How to Care for a He Shou Wu (Fallopia multiflora) Bonsai? A Detailed Guide to Planting Methods

SummarySunlight: Make sure it gets appropriate sunlight; it likes a warm, humid environment and is cold-tolerant. Water: Avoid waterlogging in the pot, otherwise it easily causes root rot. Fertilizing: Apply sufficient base fertilizer and top-dress several times; follow the principle of applying organic fertilizer in the early stage, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in the middle stage, and no fertilizer in the later stage. After the plant survives and grows new roots, it can generally be fertilized 2 more times. Earthing up: In the south, earth up around the end of December, while in the north you need to earth up before winter begins, as this helps it overwinter.

He Shou Wu (Fallopia multiflora) is a fairly well-known Chinese medicinal herb, and it is very common in daily life. He Shou Wu has certain therapeutic effects on many diseases, so people often grow a pot of it at home. However, because everyone is not very familiar with the growth habits of He Shou Wu, they actually do not know much about the little care tips for this kind of potted plant. So let's take a look together.

How to Care for a He Shou Wu Bonsai

1. Sunlight: The first thing to pay attention to with a potted He Shou Wu is lighting. If your conditions allow and you have your own garden, that is most suitable of all; if you live in an elevator apartment, that is no problem either. You can plant it well and place it on the security window of a sunny balcony to grow it, and since He Shou Wu is a twining vine, it can just use the window bars to climb. But note that He Shou Wu likes a warm, humid environment and is cold-tolerant.

2. Water: He Shou Wu is a moisture-loving plant, so water is an important point in bonsai care. But avoid waterlogging in the pot, so never place a tray under the pot, to prevent water from being unable to drain out from the bottom of the pot, otherwise it easily causes the tuberous roots and root system of He Shou Wu to rot. Therefore, the nutrient soil mix must ensure good water permeability.

3. Fertilizing: If conditions allow, it is best to go to a nearby flower market to buy suitable fertilizer. Fertilizing is beneficial to the growth of He Shou Wu, so you should apply sufficient base fertilizer and top-dress several times. For top-dressing, follow the principle of applying organic fertilizer in the early stage, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in the middle stage, and no fertilizer in the later stage. After the plant survives and grows new roots, you can appropriately apply human feces and urine, then top-dress according to the plant's growth; generally it can be applied 2 more times.

4. Earthing up: If you have time, you can earth up, and proper earthing up is also beneficial to the growth of He Shou Wu. In southern production areas, earth up around the root zone at the end of December to increase propagation material and promote tuberous root growth. In northern regions, you need to earth up before winter begins, as this helps it overwinter.

Potted Planting Methods for He Shou Wu

1. Seed selection

The most important point in planting He Shou Wu is to select excellent seeds. If you grow He Shou Wu yourself, when it is time to harvest the seeds, note that the seeds are mature when they change from white to brown and the inside turns black, and they need to be harvested in time. After harvesting, the seeds must be dried in the sun to remove moisture before they can be put into hemp sacks or sand cloth bags for storage.

2. Soil selection

Choose suitable soil for cultivation; high-quality soil is beneficial to the growth of He Shou Wu. To plant He Shou Wu, choose sandy soil with deep soil layers, loose and fertile texture, convenient water sources, and both drainage and irrigation capacity. Apply some farmyard manure and do a shallow turning.

3. Sowing

After choosing good soil, the most critical step is sowing. The best sowing season for He Shou Wu is March. On the prepared seedbed ridges, open shallow furrows at a row spacing of 10-15cm, then evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows, cover with a layer of soil about 1.5cm thick, cover with grass, and then water thoroughly. At the same time, pay attention to the overall sowing density, so as to benefit its growth.

4. Care

After sowing of He Shou Wu is completed, you still need to pay attention to certain care and management throughout its growth process. You should lightly water once with a watering can at 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. each day. After seedlings emerge, water once every 2-3 days. At the same time, also pay attention to weeding and thinning seedlings.

How Much Does a Jin of He Shou Wu Seeds Cost

The market price of He Shou Wu seeds is not very expensive; it is generally around 15-20 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin, and the market. He Shou Wu is mainly planted by direct sowing, and can also be raised as seedlings and transplanted. The seeds mature around September to October. After harvesting, dry the seeds in the sun, then put them into hemp sacks or sand cloth bags and store them in a ventilated, dry place. Never store them in plastic bags.

The little care tips for potted He Shou Wu are introduced here for now, and we hope they are helpful to everyone. The planting method of He Shou Wu is not difficult, but for some of its care techniques you still need to understand its related growth habits, so that He Shou Wu can grow and develop well.