What is the growing environment of Houttuynia cordata? Latest analysis

Houttuynia cordata is a famously controversial wild vegetable. People who like it absolutely love it, and people who dislike it absolutely can't stand it. In the southwestern region, people all enjoy this wild vegetable, most commonly served cold dressed. It has always been mostly gathered from the wild, but now the wild supply can no longer meet market demand, so artificial cultivation has begun. For artificial cultivation to grow well, it is inevitable to study what the wild environment of Houttuynia cordata is like, and artificial planting should meet those growth needs according to its growth characteristics.

1. Climate

It grows under a subtropical climate. Areas like Yunnan are especially suitable for Houttuynia cordata growth. It is mainly distributed in Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan and other places. It likes moist, shady growing environments. It often grows in valleys, by field edges, and beside earthen ridges.

2. Temperature

It has strong adaptability to temperature. The rhizome can sprout above 12 degrees. Below 12 degrees or above 25 degrees, growth is poor. At a high temperature of 35 degrees, growth stops but it will not die, and it can tolerate it briefly. It can overwinter below zero degrees. Aboveground tissues can grow at 13 degrees, but it is best between 13 degrees and 18 degrees.

3. Humidity

The root system is distributed relatively shallowly and not widely, and there are not many root hairs, so its water requirements are quite strict. The soil must be kept moist and must not lack water, preferably at 70% to 80%. Air humidity should be roughly between 60% and 80%. Lack of water and drought easily cause seedling death. Although wild plants are sometimes seen surviving in extremely dry conditions, that is wild growth; artificial planting should provide a good environment as much as possible.

4. Light

It is not strict about light requirements, but it relatively likes weak light and is also fairly shade tolerant, because under strong light the corresponding temperature rises, affecting growth, and moisture evaporates easily, making the soil dry and causing the roots to lose water, so growth is not very good.

5. Soil

It is best to grow it in loose soil. Compacted soil is not conducive to rhizome growth. If the soil is sticky and heavy, when there is a lot of rain, it easily turns black and rots. But sandy soil is also not good; it loses water very quickly and growth is poor. It is best to grow it in sandy loam, which has good fertilizer and water retention. It grows in neutral soil, and the main nutrient supplements are nitrogen fertilizer and potassium fertilizer.

Houttuynia cordata grows well mainly in moist, shady, weak-light conditions on neutral sandy loam, so in actual cultivation, a suitable growing environment should be provided as much as possible, which is also very beneficial for yield.