How to Grow Chloranthus spicatus: Planting Methods and Precautions

The flowers of Chloranthus spicatus are yellow, tiny, and bead-like; viewed from a distance they look like little millet grains hanging on the branches, very petite and lovely, and their floral fragrance is captivating, with an aroma similar to that of orchids. How exactly is this plant, both beautiful and fragrant, grown? Let's explore its planting methods together below.

How to Grow Chloranthus spicatus

First, take two flower pots, one large and one small, and place the smaller pot inside the larger one. Put soil between the two pots. Note that if the bottom of the small pot has holes, they must be plugged so it cannot leak water, while the large pot needs to drain. Pour water into the small pot and let the water gradually seep into the large pot, keeping the soil at a certain humidity. For the branches and leaves, choose relatively thick and sturdy branches, preferably new growth from the current year, requiring a length of five to seven cm. Cut them from the branching forks, remove the lower leaves, and insert them into the soil. In about a month they should roughly have taken root.

Planting Methods and Precautions for Chloranthus spicatus

1. Soil: Chloranthus spicatus likes a warm, shady and damp environment, and its soil requirements are suited to cultivation in well-draining, humus-rich, acidic soil. For pot cultivation, you can choose leaf mold or a mix of peat, perlite and river sand to make a growing medium for planting.

2. Temperature: When overwintering Chloranthus spicatus in winter, the winter temperature should be kept above 10 degrees Celsius.

3. Light: Chloranthus spicatus likes a shady and damp environment, so during its growth you should pay attention to shading. It absolutely must not be placed in an open-air environment for exposure to the sun in summer, as this is very likely to cause sunscald disease in the flowers.

4. Watering: Chloranthus spicatus likes a moist environment, so you should keep the soil and air humidity moist through frequent watering. However, take extra care: absolutely do not let water accumulate.

5. Fertilizing: It is recommended to apply liquid fertilizer once every one to two weeks, which ensures the nutrients the plant needs and benefits its growth and flowering.

6. Precautions: Pay attention to the prevention and control of pests and diseases, and especially take care not to let water accumulate.

Propagation Methods of Chloranthus spicatus

1. Layering propagation method

This propagation method is not easy to carry out in seasons that are too cold or too hot; the plum rain season is best. Place two or three leggy branches (preferably vigorous branches with two years of growth) together, slightly notch them, and bury them three to four cm deep in the soil. In two months they can be separated from the mother plant and grown separately.

2. Division propagation

For division propagation, it is best to carry it out in spring when repotting is needed. Choose plants three to five years old, and only proceed when they have 15 to 20 branches. When dividing, be careful to split the mother plant into two or three clumps, each clump needing at least two or three branches with well-developed roots.

After dividing, they can be planted separately in pots, placed in a shady spot, and watered thoroughly. Within fifteen days, spray water once or twice a day; once they have recovered their vigor, apply a little fertilizer, and after fifteen days they can be grown normally.

3. Cutting propagation

When new growth sprouts in spring, using the double-pot method for cuttings works very well.

What to Do If Chloranthus spicatus Drops Its Leaves

Every spring, part of Chloranthus spicatus's stems will naturally wither, and at the same time new branches sprout from the base. At this time you must water carefully, watering only as it seeps in. Chloranthus spicatus can only grow in acidic soil and is especially afraid of waterlogging; once water accumulates in the pot, the branches will dry and the leaves will drop. Therefore, when growing it in a pot, use a small pot and a shallow pot. Apply top dressing 2 times each in May and September, and do not apply top dressing in other seasons; do not let fertilizer liquid splash onto the leaves. If leaf drop is severe, take the plant out of the pot to see whether the roots have rotted, and change to loose, breathable soil containing humus, using a shallow pot, and place it under garden plants in a flower bed where the air circulates; an environment with moisture can meet the air humidity requirement. Water less, and most can recover. If leaf drop is not too severe, just loosen the soil and place it directly in a semi-shady, ventilated spot.

The methods for growing Chloranthus spicatus are as above. Friends who like it can try growing it. When it blooms, seeing it will surely make you very happy, as your efforts have finally paid off. However, if cared for improperly, leaf drop can occur, but today we have also introduced a way to solve this problem. As long as we prevent it in advance, this situation will not occur.