What are the latest cultivation methods for night-blooming cereus?
Night-blooming cereus (Hylocereus undatus) is a type of specialty vegetable, also known as sword flower, and some people call it dragon bone flower. It is a plant in the Cactaceae family and is suited to growing in tropical and subtropical climates. In China, the main producing areas of night-blooming cereus are Guangdong and Guangxi. Night-blooming cereus has a unique taste and the effects of clearing heat and relieving coughs and strengthening the body, and it also has high ornamental value. So how is this special vegetable planted? Below, the editor will introduce the cultivation methods for night-blooming cereus.
1. Soil and fertilizer preparation
Night-blooming cereus has strong adaptability to the environment and is not strict about soil requirements. However, in order to improve the economic benefits and yield of night-blooming cereus, the planting site is generally chosen in yellow loam or sandy loam with convenient drainage and irrigation, fertile soil, loose soil texture, sufficient sunlight, support structures for climbing, and convenient transportation. Land preparation for planting night-blooming cereus is also very simple. It does not require full reclamation or deep plowing. It is only necessary to dig planting holes at a row spacing of 2.5 m and a plant spacing of 2 m, and loosen the surrounding soil. Finally, pour compost or decomposed barnyard manure into the planting holes and cover it with a layer of fine soil about 3 cm thick.
2. Cutting propagation
Night-blooming cereus is a plant propagated asexually. When we plant night-blooming cereus, we generally use the cutting propagation method. Because night-blooming cereus in many areas is gradually becoming endangered, the seedlings are very expensive, so during cutting it is necessary to be very careful, increase the survival rate of planting as much as possible, and reduce losses. Cutting is best done in spring and autumn each year. When cutting, it is best to insert about 10 cm into the soil, and water it to maintain field moisture. At the same time, an appropriate amount of fertilizer is also needed to promote root growth.
3. Field management
About half a month after cutting, the plants can survive, so we need to check the survival of the seedlings in the field and replant missing seedlings in time. About one week after the plants survive after planting, we need to apply an appropriate amount of farmyard manure, ternary compound fertilizer, etc., and water the soil thoroughly to keep the soil moist. At the same time, drainage should be carried out in time during the rainy season. The water in the field should not be too much, especially standing water, which will cause the roots of the plants to rot and die. In the first year after planting, night-blooming cereus does not bloom much, and the flowers and fruits are also relatively small, so no additional fertilization is needed. However, starting from the second year, it needs to be fertilized at least four to five times each year, mainly with ternary compound fertilizer, by broadcasting. After broadcasting, soil should be used to cover it to prevent loss of fertility.
4. Trellising and pruning
When night-blooming cereus grows to about 1 m, in order to avoid falling and breaking and the main stem being unable to bear too much weight, it is necessary to build supports in time to support the growth of night-blooming cereus branches. This can also avoid damage from pests and diseases. In addition, branches and leaves should be pruned reasonably. When the seedlings grow to about 1 m, remove the terminal buds to promote the growth of side branches. Next, cut off old branches, diseased branches, and weak branches to promote concentrated nutrient supply for the growth of terminal buds and improve the yield and quality of night-blooming cereus.
The above are the cultivation methods for night-blooming cereus. In fact, this is only one of the simpler methods in night-blooming cereus cultivation techniques. There are also some more detailed cultivation techniques, which the editor will continue to update in later content. If you are interested, you can continue to follow us.