A Detailed Guide to the Latest Cultivation Methods for Wuzhimaotao (Ficus hirta)
Wuzhimaotao (Ficus hirta) is a plant in the Moraceae family. Although its name contains the character for "peach," it does not belong to the peach genus. Because its leaves look very much like the five fingers of a human hand and its fruit resembles a wild peach, it is called Wuzhimaotao. Wuzhimaotao has properties such as relaxing muscles and stimulating circulation, promoting qi flow and draining dampness, and can be used to treat poor appetite, pulmonary tuberculosis cough, and other conditions. It is a plant with relatively high medicinal value, so how should we cultivate Wuzhimaotao? Let us take a look at the cultivation methods for Wuzhimaotao below!
1. Site Selection and Land Preparation
To cultivate Wuzhimaotao, choose deep, loose, well-drained soil with strong permeability, and the slope of the planting site should not exceed 25 degrees. After selecting the site, till the land finely and harrow it, then make beds, and plow the soil for weathering. The plowing depth must not be less than 25 cm. Pay attention to the soil pH; if it is too acidic or too alkaline, neutralize it promptly or replace the soil. When preparing the land, apply sufficient base fertilizer. The base fertilizer should mainly be fully decomposed farmyard manure to promote seed germination of Wuzhimaotao and enhance its growth. Mix the base fertilizer thoroughly with the soil before planting.
2. Seedling Raising and Transplanting
After land preparation, sow at the appropriate time, then strengthen water and fertilizer management to promote seed germination and seedling emergence. After emergence, transplant appropriately in mid-February each year, or alternatively in early autumn. When transplanting, choose a time after rain or water the soil thoroughly, control the planting density well, and dig the planting holes properly, planting one seedling per hole. After planting, press and firm the soil, water thoroughly to settle the roots, and water appropriately according to soil moisture and weather changes. During the seedling stage, ensure healthy seedling growth, improve the survival rate of seedlings, and enhance their growth.
3. Post-Planting Management
After planting, pay attention to watering to prevent the soil from becoming too dry, and keep the soil moist. It is best to water once a day for 7 days after transplanting. You can use straw and other mulch to cover the soil, slow down water evaporation, suppress weed growth, and prevent impact on Wuzhimaotao growth. During the seedling stage, observe the growth of each seedling every day, and if there are dead seedlings, replant healthy seedlings promptly. Then apply a green-up fertilizer after about half a month, mainly nitrogen fertilizer, and apply it again after about three weeks, along with an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer, to provide sufficient nutrients for Wuzhimaotao growth.
4. Field Management
In the early stage after transplanting Wuzhimaotao, the threat from weeds is relatively great. They not only consume excessive nutrients and delay the growth cycle of Wuzhimaotao, but also compete for water and affect soil warming. Therefore, intertillage and weeding are the primary management tasks in the cultivation process. Carry out intertillage regularly; intertillage can effectively remove weeds, but pay attention to the depth to avoid damaging the roots. Chemical weeding methods can also be used, but pay attention to the use of herbicides. Then, according to plant growth, do the work of pinching and topping properly to promote branching growth, and prune appropriately to prevent leggy branches.
The above is a brief introduction to the cultivation methods for Wuzhimaotao. In management, we should also do the work of shaping and trunk determination well. Promote the growth of Wuzhimaotao, improve permeability, ensure ventilation and light penetration, reduce the incidence of pests and diseases, and create a good environment for the growth of Wuzhimaotao. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting.