How to plant Rhizoma Paridis
Do you know these? Here are some small experiences in the maintenance of green plants, including the cultivation techniques and management of Rhizoma Paridis, as follows:
1 Seedling raising and cultivation
1.1 The planting of Rhizoma Paridis
The planting of Rhizoma Paridis is currently in the stage of domesticating wild plants into cultivated ones. During this period, it is necessary to explore and summarize planting experiences, solve germplasm resources, and lay the foundation for expanding production.
1.1.1 Land preparation Before planting Rhizoma Paridis, select a suitable plot of land near a water source and rich in humus. Dig about 30 cm deep, and apply more than 3,000 kg of decomposed manure per mu (667 square meters/mu, hereinafter the same), ensuring the manure is fine and does not form lumps. Rake 1-2 times to mix the soil and fertilizer evenly. Create ridges 1.2-1.4 meters wide, leaving a 30-50 cm wide ditch between them for irrigation and field management.
1.1.2 Preparing seedlings Initially planting Rhizoma Paridis, if seedlings cannot be purchased directly, one must search for and dig wild seedlings from mountains where Rhizoma Paridis grows.
In late spring and early summer, when Rhizoma Paridis begins to sprout and grow, dig up wild seedlings from the high mountainous ravines and slopes where they grow. After digging, retain some soil around the roots, straighten the seedlings, and avoid breaking them. After bringing the seedlings home, sprinkle with water, place them in a cool place, separate them by size, and plant them separately for easier harvest at different stages.
1.1.3 Planting Plant the seedlings of different sizes in different ridges. Large seedlings should be spaced 20 cm apart, small seedlings 15 cm apart, leaving a 10-15 cm wide ridge on each side of the ridge to facilitate topdressing and earthing up, preventing the rhizomes from extending to the edge of the ridge. Make a shallow trench about 10 cm deep on the side of the ridge, place the seedlings neatly on the outside, with the rhizomes 5 cm deep in the soil. Then cover the trench with soil and press it down by hand, planting in sequence.
1.1.4 Watering after planting After planting the seedlings, water them promptly. First, water a little to stabilize the seedlings, then water more to soak the area around the planted Rhizoma Paridis. After all seedlings are planted, you can flood the ditches to keep the soil moist and prevent drought. In extremely hot afternoons, spray water on the seedlings and use shade shelters to protect them from the sun.
1.2 Sexual propagation
Sexual propagation involves using mature Rhizoma Paridis seeds for seedlings.
1.2.1 Seed collection In autumn, when the Rhizoma Paridis seeds are mature, the seed balls' skins crack open, and the deep red seeds are exposed, they can be harvested. Place the harvested seeds in a layer no more than 20 cm thick in a cool place to prevent drying and molding. After harvesting, tear open the seed ball skins, scatter the seeds, and plant them immediately, as they should not be stored for long periods. Rhizoma Paridis seeds have a low germination rate and grow very slowly, often taking one or two years to sprout and grow, requiring long-term careful management.
Mature seeds
1.2.2 Seedling bed preparation The land preparation and fertilization are the same as in 1.1.1, but the soil should be raked finer, and the fertilizer should be finer and not lumpy. After the soil is raked, make ridges 1.2 meters wide, with the length depending on actual needs. The sides of the ridges should be higher than the ridges by 5-10 cm, with bricks placed on the ridges. The ridge surface should be level and without depressions.
1.2.3 Sowing Spread the seeds evenly on the ridge surface, then cover them with a 2-3 mm layer of fine soil made by mixing half sifted wood ash and humus. Gently tap the ridge surface with a board to ensure the seeds are in close contact with the soil.
1.2.4 Mulching After sowing, cover the ridge surface with a 2-3 cm thick layer of torn moss, water the first time with a spray bottle, and then cover the moss with a 5 cm thick layer of pine needles, pressing down with branches to prevent the pine needles from being blown away by the wind.
1.2.5 Moisture retention Sprinkle 1-2 more times of water on the pine needles and keep the soil moist. Check the ridge surface regularly, and if the soil dries out, water with a spray bottle. It is best to water before 12 noon or after 4 pm.
1.2.6 Weeding If there are weeds on the seedling bed, gently pull them out without using a hoe to avoid disturbing the Rhizoma Paridis seeds and seedlings, and prevent human and animal trampling.
1.2.7 Transplanting After the Rhizoma Paridis seeds germinate, the seedlings are very delicate and require 4-5 years to grow before they can be transplanted. In the second year after sowing, one leaf grows, and in the next year, four leaves grow, increasing year by year until 7-8 leaves, and up to 9-10 leaves. When transplanting, dig up the seedlings with soil around the roots to ensure survival (transplanting method same as 1.1.3).
Sexual propagation seedlings
1.3 Asexual propagation
Asexual propagation involves cutting the top buds from the rhizomes after harvesting Rhizoma Paridis as seedlings.
1.3.1 Cutting seedlings When harvesting Rhizoma Paridis, cut the rhizome's top bud, leaving about 2 cm of rhizome below the bud, retaining the fibrous roots, and applying wood ash to the cut. Place the cut seedlings in a cool place or indoors to prevent sunburn and plant them promptly.
1.3.2 Planting Asexual propagation is the best method for planting Rhizoma Paridis. After planting the cut seedlings, the seedlings emerge uniformly (planting method same as 1.1.3). In the second year, some plants will bloom and set seeds, and it takes 5-6 years to harvest, with a shorter production cycle and better benefits than sexual propagation. However, it has drawbacks: it requires prior planting and harvesting, and the quantity is limited with significant limitations.
2 Management
2.1 Shade Rhizoma Paridis grows long-term in the wild grasses under the mountains and is a shade-tolerant plant. Apart from planting under forests, it is necessary to do a good job of shading and sun protection. In field planting, a shade shelter should be set up, which can be made of shade netting or straw, etc. If no shelter is set up, corn and other tall crops can be planted along the ridge edges in spring, summer, and autumn, spacing them about 40-50 cm apart.
2.2 Irrigation and moisture retention Rhizoma Paridis is a moisture-tolerant plant that dislikes drought but also does not tolerate waterlogging. Keep the soil moist and promptly drain any accumulated water during the rainy season.
2.3 Weeding Remove field weeds 3-4 times a year, preferably early and small. Rhizoma Paridis has shallow roots, so the ridge surface should not be hoed to avoid root damage.
2.4 Fertilization and topdressing Rhizoma Paridis grows for many years after one planting, requiring a heavy application of base fertilizer. Apply more than 3,000 kg of finely decomposed manure per mu as base fertilizer, rake the soil and fertilizer evenly, and then create ridges for planting.
After planting in the same year, fertilization should focus on diluted dung water. If using decomposed manure, it can be applied after the plants wither in autumn until early spring before they sprout to avoid damaging the stems and leaves. During this time, cover the ridge surface with weeds, straw, wheat straw, or pine needles to decompose into fertilizer, which can keep the soil warm and prevent frost, as well as resist drought and retain moisture. After fertilizing, tidy up the ditches, sprinkle the soil from the ditches evenly on the ridge surface, and then water.
Since Rhizoma Paridis has a fleshy stem with little woody fiber, chemical fertilizers should not be used to avoid fertilizer damage.
2.5 Diseases Rhizoma Paridis generally has few diseases. In hot summers, improper shading and direct sunlight can cause sunburn. In high temperatures, the stem and soil surface contact points can become wilted, soft, rotting, and drying, leading to plant death. This is due to soil dryness and high soil surface temperatures causing burns. It is necessary to water promptly, keep the soil moist, and do a good job of shading and sun protection.
3 Harvesting
Rhizoma Paridis grows very slowly, requiring 4-5 years from seedling to transplanting, and another 4-5 years of growth after transplanting to harvest. Each year, besides the thickening of the rhizome, only 1-2 rings are added. If harvested too early, the yield is low and the quality is poor. It is best to harvest in autumn, 4-5 years after transplanting, when the stems wither. When digging, dig a little deeper to avoid damaging the rhizome and keep it intact. After digging, remove the fibrous roots, wash off the soil, and place the rhizomes in the sun to dry, turning them over until they are half-dry, then pile them up to sweat and turn them over to dry thoroughly. After drying, they are finished products and can be stored or sold.
When harvesting Rhizoma Paridis, if asexual propagation seedlings need to be retained, cut the seedlings first, then remove the fibrous roots and wash off the soil.
Digging up the rhizome at harvest
4 Medicinal use
Rhizoma Paridis has a slightly bitter taste, cool nature, and is slightly toxic. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and reducing swelling and pain. It can be taken internally or applied externally. It is mainly used for treating boils, lymphadenitis, snake bites, infantile convulsions, mumps, eczema, sore throat, and the flowers can remove opacity and improve vision.
Drying the finished product
The above introduction to how to plant Rhizoma Paridis and its cultivation techniques and management, I hope you will like it!