How to Grow Scutellaria barbata (Barbed Skullcap) as a Potted Houseplant and Its Blooming Period
Scutellaria barbata is a lovely and beautiful plant. Its flowers are brightly colored and its blooming period is long, making it very suitable for ornamental purposes. It also has certain medicinal value, and can be used both internally and externally. This plant can be grown in soil or in pots. Today let us learn the potting method together.
How to Grow Scutellaria barbata as a Potted Houseplant
1. Scutellaria barbata prefers a warm and humid climate, and does not have high requirements for soil conditions. When the seedlings grow 5 leaves, they can be transplanted into pots.
2. Choose 10-15 cm clay pots; mix 4 parts loose, well-aerated, sandy, fertile garden soil with 1 part rice husk ash to make the growing medium. Generally plant 4-5 plants per pot; for flower beds and flower borders, the plant spacing is 8-10 cm. Water thoroughly once, then just keep the soil semi-moist.
3. During the growing period, appropriately apply several rounds of diluted nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound organic fertilizer water, which can make the plants grow strong, increase tillering, and produce brightly colored flowers. But after each fertilization, spray water to rinse the stems and leaves to keep the plants clean. Scutellaria barbata is relatively drought-tolerant, so watering should be moderate. If watered too much and the soil stays wet for a long time, it will cause root rot.
The Blooming Period of Scutellaria barbata
The blooming period of Scutellaria barbata is relatively long. It generally begins to bloom in the month, and the blooming period is from May to November. However, in areas with relatively high temperatures, Scutellaria barbata may also have the chance to bloom all year round. When Scutellaria barbata blooms, the flowers are usually solitary or clustered. The flower shapes are also quite varied, with both single-petaled and double-petaled flowers, and the colors are very rich too. It has the habit of blooming when it sees the sun; when the sunshine is good, the blooming is good. One flower after another, it is extremely interesting.
The Effects of Scutellaria barbata
1. Antibacterial effect
A 50% decoction of Scutellaria barbata, using the plate trench method, has an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.
2. Antispasmodic and expectorant effect
The carthamin contained in this product has a relatively strong effect against histamine-induced smooth muscle contraction, and also has a good expectorant effect.
3. Tumor-inhibiting effect
Screening tests using the methylene blue test tube method show that this product has a very slight inhibitory effect on acute myelocytic leukemia cells; screening experiments using the cell respirometer method show that the inhibition rate on acute myelocytic leukemia blood cells is greater than 75%.
4. Immune-regulating effect
The polysaccharides contained in this product can promote Con-induced lymphocyte transformation of mouse spleen cells in vitro, with an optimal concentration of 400r/ml. After 1 week of Sc administration, it can significantly increase the percentage of esterase-positive cells among peripheral blood lymphocytes in mice, and promote DNCB-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity. However, administration at a large dose (200mg) can inhibit the mouse thymus index, with no effect on the spleen index.
5. The alcohol preparation (200 mg/ml) has a vigorous anti-cancer effect in tumor tissue culture fluid on cancer tissues such as rectal cancer and colon cancer taken from the human body; the water decoction has a destructive effect on cells isolated from a stable cultured cervical cancer cell line.
Common Problems of Scutellaria barbata and Their Prevention and Control
1. Common symptoms and prevention and control
Pathogens mostly invade the base of the seedling's root stem from the surface soil. After the plant is damaged, the diseased part rots and the seedling falls over. If the seedling tissue begins to lignify, then damping-off occurs. The affected part sinks and constricts, appearing dark brown. When moist, white mycelium grows on the diseased part. When it occurs severely, large numbers of seedlings die.
Prevention and control method: Within 10 to 20 days after the seedlings emerge, keep them dry. In the early stage of seedling disease, the soil should be disinfected. Mix equal amounts of 4 wettable powder and broadcast it into the soil.
2. Rust disease and its prevention and control
Scutellaria barbata mainly affects the leaves. On affected plants, yellow-brown spots appear on the back of the leaves, and in severe cases the leaves turn yellow, curl and fall off.
Prevention and control method: In the early stage of the disease, use ferrous dimethyldithiocarbamate (add a small amount of laundry detergent) and spray once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive times.
3. Phytophthora blight and its prevention and control
It is prone to occur in hot and rainy seasons. Water-soaked dark spots appear on the leaves, after which they wilt and droop.
Prevention and control method: Use Bordeaux mixture or Dexon solution to spray for prevention and control in the evening.
4. Main pests
The main pests of Scutellaria barbata include aphids, African mole crickets, and cotton leafworms.
It seems that no matter how beautiful a plant is, it cannot withstand diseases and pests, so we must do prevention work in advance. Otherwise, when the pests appear and we try to solve it then, the poor Scutellaria barbata has already been harmed by the pests and must be very uncomfortable, which is also a kind of torment for flower lovers.