How to Grow Acorus calamus (Sweet Flag)? The Latest Care Methods and Points to Note

Acorus calamus is a perennial herb, generally growing in marshes, streams or beside field ridges. We are all familiar with it. Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, it is often tied together with mugwort and hung under the eaves, serving to ward off disease and evil. Nowadays it is a deep-water plant used for landscaping in gardens, with high ornamental value. Below, let us take a look at its care methods and points to note.

1. Planting soil

Acorus calamus likes loose, breathable sandy soil, so when planting, choose a plot with suitable soil, or you can mix vermiculite, river sand and soil yourself in a 1:1:1 ratio. When mixing, an appropriate amount of fertilizer can be used as a base fertilizer to increase the soil's fertility, so that it can supply enough nutrients and promote the growth and development of Acorus calamus.

2. Fertilizing

Acorus calamus has strong adaptability and can be grown with rough care. It grows extremely fast in an environment with sufficient fertility and rather likes nitrogen fertilizer. When fertilizing, to avoid the fertilizer being too concentrated and burning the roots, it is recommended to apply fertilizer water. Generally, after applying the base fertilizer, 2-3 additional topdressings are still needed later. When fertilizing, pay attention to weeding. In the early stage, mainly nitrogen fertilizer is used, while during the flowering period, mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer is used. In this way, the disease resistance of Acorus calamus can be improved, allowing it to bloom smoothly. Each time you fertilize, keep a certain distance from the root system to avoid burning the roots.

3. Water

Acorus calamus is an aquatic plant and likes a moist environment. It is not tolerant of drought, so the soil must often be kept moist to prevent the plant from wilting due to lack of water. Generally, a certain water level should be maintained to keep the growing environment humid. If the temperature is too high and evaporation is great, you can spray water mist on the leaves to supplement moisture, so as to avoid excessive watering causing the leaves to turn yellow and wither.

4. Light

Acorus calamus prefers a cool, shady environment and should not be exposed to strong direct sunlight for a long time, otherwise it will lose water and wither. When planting, special attention should be paid in summer: it must not be directly exposed to the sun and should be properly shaded. You can use a shade net or move it indoors to an area with scattered light. When the light is not strong, no shading is needed. On the contrary, keeping it in an environment with suitable light can also speed up its growth.

The above are the care methods and points to note for Acorus calamus. We hope they can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.