Potted cherry tree image source: Portal Fruticola
It is almost always believed that a fruit tree can only be on the ground. And in reality it is nothing. You can have potted apple trees, peach trees, pear trees, or even a potted cherry tree. Focusing on the latter, having a cherry tree in a pot can be a nice detail for your garden.
However, they need a series of important cares to ensure that they are healthy and grow well. Do you know what it is exactly? Here we tell you the most important ones that you must not forget.
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Potted cherry tree maintenance
Having a potted cherry tree is easy. Caring for it may not be if you don’t know what the most important care you should have with this plant is. To help you, here we leave you what they are.
location and temperature
The ideal location for a cherry tree is outdoors and in full sun. In the case of a potted cherry tree, it is the same thing. It needs many hours of sunlight to feel good. But if the climate you live in is too hot, then maybe it’s best to have it in a more partial shade spot to avoid the hottest hours which can scorch the leaves. Even so, once you adjust, you won’t have any problems.
Regarding the temperature, You should know that the cherry tree is a tree that needs a period of cold as well as a period of heat. In other words, you need a cycle of raising and lowering the temperature.
In this case, the ideal is that it drops to 7 degrees or a little less without affecting the health of the fruit tree. It can even withstand freezing temperatures as long as the tree has not been activated (if it is and there is frost, it can harm it).
pot and substrate
Since you are going to have the cherry tree in a pot, You need both the pot and the substrate to be used to be adequate.
He The ideal substrate for a cherry tree will be a porous, calcareous and very draining substrate. (for example, with perlite). It is convenient that the mixture is about 50% each, although you can also put a 60-40. Try to choose soil that is not too heavy or wet and keep it moist all the time as this will only harm the health of your plant.
As for the pot, It must be at least 20 centimeters deep. But it will all depend on the type of cherry tree you have. In general, pots should be chosen as deep as possible, and keep in mind that you need to transplant them from time to time.
Source: Viveros Perez
Transplantation
Speaking of transplant, as we told you, you have to do it once in a while. Specific, every year for young specimens, and every 2-3 years for older ones. If you don’t and the pot is too small for him, it can slow his development. Always move to a bigger pot to keep it growing.
Also, each time you do it, you have to change the whole substrate. Of course, be careful when removing it by breaking the roots.
Irrigation
Watering a potted cherry tree is much easier than if we had it in the ground. And it is that in general one of the characteristics of the care of the cherry tree is in Provide constant humidity and watering. In other words, always water it on the same date, with the same amount.
Now imagine you have it on the ground (or outside where it may be raining, sunbathing, etc.). It hasn’t rained for months and suddenly it starts to rain quite heavily. This causes the soil moisture to fluctuate and has a negative effect as the cherries, when given, will open. In other words, they will be cracked. The reason is precisely this.
To avoid it, and As you will have it in a pot, the best thing to do is to water it at least once a week. Keep in mind that in a pot it is more sensitive to this humidity (both loss and excess), so you have to find the balance to be able to water more or less.
The climate will also influence as well as the type of terrain you choose.
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The cherry tree needs a little fertilizer, but not too much. Moreover, it is It is more advisable to use compost than liquid fertilizer in cereals. Therefore, whenever you can, it is better to add manure or similar to any other chemical fertilizer.
As for the frequency, you can pay at the beginning of the summer and that’s it, since you don’t need much more.
Size
If you want to have a “natural” cherry tree, you don’t have to prune it. But we understand that, if it is in a pot, and especially if you want it to acquire a certain shape, it will have to be done.
Training pruning is usually done almost all year round as it involves keeping the tree as desired. However, there is also the fruiting size, which is what allows the fruit to be of quality. In this case, it is usually done in the spring.
In general two annual prunings are usually carried out. The first in March to activate it and bring fruit to the tree, eliminating dead branches, dry ones or those that can interfere with each other. Keep in mind that until the tree is 4-5 years old, it will not bear fruit.
On the other hand, the second would be done in October or November to prepare it for winter.
Plagues and diseases
Mushrooms, aphids, mealybugs, bacteria… There are actually many pests and diseases that can affect a potted cherry tree. And that is why it is so important to provide it with the necessary care. With them you will somehow avoid the appearance of these.
Taking care with irrigation, pruning, not over-fertilizing or giving it the light it needs are some of the things you can do to prevent it. And of course, make sure that at the first feeling that something is wrong, you can act immediately.
As you see, caring for a potted cherry tree is not complicated, but they are very important for a good development of the fruit tree. In return, it will give you a very nice decoration where you have it, preferably outdoors, but it can be on a balcony, terrace, etc. Would you dare to have a cherry tree in your home?