done in spring before bud break; in the south, it can be done after leaf fall or before bud break.
Cherry blossom is a sun-loving flowering tree that prefers a sunny environment, so it should be planted in an open garden or a courtyard with sufficient sunlight. There should be no high-rise buildings or tall trees nearby for shade. If sunlight is insufficient, the branches will be thin, flowers few, and colors pale; too much shade will result in no flowers at all. It is afraid of dry wind, and growth is poorer on high-rise balcony settings. You can often spray water on the branches and leaves or sprinkle water on the balcony floor to increase air humidity. It is relatively cold-hardy and can be grown from the north to the south, but some varieties are not tolerant of extreme heat, growing somewhat poorly in subtropical regions with fewer flowers.
Propagation is mainly by grafting, using cherry, wild cherry, or single-flowered cherry blossom seedlings as rootstock. Grafting is done in late March by cleft grafting or in late August by bud grafting. For cuttings, use 1- or 2-year-old small branches growing from the lower part near the main trunk. Before bud break, use a sharp knife to cut a horseshoe-shaped branch from near the main trunk as a cutting, and prune it heavily, leaving 2 or 3 buds to sprout new branches. After inserting, place in a semi-shaded area and mist frequently to maintain moisture, but the soil should not be too wet. When the new shoots reach 10 cm, gradually move them to a sunny area for care. Plant with the soil ball the following spring. Using upper branches as cuttings results in a low survival rate, especially for superior varieties, which are difficult to root. In addition, cherry blossoms sometimes send up suckers from the root stock. Dig up 1- or 2-year-old suckers in early spring and plant them separately; the survival rate is 100%.