How to hydroponically culture滴水观音 (Dypsis loddigesii)
Article guide: This article shares the experience of hydroponic culture and maintenance of滴水观音, as well as the precautions for its growth. Read on for more information!
Methods for hydroponic culture of滴水观音:滴水观音 is scientifically known as Alocasia, also commonly referred to as Guanyin, Wild Taro, etc. It belongs to the Araceae family, Alocasia genus. Native to southern and southwestern China. The leaves are large and cover-like, remaining green throughout the year. Growing in clusters, the plant can reach over 1 meter in height. The tuberous roots, leaves, and stems resemble those of taro, which we commonly eat. Today, I will introduce the hydroponic method for滴水观音.
Hydroponic method for滴水观音:
1. Select healthy滴水观音 plants free from diseases and pests as the stock material for hydroponic culture. Remove old and dead leaves from the stem, leaving two to three new leaves; if the leaves are not attractive, you can also leave only the topmost petiole. Loosen the potting soil, remove the plant from the pot, and rinse the entire plant thoroughly to ensure no soil remains, as soil can easily pollute the water and bacteria can cause root rot.
2. After rinsing the stock plant, cut off all the soil-bound roots from the base and carefully inspect the stem for rot or pest damage; use a small knife to remove the softened or decayed parts of the stem until reaching the woody tissue, removing all decay or pest damage. After pruning, fix the plant in a planting basket of appropriate size based on its size and shape. Soak the entire planting basket in a 3% to 5% methylthiophanate solution or carbendazim solution for 5 to 10 minutes for disinfection; then place it in a shady area to dry.
3. Plant the dried stock plant, along with the planting basket, in a rockwool germination bed. By controlling the moisture, nutrition, temperature, and light of the bed, initial roots (primitive hydroponic roots) can grow in about 10 to 15 days.
4. Once the initial roots reach 2 to 3 centimeters in length, they can be moved to an induction pool for water root induction. During this stage, adjusting the dissolved oxygen and EC values in the water is crucial for the success of the induction, and the nutrient solution ratio also needs to be adjusted accordingly. When the water roots have reached a certain number and length, indicating adaptation to aquatic growth, they can be transferred to a stationary hydroponic system in a bottle.
The above is a detailed introduction to how to hydroponically culture滴水观音 and the precautions for its maintenance. Did you get it?