A Detailed Guide to the Timing and Methods of Collecting Chinese Sweet Plum (Sageretia thea) Old Stump Bonsai

  The climate in the south is warm, the plant dormancy period is short, and buds sprout early. The best stump collection period is during Minor Cold to Major Cold. After dormancy, the tree - Chinese sweet plum (Sageretia thea) - has accumulated a large amount of nutrients, which is beneficial for sprouting and rooting. Roots and buds complement each other. Good development and growth of both is the premise and key to ensuring the stump's survival and preventing drying out and branch withering.

  The growth of Chinese sweet plum (Sageretia thea) requires not only essential natural conditions such as sunlight, air, water and soil. Throughout its entire growth process, Chinese sweet plum also needs human-provided conditions such as fertilizer, pesticides (for pest and disease prevention) and proper manual care. Only under favorable conditions can excellent Chinese sweet plum be cultivated well.

  If you want to own a fine pot of Chinese sweet plum bonsai, you need to find a Chinese sweet plum stump with a good form. Stumps dug at different times have differences and effects on the growth and development of that stump.

  For a long time, quite a few people have still been asking: "When can you dig Chinese sweet plum?" Regarding this question, many people in many places have given answers. Some say: "You can dig," others say: "You cannot dig." When exactly can you dig Chinese sweet plum?

  Our country has a vast territory, and from south to north, climate, temperature and humidity differ greatly at the same time. Therefore, there is no single correct or standard answer to the question of when you can dig Chinese sweet plum. The best approach is to adapt to local conditions and choose the most suitable time in your area for collection and digging.

  I believe that many people, including myself, have personally tested when you can dig Chinese sweet plum. The purpose is to find a relatively clear answer. Practice has proven that as long as you understand the habits of Chinese sweet plum, have accumulated some care experience, and add careful attention and doubled effort, you can boldly say: "Chinese sweet plum can be dug in all four seasons." I basically agree with this statement, but I absolutely would not dig in all four seasons.

  If you have no understanding of Chinese sweet plum at all and do not know the basic methods of growing and caring for it, then even with the best stump and the best season, you still will not be able to grow Chinese sweet plum well.

  Actually, Chinese sweet plum (Sageretia thea) prefers a warm, humid climate and is not very cold-tolerant. It has strong adaptability and is not strict about soil quality; it can adapt to acidic, neutral and calcareous soils. It is drought-tolerant, tolerant of waterlogging and tolerant of poor soil. It likes sunlight and is also fairly shade-tolerant. It also has the characteristics of a well-developed root system, strong sprouting ability and tolerance of pruning. With such an undemanding tree species, who would say it is hard to grow!

  In addition, Chinese sweet plum also has tenacious vitality and vigorous energy, somewhat like the character of a banyan tree -- branches that touch the ground take root. On the mountain, one can often see the phenomenon that after a branch growing from one Chinese sweet plum crown falls to the ground, it takes root and becomes multiple stumps.

  Since it is said that Chinese sweet plum can be dug in all four seasons, when is it better to dig? The southern coastal climate is warm, and the cold period in mountainous areas is not very long either; the plant dormancy period is short and buds sprout early. Taking Fuzhou as an example, once "Awakening of Insects" among the 24 solar terms passes, all things revive, and Chinese sweet plum early pokes out its bud tips. By "Spring Equinox" and "Pure Brightness," the tender buds of Chinese sweet plum here have already grown to ten-plus to twenty cm long. Therefore, the best stump collection period in the southern coastal areas is during Minor Cold to Major Cold. In southern mountainous areas, where frost often occurs during "Minor Cold," you can postpone by one solar term before digging.

  Why dig at this time?

  Because among the 24 solar terms, Chinese sweet plum only sprouts after Awakening of Insects, so you should use the time of the 2 solar terms before Awakening of Insects (Beginning of Spring, Rain Water) to let the Chinese sweet plum with cut branches and severed roots get sufficient "rest" and adjustment. After about a month of recuperation and wound healing, and with the warming temperatures at Awakening of Insects, Chinese sweet plum then roots and sprouts at the same time.

  Also, because the tree has gone through dormancy and accumulated a large amount of nutrients, this is beneficial for sprouting and rooting. Roots and buds complement each other. Good development and growth of both is the premise and key to ensuring the stump's survival and preventing drying out and branch withering. At the same time, the longer the time for rooting and sprouting, the thicker and longer the branches grow. During the more than 2 months from "Awakening of Insects" to "Beginning of Summer" (entering summer), both the roots and branches of Chinese sweet plum can better adapt to the high temperatures of summer, greatly increasing the survival rate.

  The northern climate is colder, and winter is longer; the four seasons are distinct. Especially in North China and Northeast China, ice and snow do not melt until after "Spring Equinox," and trees do not sprout until after May 1 each year. Therefore, friends in the north can postpone digging until around Spring Equinox, which is better.

  In the south, because the climate is warm, winter along the coast is not obvious, so the period from Major Cold and Minor Cold to Pure Brightness can be classified as spring digging. What is dug after "Pure Brightness" and before "Beginning of Autumn" can be classified as summer digging. For what is dug during this period, the temperature is high, so shade and moisture-retention measures must be taken well, and it requires more time and energy for care than usual. Otherwise, dehydration, bark splitting, false survival and true death are very likely to occur. Therefore, digging stumps in summer is not advocated.

  Once "Beginning of Autumn" passes, it counts as entering autumn. The temperature is not high. In the south it is generally around 20-27 degrees. It is very suitable for the continued growth of plants, and ordinary trees at this time will once again send out branches and sprout, just like in spring. Chinese sweet plum is no exception. Therefore, the few days at the end of September and the beginning of October (around National Day) are the second good time to dig stumps.

  Chinese sweet plum dug during this time period sprouts quickly (generally rooting and sprouting in 20 days). By the time the branches grow to the end of December, the branches are also ten-plus or 20 cm long, and in mountainous areas where frost occurs, they only need slight protection to overwinter safely.

  Once the end of November arrives, that is Beginning of Winter and Minor Snow. In the north, strong winds and temperature drops begin, and trees begin to shed leaves and enter dormancy. Trees in the south generally do not begin to enter dormancy until mid-December. Tree dormancy means they are conserving strength and, under normal circumstances, will not sprout. Only when "Awakening of Insects" arrives will they wake up and sprout. Therefore, stumps generally dug in December, January and early February are all dormant stumps. They will not be in a hurry to sprout for you.

  Stumps dug at the end of November count as winter stumps. Winter stumps, especially in colder places, are affected by factors such as low temperatures, long winters and dry strong winds. If insulation and warmth-retention work is not done well, the stumps are easily frozen to death or dried out by wind. This greatly affects the growth and survival of Chinese sweet plum. Therefore, digging stumps in early and mid-winter is also not advocated.

  How should Chinese sweet plum stumps be collected and handled?

  1. Master the collection period. Timely collection is the key to ensuring the survival of Chinese sweet plum stumps. Generally, between January and March, before the stump sprouts, is the best collection period, because after sprouting the survival rate drops greatly; the next best is November to December, when the stump is in the dormant period; in other periods, bare-root survival is relatively difficult, and if you want to collect, you must keep a soil ball.

  2. Collection techniques. When going out to collect, bring a hoe, pickaxe, hand saw, pruning shears, wrapping material and rope. When you find a Chinese sweet plum stump, observe whether it has collection value and cultivation potential. When collecting, first use a hand saw to remove useless branches, and shorten and retain the trunk and branches needed for the desired shape. Dig the stump by taking soil within a range 6 times the base trunk. When digging, use the hoe and pickaxe alternately; when encountering larger roots, you can saw them off with a hand saw. Keep more fine roots and lateral roots, and protect the root hairs. After digging, wrap it well with wrapping material to avoid damaging the dry roots, prevent sun exposure and dehydration, and transport it back as soon as possible for potting and planting.

  3. Treatment before potting. Before potting, according to the needs of creating the shape, make a mental plan, consider the branches to retain, and saw or cut off excess branches. The cut opening should be left 1-2 more nodes of buds in length than the intended sprouting and branching point. Determine the front side of the stump; the cut opening should face away, and the cut opening should also be scraped smooth with a plane blade and sealed with paraffin or white glue to prevent the xylem at the trunk cut from rotting or being dried out by sunlight. When there are many fine roots and lateral roots, they can be sawed or cut according to the needs of the designed ornamental pot; if there are fewer fine roots and lateral roots, they can be left appropriately longer. The cut openings of the roots should be re-cut with sharp shears so that the cut openings are smooth. Cut off rotten roots to facilitate the growth of new roots. For bare stumps collected during the dormant period, if they are to be planted after 2-3 days of transport, you can soak the stumps in clean water for 2-3 hours before planting to let the stumps absorb more water, and then planting will be beneficial for survival.