For the love of Prunus mume...

[leatherback]

Back at it, doing some winter grafts hoping they take this spring.

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You wrap the whole scion too, that s a cool tip. Never thought about doing that!

 

[Dabbler]

I would have a field day just to pick one of those ume - I have a hard time find them and only have a hybrid one

 

[Pitoon]

You wrap the whole scion too, that s a cool tip. Never thought about doing that!

From my grafting adventures, I've learned that if water enters the graft it will fail. Same as prolonged contact with air as the cambium, phloem, xylem layers will oxidize within seconds once cut. Wrapping the scion helps prevent it from drying out in the winter and keeps the graft dry and air tight.

 

[River's Edge]

One other effective step is to seal the graft with latex caulk between turns of grafting tape. This particularly effective at the top edge of the graft where moisture is more likely to seep in. here is a picture of a product that I have found effective. it is thick emoting to seal well without migrating into the graft site and stays flexible, providing and airtight and watertight seal. Picture below. If selecting a local product look for a basic latex caulk. would avoid those with extra additives.Mine was purchased in Japan years ago. Keep it tightly sealed and it will last for many years. I have been using this tube since 2015. I do
a fair amount of grafting.

 

[SeanS]

Ume layer separated this afternoon. Double white flowers. Took an age to root (compared to something like a Japanese maple) but once it got going it really put out some good roots. I was struggling to keep the layer watered enough, it was using a lot of water now in our late summer.

 

[SeanS]

Very large ume cutting. This was another layer on one of my ume in my grow bed that just wasn’t going much besides producing callous, I needed to get it off the parent tree due to thickening on a part of the tree that I didn’t want to thicken anymore. I cut it off, potted it up and covered it with a plastic bag. I’ve hardly paid it any attention besides the occasions de-bagging to splash some water on it. Last week I decided to dump some of the soil out and was pleasantly with what I found!

 

[River's Edge]

Very large ume cutting. This was another layer on one of my ume in my grow bed that just wasn’t going much besides producing callous, I needed to get it off the parent tree due to thickening on a part of the tree that I didn’t want to thicken anymore. I cut it off, potted it up and covered it with a plastic bag. I’ve hardly paid it any attention besides the occasions de-bagging to splash some water on it. Last week I decided to dump some of the soil out and was pleasantly with what I found!

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Well done. Patience, maintain humidity, and if you think of it ( with leaves present) foliar fertilization no more than once a week, rinse the next day to prevent build up on leaves. I am continually amazed how patience can be rewarded with plants. Seeds germinating the following year, it is still green so wait and see.

 

[Seattlefigs]

Some more...
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what are their variety names?

 

[R3x]

what are their variety names?

Have a look at this thread for some names: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/prunus-mume-trees-are-starting-to-bloom.42149/page-2

 

[SeanS]

Another juicy layer harvested from one of my parent trees, which will now embark on its journey to become a bonsai next spring.

 

[Bonds Guy]

@SeanS on average, how long do these take to layer?

 

[SeanS]

@SeanS on average, how long do these take to layer?

Quite long compared to something like a Japanese maple. I can’t remember exactly when I started these but I’d guess it’s been around 12 weeks.

Here’s the tree the 2 layers above have come off of. Next spring I’d like to chop most of it off and start working on the future tree.







September 2023

 

[Pitoon]

Looks like some grafts took and have already started pushing out some growth. I'm hoping by summer the grafts have healed to the point that I can cut the rootstock back to the union.

 

[jerzyjerzy]

Beni-chi-dori in the snow today

 

[Pitoon]

Really good success rate on the grafts this year....so far.

 

[Pitoon]

Really love this time of the year, hopefully I'll get a good crop.

 

[WavyGaby]

Have you seen black knot or galls on your Ume? I bought one from an NC nursery this year - one that you know, and it's got several growths of fungus on the trunk and stems.

I plan on cutting off and applying fungicide.

 

[Pat4]

Have you seen black knot or galls on your Ume? I bought one from an NC nursery this year - one that you know, and it's got several growths of fungus on the trunk and stems.

I plan on cutting off and applying fungicide.

Hi there, I got the same issues. I believe we ordered from the same nursery in NC. What fungicide do you use to treat this black knot?

 

[WavyGaby]

Hi there, I got the same issues. I believe we ordered from the same nursery in NC. What fungicide do you use to treat this black knot?

I'm going to try mancozeb. Good luck with yours. We can start a separate thread to document it. I'm not really fond of sensitive species due to the need for chemical treatment. From what I read, black knot is present long before it shows up and I know Pitoon also visited this nursery, too.

 

[jal777]

Seed available from Sheffield's:

Prunus mume - Common Bonsai,Flowering Tree,Medicinal Herbs - Chinese Plum, Japanese Apricot, Japanese Flowering Apricot

Prunus mume, commonly known as Japanese apricot, Chinese plum or plum blossom, is a fast-growing, deciduous tree native to China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. It's highly prized for its mid to late winter display of fragrant, spicily pink flowers before the

sheffields.com