Cultivation methods and precautions of summer plum

How to cultivate summer plum

Temperature and light

Wintersweet can survive the winter and summer normally in areas such as Jiangnan, and can withstand short-term high temperatures of 40℃ and severe low temperatures of -15℃. It likes a warm and humid growing environment with not strong sunlight. The leaves will turn yellow under full light and it will grow poorly. Therefore, avoid direct sunlight and keep it under the sun for a long time. Just give it a moderate amount of light.

Watering

Wintersweet is drought-tolerant but afraid of waterlogging, so just keep the soil semi-moist. Drain water in time during the rainy season. However, water should not be lacking in summer, so as to avoid the formation of dry and white spots on the leaves, which will affect the formation of flower buds. During the flowering period of summer sweet, the amount of watering must be reasonable. If there is too little water, the flowers will not bloom evenly; too much watering will easily cause the flowers and buds to fall off.

soil

It is suitable for growing in fertile, loose, well-drained sandy loam. The potting soil can be prepared with equal amounts of sandy soil and coniferous humus soil.

Fertilization

It likes fertilizer. Timely fertilization can promote the differentiation of flower buds and make more flowers bloom. Apply foliar fertilizer twice in spring and apply compound fertilizer every half a month from the end of June to the beginning of the dog days to promote the formation of flower buds. Fertilization is mainly with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, with an appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer. After the autumn cools down, you can apply cake fertilizer once to enrich the flower buds. Apply top dressing 2-3 times after flowering and before leaf fall. Apply thin horseshoe water again before winter to provide the nutrients needed for flowering.

Precautions for cultivating summer plum

Pay attention to pest control

The main pests are scale insects and aphids, as well as black spot and anthrax diseases. Management needs to be strengthened, especially during high temperature seasons.

Be careful of wind

Wintersweet is afraid of wind, so choose a sheltered place for outdoor cultivation. If wind protection is not done properly, the blades will rust due to friction with each other. If exposed to wind during the flowering period, the flower buds will not open easily and the petals will not stretch out.

Timely pruning

Wintersweet has a strong ability to branch out, and timely pruning is beneficial to promote the sprouting of more branches and more flowering. Pruning is suitable from the time when flowers fade to the time when leaves sprout, usually from March to June, and stop after July. Cut off diseased and insect-infested branches, dead branches, crossed branches, and overcrowded branches. Keep 2-3 pairs of buds at the base of annual branches and cut off the upper branches to promote branching. Pinch the tops of new branches every time they grow two or three pairs of leaves.