How to Grow Rohdea japonica? Cultivation Methods and Precautions
Rohdea japonica, also known as Kaihoujian, Jiujielian, Dongbudiao, etc., is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Rohdea in the family Ruscaceae, native to southern China and Japan, with a long history of cultivation in China. Its Chinese name "Yun" means “a herb that loves warmth”. It can be grown as an indoor potted plant with great ornamental value. Below, let us take a look at the cultivation methods and precautions for Rohdea japonica!
Growth Habits of Rohdea japonica
Rohdea japonica is widely distributed in China, found in East China, Central China and Southwest China, with main producing areas including Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei and other places. It prefers to grow in damp places under forests or in grasslands. It likes semi-shade, warmth, humidity and a well-ventilated environment. It is not drought-tolerant, slightly cold-tolerant, and avoids direct sunlight and waterlogging. It can be cultivated in general garden soil, but the best is slightly acidic sandy loam rich in humus, loose and well-drained.
Propagation Methods of Rohdea japonica
1. Division method: Rohdea japonica has strong sprouting ability from its underground stems. In spring and autumn, use a sharp knife to cut off new sprouts at the rhizome together with some lateral roots, coat the wound with plant ash, plant in a pot, water lightly, place in a shaded area, and after 1-2 days water thoroughly. Alternatively, take the entire plant out of the pot, divide it into several parts with a sharp tool depending on the size of the plant, let the wounds dry for a day or coat them with plant ash, and pot them as described above.
2. Sowing method: Sowing is generally carried out from March to April. Sow in a flower pot filled with culture soil, water, and temporarily place in a shaded area, keeping it moist. Under conditions of 25-30°C, germination occurs in about 25 days.
⟦NL>3. Cutting method: Rohdea japonica can also be propagated by cuttings. In spring from April to May, cut off small plants growing from the base of the plant, let the wounds dry slightly, or dip the wounds in plant ash, then insert into plain sand. Pay attention to shading and moisture retention; roots will form in about 1 month and can then be potted.
Cultivation Methods of Rohdea japonica
1. Pot soil: For potted Rohdea japonica, use 2 parts leaf mold, 1 part garden soil, 1 part river sand plus a small amount of decomposed base fertilizer as culture soil. During the growing season, to keep the pot soil moist, water more frequently, preferring moist over dry, and also spray water on the leaves. In autumn, control watering, alternating between dry and moist. In winter, keep the pot soil dry. During the growing period, fertilize generally once a month. Usually prevent direct sunlight and provide shade. Repot once every spring. The overwintering temperature in winter must not be lower than 10°C.
2. Light: Rohdea japonica likes a semi-shaded environment and fears direct sun in summer. In greenhouse cultivation, shade more than 60% in spring, summer and autumn, and 40% in winter. Too strong light can cause sunburn, while too weak light makes it difficult to bloom and bear fruit.
3. Temperature: The suitable growth temperature for Rohdea japonica is 15-18°C. In winter, it goes dormant and should be moved into a greenhouse, placed in a sunny spot, with the temperature kept above 10°C, and the minimum temperature must not be lower than 5°C. In the Yangtze River basin, it can overwinter outdoors; although the leaves may suffer frost damage, new leaves can still sprout again the following year.
4. Fertilizer and water: During the growing season, apply liquid fertilizer once every 10-15 days. In summer, strengthen ventilation, prevent heatstroke and lower the temperature, and supply sufficient water, keeping the pot soil moist and the surrounding air humid. In summer, water 1-2 times a day. In winter, reduce watering and stop fertilizing.
5. Shaping: To maintain a good shape of the plant and improve its ornamental value, as the plant grows, promptly prune yellow leaves, damaged leaves and some old leaves at the lower part of the plant. When grown in home pots, you can wipe the leaves with a soft cloth dipped in beer, which not only removes dust but also adds nutrients to the leaves, making them shiny green and clean.
Precautions for Growing Rohdea japonica
1. Rohdea japonica is a fleshy-rooted plant, and waterlogging can easily cause damage, and too much watering can easily cause root rot.
2. If in winter Rohdea japonica shows yellow and scorched leaf tips, or even the whole plant withers, it is mainly caused by the roots being unable to absorb water, affecting growth.
3. When growing Rohdea japonica indoors, maintain a warm, humid and semi-shaded environment. In summer, when growth is vigorous, place it in a shaded area to avoid strong light, otherwise the leaf tips may dry and the leaf edges may scorch, affecting the ornamental effect.