Detailed Guide to Psammosilene tunicoides Cultivation: Master All the Key Points of Cultivation and Management

Psammosilene tunicoides is a plant endemic to China and relatively rare, growing along the banks of the Jinsha River and the Yarlung Zangbo River, on gravelly slopes or in limestone rock crevices at an altitude of 2000-3800 m. The root of Psammosilene tunicoides is used as medicine to treat traumatic injuries and stomachache. It is toxic, so it should be taken orally with caution. So what are the cultivation techniques for Psammosilene tunicoides?

I. Seedling Raising and Transplanting

When planting on hillside land where water is difficult to obtain, for ease of management, first concentrate the seedlings, then transplant according to soil moisture during the rainy season. The most suitable temperature for Psammosilene tunicoides seed germination is 20-25°C, with humidity of 50%-60%. To make full use of the growing season, small-frame seedling raising should be adopted and sowing should be done early. About 1.5 kg of seed is used per mu, with about 1200 seeds sown per square meter, then covered with mixed soil, covered with pine needles, and then watered thoroughly, keeping the seedbed moist. Depending on the size of the seedlings, transplanting can be done during the rainy season (July-August), or after the aboveground parts wither in late autumn, or before sprouting in early spring. It is best to transplant the seedlings on the same day they are taken, not exceeding 48 hours. The transplanting spacing is 10 cm × 20 cm. When transplanting, the root system must be fully spread out and must not be bent, otherwise the growth of the main root will be affected. After transplanting, water thoroughly with settling water in time and cover with a layer of pine needles.

II. Fertilization

Fertilization of Psammosilene tunicoides should follow the following five principles: first, “control nitrogen, apply phosphorus, increase potassium, supplement trace elements”; second, mainly use organic fertilizer, combining organic and inorganic fertilizers; third, combine base fertilizer and topdressing, with base fertilizer as the main part and appropriate topdressing; fourth, rationally ratio nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, with emphasis on phosphorus and potassium fertilizers; fifth, spray trace element fertilizers on the leaves.

Fertilization of Psammosilene tunicoides is mainly based on organic fertilizer, combined with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Apply 3000-4000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer, 20-30 kg of 16% ordinary superphosphate, 25-30 kg of 50% potassium sulfate and an appropriate amount of trace fertilizer per mu.

III. Management

Drainage and irrigation: after sowing, spray water every day to keep the soil moist. During the seedling stage, watering should be based on the principle of not suffering drought, and the number of waterings should be flexibly controlled. Psammosilene tunicoides is drought-tolerant but not waterlogging-tolerant. After the seedlings are established and transplanting has survived, as long as it is not particularly dry, generally no irrigation or watering is needed, and a soil humidity of about 30% is sufficient; during the rainy season, drainage must be strengthened, otherwise root rot easily occurs.

Weeding: during the seedling stage, pull out weeds as soon as they are seen, eliminating weeds at the young stage to avoid competition for production factors and impact on growth and development. During the established seedling stage and field stage, use professional herbicides for timely weeding, and promptly pull out weeds that professional herbicides cannot kill.

Topdressing: after the plants fall over in winter, clear the weeds and cover the bed surface with a layer of decomposed fine organic fertilizer, which can both fertilize and keep warmth and moisture, helping the plants overwinter safely.

IV. Pest and Disease Control

Under normal circumstances, pests, diseases and root rot are not likely to occur. However, under conditions of the rainy season and high temperature and humidity, leaf spot disease and root rot are prone to occur. Dead branches and fallen leaves and root rot plants should be removed immediately, and the soil should be loosened and drained. At the same time, in the early stage of leaf spot disease, spray Bordeaux mixture or zineb solution, and disinfect root rot plants with 1% ferrous sulfate for prevention and control.

Psammosilene tunicoides is relatively rare, and the growing conditions for cultivation are quite demanding. If you do not have the conditions and techniques, it is not recommended to grow it.