When is the best time to transplant red plums?

Red plum, which we call plum blossom , is one of the top ten famous flowers in China. It blooms in the coldest month of winter. There is a saying that "plum blossoms are the first to bloom among all other flowers, heralding spring for the whole world." It is one of the earliest flowering plants in a year. Many people want to grow red plum, so when is the best time to transplant red plum? Let’s take a look below.

1. When is the best time to transplant red plums?

Autumn Transplanting: It is best to transplant red plum seedlings after the leaves fall in autumn and in early winter (October to November). The temperature is suitable at this time and the plants enter a dormant period, which is conducive to root recovery and growth in the spring of the following year.

‌Spring Transplanting‌: If transplanting in spring, it should be done as early as possible after the soil thaws (March to April) to ensure that the plants have enough time to adapt to the new environment before the high temperatures arrive.

2. Cultivation method of red plum

Soil: Red plum grows best in loose, well-drained acidic soil. You can use leaf mold, garden soil and sand to mix to make potting soil in a ratio of 2:1:1. In addition, some decomposed organic fertilizer can be added to the bottom of the pot as base fertilizer to provide sufficient nutrients.

Watering: Red plum needs to keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering. During the growing season, you can water it every 2-3 days to keep the soil moist. During the flowering period, watering needs to be reduced appropriately to prevent flowers and buds from falling. In winter, red plum enters a dormant period, so you should reduce watering appropriately and keep the soil in the pot from being too dry.

Temperature: Red plum grows best in a warm environment, with a suitable temperature range between 15-25℃. In winter, red plum enters a dormant period and the temperature needs to be kept above 0℃ to avoid frost damage. In the cold northern regions, you need to pay attention to keeping warm and you can place the red plum indoors or in a greenhouse.

Light: Red plum needs plenty of sunlight to grow and bloom normally. During the growing and flowering periods, it needs to be placed in a sunny place, receiving full sunlight or at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. If it is maintained indoors, it can be placed near a window to ensure sufficient sunlight.

Fertilization: During the growing period, red plum needs proper fertilization to provide nutrients. You can use decomposed organic fertilizer or compound fertilizer . Be careful to apply fertilizer in moderation and avoid excessive fertilizer to avoid root burn. During the flowering period, the amount of fertilizer needs to be reduced appropriately to avoid affecting the quality of flowering.

Pruning: Pruning is a very important part of red plum maintenance. During the growing season, appropriate pruning can be done to control plant height and promote branch growth. When pruning, be careful not to over-prune to avoid affecting the growth and flowering of the red plum.

Pest and disease control : Red plum is easily attacked by pests and diseases, such as aphids, red spiders, anthracnose, etc. Check the growth of red plum regularly, and take timely preventive measures if diseases and pests are found. Biological control, chemical control and other methods can be used to control pests and diseases.

In general, the care of red plum requires attention to controlling soil, watering, temperature, light, fertilization, pruning, and pest and disease control. Appropriate adjustments and management should be made according to specific circumstances to ensure the healthy growth and good flowering of red plum.