How to Grow Musella lasiocarpa? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Cultivation Methods
Musella lasiocarpa, also known as the thousand-petal lotus, ground golden lotus, and undefeated golden steel, is a plant of the genus Musella in the family Musaceae. It originates from Yunnan, China, and is a flower native to China. It has been designated by Buddhist temples as one of the “Five Trees and Six Flowers,” and is also a symbol of goodness and the punishment of evil in Dai literature. It has now been introduced and cultivated in the tropical greenhouse of the Beijing Botanical Garden. Let us take a look at how to grow Musella lasiocarpa!
Growth Habits of Musella lasiocarpa
Musella lasiocarpa originates from Yunnan Province, China, and is also distributed in Sichuan Province. It is a flower native to China and is cultivated especially abundantly in Xishuangbanna. In northern regions, it is only suitable for pot cultivation. It prefers ample sunlight and warmth; at low temperatures below 0°C, the aboveground parts will suffer frost damage. It prefers fertile, loose soil. It is easy to transplant and mostly grows on mountain slopes or is planted in courtyards, at elevations of 1500-2500 m.
Cultivation Value of Musella lasiocarpa
1. Landscaping: When Musella lasiocarpa blooms, it looks like a golden lotus surging out of the ground, and the landscape is very magnificent. In courtyards, it is suitable for planting in front of windows, at wall corners, beside rockery stones, or in mass plantings, and it is also suitable for pot cultivation as an ornamental.
2. Medicinal: The flowers of Musella lasiocarpa can be used as medicine and have an astringent and hemostatic effect. They are used to treat leukorrhea, red uterine bleeding, and bloody stool from the large intestine. The stem juice is used to counteract alcohol intoxication and monkshood poisoning.
Cultivation Methods for Musella lasiocarpa
1. Propagation: Musella lasiocarpa is mainly propagated by division. In early spring or autumn, small plants grown from root tillers are cut from the mother plant together with their stolons and planted separately. It can also be propagated by sowing seeds.
2. Watering: In the warm regions of southern China, Musella lasiocarpa is often cultivated in the open ground. After division and planting in spring and autumn, attention must be paid to watering to keep the soil moist. In the dry season, it should be watered appropriately, and in the rainy season, drainage should be timely.
3. Fertilizing: In early spring and late autumn, dig trenches around the plant and apply decomposed organic fertilizer, and bank fertile soil around the base of the pseudostem. During the vigorous growth period, apply appropriate topdressing to promote growth and flowering.
4. Pruning: After flowering, the aboveground pseudostem of Musella lasiocarpa gradually dies. It should be cut down promptly to facilitate regrowth the following year.
5. Temperature: In cold regions, Musella lasiocarpa is best cultivated in a greenhouse, and the overwintering temperature should not be lower than 1°C.
6. Pests: When cultivated indoors in the north, if ventilation is poor, it is susceptible to scale insect damage. It can be controlled by spraying with a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.