Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Technical Points for Dwarf Flowering Cherry
Dwarf flowering cherry, also known as juemei and yangli, is a warm-temperate tree species that has been cultivated for a long time. It is highly resistant, drought-tolerant, and unafraid of smoke and dust. It loves light and often grows on hillside forest edges or in roadside thickets. It has no strict requirements for soil, but grows most vigorously on limestone mountain sites. Dwarf flowering cherry prefers a sunny, warm and humid environment. The tree is robust and highly adaptable, tolerating cold, heat, drought, moisture and smoke and dust.
Propagation Methods of Dwarf Flowering Cherry
The only propagation method for dwarf flowering cherry is low-trunk bud grafting. The budding time for dwarf flowering cherry is generally after the Beginning of Autumn each year; it is slightly earlier than for luonzhi and elm-leaved spirea, and should not be delayed; otherwise, the scion of dwarf flowering cherry is not easy to peel. In spring, cut the branches of the mother plant at 10-12 cm from the base to encourage the growth of vigorous shoots for use as scions. The tender branches of dwarf flowering cherry are prone to frost damage, so in winter soil needs to be mounded at the base of the plant for cold protection.
Dwarf flowering cherry is often used for forcing cultivation. Generally, after the seedlings are lifted in autumn, they are not placed in the open field but moved into a low-temperature greenhouse. After forcing, the temperature in the low-temperature greenhouse must not be too low, generally not below 3 degrees Celsius, otherwise dwarf flowering cherry tends to wilt. The flowering period of dwarf flowering cherry is longer than that of luonzhi but shorter than that of elm-leaved spirea.
Cultivation Methods of Dwarf Flowering Cherry
Soil: Dwarf flowering cherry has no strict requirements for soil and is very tolerant of poor soil. It can grow in slightly alkaline soil and can also adapt to slightly acidic soil. However, dwarf flowering cherry grows more vigorously in calcareous soil. The most suitable soil for dwarf flowering cherry is still well-drained, neutral, fertile and loose sandy loam.
Temperature: Dwarf flowering cherry likes warm and humid places. It is native to our country, and basically grows healthily in the provinces and cities of North China, South China and Central China, and basically also in places such as Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning.
Light: Dwarf flowering cherry loves light. If there is insufficient light, the branches and leaves of dwarf flowering cherry will grow excessively, but in summer under strong light, appropriate shading is needed.
Humidity: Dwarf flowering cherry likes a warm and humid environment. When growing dwarf flowering cherry, it must not be allowed to dry out. Dwarf flowering cherry can tolerate moisture, but moisture is not the same as waterlogging; if waterlogged, dwarf flowering cherry will suffer root rot.
Fertilization: Before the growth period of dwarf flowering cherry arrives, a nitrogen fertilizer needs to be applied to dwarf flowering cherry, which can promote the growth of branches and leaves. Before dwarf flowering cherry blooms, a little phosphorus fertilizer can be added.