The planting conditions and environment of Bletilla striata
This article provides a detailed introduction to the planting conditions and environment of Bletilla striata, as well as related information about the cultivation techniques and maintenance of this ornamental plant, as follows:
Bletilla striata belongs to the Orchidaceae family, commonly known as Lianji grass, Gan gen, Baiji, Zhu lan, or Zilan. It is a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb with the functions of nourishing the lungs, stopping bleeding, reducing swelling, and promoting muscle regeneration. It is mainly used to treat symptoms such as hemoptysis from pulmonary tuberculosis, hemoptysis from bronchiectasis, hematemesis from gastric ulcers, hematuria, and hematochezia; externally, it is used to treat traumatic bleeding, burns and scalds, and cracked hands and feet.
Morphological characteristics: Bletilla striata is a perennial herb, 30-60 cm tall, with a fleshy, white corm, 2-3 lobed and angular, with fibrous roots, often several growing together. The raceme is terminal, usually with 3-8 flowers; the flowers are light purple-red with irregular petals. The capsule is cylindrical with 6 longitudinal ridges, slightly pointed at both ends. The seeds are tiny and numerous. The flowering period is April to May, and the fruiting period is July to August. There are two types of Bletilla striata, one with yellow-white flowers and linear-lanceolate leaves, known as narrow-leaf Bletilla. Among the purple-red flowers, there are large and small varieties, with the large variety having higher corm yield.
Growth characteristics: Bletilla striata prefers a warm, cool, and humid environment, is not cold-resistant, and requires fertile, loose, and well-drained sandy loam or humus-rich soil, cultivated on shady slopes or relatively humid plots.
Morphological characteristics: Bletilla striata is a perennial herb, 30-60 cm tall, with a fleshy, white corm, 2-3 lobed and angular, with fibrous roots, often several growing together. The raceme is terminal, usually with 3-8 flowers; the flowers are light purple-red with irregular petals. The capsule is cylindrical with 6 longitudinal ridges, slightly pointed at both ends. The seeds are tiny and numerous. The flowering period is April to May, and the fruiting period is July to August. There are two types of Bletilla striata, one with yellow-white flowers and linear-lanceolate leaves, known as narrow-leaf Bletilla. Among the purple-red flowers, there are large and small varieties, with the large variety having higher corm yield.
Growth characteristics: Bletilla striata prefers a warm, cool, and humid environment, is not cold-resistant, and requires fertile, loose, and well-drained sandy loam or humus-rich soil, cultivated on shady slopes or relatively humid plots.
Cultivation techniques:
1. Land selection and preparation
Select loose and fertile sandy loam and humus-rich soil in a warm, slightly humid environment that is not cold-resistant. For planting on well-drained mountainous land, choose shady and fallow land. Turn the soil over 20 cm deep, apply farmyard manure and compost, applying 1000 kg of farm manure per mu, or 50 kg of ternary compound fertilizer if no farm manure is available. Turn the soil again to mix it with the fertilizer. Cultivate shallowly before planting, finely preparing the soil, leveling it, and making high ridges 130-150 cm wide.
2. Propagation methods
Bletilla striata is difficult to propagate from seeds but easier from corm division. From September to early November, dig up Bletilla striata and select medium-sized, disease-free corms with many buds, each with 1-2 buds, coat with wood ash, and plant. Make furrows 20-25 cm apart and 5-6 cm deep, place one corm every 10-12 cm, with the buds facing up, fill in, compact, water, cover with grass, and keep moist. Seedlings emerge in March to April. Use 100 kg of seedlings per mu.
3. Field management
①Weeding: Bletilla striata requires strict weeding in field management. After planting, spray Ethametsulfuron to seal, and after the seedlings emerge. In May and June, Bletilla striata grows vigorously, and weeds also grow quickly, so weeding is necessary. Combine weeding with loosening the ridge surface, and shallow hoeing to avoid root damage.
②Timely fertilization: Bletilla striata is a plant that likes fertilizer. Spray monopotassium phosphate or dilute livestock manure once a month. From July to August, it stops growing and enters dormancy, but prevent weed overgrowth.
③Irrigation and drainage: Bletilla striata prefers shade and keeps moist, water during dry spells, once in the morning and once in the evening from July to September. Bletilla striata is also afraid of waterlogging, so promptly drain after heavy rain to avoid root damage.
Disease and pest control:
1. Root rot: Common in the rainy season from spring to summer in the south. Control methods: Pay attention to drainage and waterlogging prevention, dig deep drainage ditches.
2. Ground beetles and wireworms: Can be manually captured or lured and killed, or mixed with poisoned soil and applied to the bed. Apply 50% zinc sulfate emulsion 700 times solution to the bed.
Harvesting and processing: After 2-3 years of planting, from September to October, when the aerial stems wither, dig up the corms, remove the soil, and process them. Pick the corms individually, retain new stems for seed use, cut off the stems, soak in clean water for 1 hour, wash off the soil, boil in boiling water for 5-10 minutes, remove and dry completely. Clean off the rough skin and fibrous roots, sieve out impurities. Generally, 800-1000 kg of fresh products can be harvested per mu, which can be processed into 200-300 kg. The best quality corms are large, plump, white, semi-transparent, and solid. Bletilla striata corms contain starch, glucose, volatile oil, and the roots contain bletilla mannose.
The above introduction to the planting conditions and environment of Bletilla striata and related content about cultivation techniques and maintenance, for the reference of green plant enthusiasts, hoping to solve your problems in green plant management.