Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial for Homalomena occulta
Homalomena occulta is a plant of the Araceae family. Its rhizome can be used as medicine and is a common Chinese medicinal herb with the effects of dispelling wind-dampness and strengthening bones and muscles, often used for wind-cold-dampness arthralgia and cold pain in the waist and knees. It is mainly distributed in the Yunnan-Guizhou region, mostly wild, and some is currently cultivated at home. So how should it be cultivated? Let's find out together.
1. Site Selection and Land Preparation
It generally grows in tropical and subtropical broad-leaved forests or in uphill valleys under forests, so both the seedling nursery and the planting site should be chosen in an under-forest environment. It is best to plant it in sandy loam soil with deep soil layers, loose and fertile soil, and rich in humus. For under-forest cultivation, the terrain slope should not exceed 30 degrees. It is taboo to plant it in dry, low-lying, heavy clay, or barren soil. Before planting, the soil should first be plowed to remove weeds and stones. The seedling nursery should be made into high beds or flat beds, while the planting site needs basal fertilizer applied, and after raking fine and leveling, drainage ditches should be opened.
2. Propagation Methods
It can be propagated by two methods: cuttings and layering. For cuttings, generally in March to May, select healthy, disease-free rhizomes from the mother plant as cuttings, cut them into about 15 cm pieces with 3-4 nodes. Then open furrows in the seedling nursery at a row spacing of 20 cm, insert them obliquely at a plant spacing of 10-10 cm, then cover with soil and press firm. The cutting depth should preferably be 8-10 cm. After watering, cover with a layer of rice straw to retain moisture and promote rooting. For layering, generally select robust creeping rhizomes growing in place, cover a small mound of soil on the rhizome every 15 cm, and when new seedlings grow, separate them from the mother plant and transplant them.
3. Transplanting
Transplanting is generally carried out in spring or autumn. Spring is generally in April to May, while autumn is generally in August to September. It is best to do it during the rainy season, as this helps improve the survival rate. On the bed surface of the planting site with sufficient basal fertilizer applied, open holes at a plant-row spacing of 30×35 cm, with a hole depth of about 5 cm. Transplant one plant per hole, then cover with soil, tread firm, and water with root-setting water.
4. Field Management
During growth, Homalomena occulta needs an environment with very high shade density, with a suitable shade density of 70%-90%. Its growth cannot do without sunlight, but it fears strong light exposure, so attention should be paid during cultivation to create an environment that meets its growth needs as much as possible. After transplanting, check the seedlings promptly. If missing seedlings are found, replant them promptly to ensure a full stand. After transplanting and survival, cultivate and weed promptly to promote plant growth. Fertilization should be carried out together with cultivation and weeding. Apply 1000 kg of thin manure water per mu. Topdressing should also be applied once in spring and summer. In winter, apply 5000 kg per mu of mixed fertilizer such as barnyard manure and plant ash to help the plants overwinter.
The above is an introduction to the cultivation techniques of Homalomena occulta. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.