How do you care for the crabapple flower known as the "national beauty"? Which month does it bloom? What should you do if it does not bloom?

The crabapple flower, long known as the “national beauty”, has an elegant and charming floral posture, blooms like brocade, and even its fruit is so exquisite and delightful, making it very popular among people. Many flower lovers like to keep a pot of it at home. So how do you care for the crabapple flower? Which month does it bloom? What should you do if it does not bloom?

I. How do you care for the crabapple flower?

1. Choosing a pot

For potted crabapple flowers, it is recommended to choose a zisha (purple clay) pot. This kind of pot not only has very good breathability and drainage, which suits the plant's growth, but also has a very attractive appearance, and paired with the beautiful crabapple it creates a great ornamental effect.

2. Choosing soil

For the soil, it is recommended to choose slightly acidic soil with good breathability and rich nutrients. Specifically, you can use a mix of garden soil and leaf mold.

3. Watering

Because it likes moist growing conditions, you must not let it lack water when cultivating it, and you must water before the soil dries out completely. However, in winter its growth rate is not fast and its water demand is not high, so letting the soil stay slightly dry is enough.

4. Fertilizing

It has a certain demand for fertilizer. During the growing season it needs fertilizing once every 10 days, and during the bud stage you should apply a quick-acting phosphorus fertilizer to help it bloom better. However, during the flowering period it is best not to fertilize it.

5. Light

When cultivating it, just place it in a spot with plenty of sunlight. However, in summer you should avoid letting it be exposed to the direct midday sun, otherwise it may cause yellow leaves.

6. Temperature

Its optimal growing temperature is 10-20°C. In winter, take measures to keep the temperature above 10°C, otherwise it may suffer cold damage and show poor growth.

II. Which month does the crabapple flower bloom?

Because crabapple varieties differ, their blooming times also vary.

1. Malus micromalus (Xifu crabapple): blooming period in April.

2. Malus halliana (Hall crabapple): blooming period from March to April.

3. Chaenomeles speciosa (Chinese quince): blooming period from March to April.

4. Chaenomeles cathayensis (cathayensis crabapple): blooming period in April.

5. Begonia semperflorens (wax begonia): in spring and autumn.

III. What should you do if the crabapple flower does not bloom?

1. Poor light for the crabapple flower

The crabapple flower likes an environment with plenty of sunlight. Keeping a potted crabapple flower indoors in a dark place for a long time will cause it not to bloom. This is because the crabapple flower will not produce flower buds in a semi-shaded or shaded environment, so it will not bloom. This is especially true when the winter temperature is relatively low.

Solution: We will bring the crabapple flower indoors to keep it warm, but indoor light conditions are limited and ventilation is poor. When there is sun in winter, we can put the crabapple flower on the balcony or in the yard to get some sun.

2. Poor ventilation for the crabapple flower

The crabapple flower likes a humid environment, but when indoor ventilation is not very good, the moisture in the soil cannot evaporate quickly, and when too much water is given, the soil humidity cannot be regulated, which causes the crabapple flower to have too much water, and this also prevents it from blooming.

Solution: Put the crabapple flower in a ventilated place, and especially in winter, pay attention to light and ventilation.

3. Too much or too little watering of the crabapple flower

The crabapple flower, which grows in a humid environment, needs the potting soil to stay on the moist side. If you water too little, it cannot meet the growth needs of the crabapple flower, and the crabapple flower will not bloom. If you water too much, water damage will make it hard for the crabapple flower to bloom.

Solution: During the process of cultivating the crabapple flower, water according to the season. In summer, when the temperature is high, water more; in winter, when the temperature is lower, try not to water. Be sure to avoid rain exposure.

4. Single or excessive nutrients for the crabapple flower

The crabapple flower not blooming is very likely because fertilizing is too one-sided and the crabapple flower lacks phosphorus and potassium fertilizer; too much fertilizer, especially too much nitrogen fertilizer, will cause the crabapple flower to grow excessive branches and leaves.

Solution: Be sure to remember to fertilize the crabapple flower when it sprouts in early spring and when it sheds leaves in autumn. Usually use a fertilizer specially made for crabapple flowers and fertilize appropriately.

5. Improper pruning method for the crabapple flower

When the branches and leaves of the crabapple flower are too vigorous, the leaves will absorb a large amount of nutrients, which causes the nutrients to be concentrated in the leaves, leading the crabapple flower to bloom less or not bloom at all.

Solution: Prune the branches and leaves of the crabapple flower regularly. Cut off those residual branches, weak branches, overly luxuriant branches and leaves, and branches and leaves that do not quite fit the overall shape.