Technical Sheet - Prunus Mume

Common Name: Japanese Plum Mume

Scientific Name: Prunus Mume

Description: Member of the Rosaceae family, native to China and Korea.

Deciduous bonsai, highly appreciated for its early blooming (depending on the year and region of Portugal, it starts to flower in January or even late December).

The flower can be white (varieties "Yabai") or reddish-pink (varieties "Hibai"), contrasting with the reddish-brown bark, occasionally rewarding us with a fruit, a small apricot.

Location: Outdoors where it receives 3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight per day (ideally in the morning or late afternoon), protected from strong winds and frost, although it withstands cold well.

Watering: Water the soil abundantly until plenty of water comes out of the drainage holes, to evenly moisten the soil, always from the top, never by immersion, using a watering can with fine holes.

For tips on watering, see the watering technical sheet.

Allow the surface layer of the soil to dry slightly between watering (to confirm if the plant needs water, touch the soil with your fingers).

If you have a tray under the Bonsai, never leave any water in it (to avoid root rot).

There is no benefit to spraying the leaves; only do so on days when you fertilize and if the fertilizer is for foliar application, but ensure the leaves dry before night to prevent fungi.

Nutrition: From February to October, with a base plan composed of a complete fertilizer (FFertil Bonsai Humic, or Green & Gold Bonsai Organic or Biogold), and a biostimulant year-round (Bio Bonsai Activ), which can also be combined with other products from our range.

Detailed information on how to combine these products with the rest of our range, or for a more specific nutrition plan, see the complete nutrition plan technical sheet.

Pruning: In winter, after the leaves have fallen, we can perform formative pruning, always taking care to leave leaf buds (sharper), as usually the first buds at the base of the branches are floral (thicker).

Maintenance pruning should be done after flowering; we allow some leaves to grow (8 to 10), then pinch after the 4th or 5th leaf while still green, this process usually occurs around April/May. After a few weeks (June), when the leaves have "matured," we should defoliate (or cut in half) the 2 to 3 leaves at the base of the branch. This defoliation will stimulate the appearance of leaf buds at the base.

Total summer defoliation should be avoided as it greatly weakens the plant.

For pruning tips, see the pruning and defoliation technical sheet.

Repotting: With Leafy Bonsai Soil right after flowering, before the leaves open, as often we repot during months when there is a risk of frost it is advisable to protect them.

Details about repotting, post-repotting care, and specific fortifiers you can use can be found in the repotting technical sheet.

Wiring: Often wiring restricts the sap flow, causing branches to dry out, so it should be done while the branches are green; after maintenance pruning, we take the opportunity to wire and shape, always paying close attention as green branches bruise very easily.

For wiring instructions, see the wiring technical sheet.