What is the latest price of star anise saplings? Detailed guide to planting methods

Star anise is also known as star anise, large fennel, mai jiao, etc. It is the fruit of the star anise tree (Illicium verum), an arbor plant of the genus Illicium in the family Schisandraceae. The fruit can be used directly in everyday seasoning and can also be directly processed into five-spice seasoning powder. Its fruit peel, seeds, and leaves are important raw materials for making cosmetics, sweet liqueurs, beer, and the food industry. Now let us take a look at the price of star anise saplings and the planting methods!

How much does one star anise sapling cost?

The price of star anise saplings is generally about 2 to 10 yuan each, and its price is mainly determined by factors such as the sapling variety, height, and trunk diameter. Usually, the larger the sapling, the more expensive the price. The star anise tree is a southern subtropical tree species and prefers a mountainous climate with warm winters and cool summers. It is suitable for planting in deep soil layers, well-drained, fertile and moist, slightly acidic sandy loam or loam, where it grows well. It grows poorly in dry, barren, or low-lying waterlogged areas. In China, it is cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, China, and other places.

Cultivation conditions for the star anise tree

1. Temperature: The suitable growth temperature for the star anise tree is 20 to 30°C. The average temperature on the coldest day should be above 10 degrees, the average temperature in the hottest period should be 25 to 28 degrees, the annual accumulated temperature should be above 6000 degrees, and the frost-free period should be more than 315 days. A short period of light frost has no major effect on plant growth.

2. Humidity: The star anise tree likes to grow in humid mountainous climate conditions. It requires annual rainfall of 1200 to 2000 mm, evenly distributed, and relative air humidity above 80%.

3. Light: Star anise seedlings like to grow in shaded environmental conditions. As the plant grows, its demand for sunlight gradually increases. Trees that have entered the flowering and fruiting stage need sufficient sunlight, but they also avoid direct exposure to strong sunlight.

4. Wind: Because the star anise tree has soft wood, fragile branches, a main root that does not grow deep, and lateral roots mostly distributed within 50 cm of the surface soil layer, its wind resistance is not strong, and it is easily blown down by strong winds. Moreover, strong winds are very unfavorable for the flowering and fruiting of star anise.

5. Soil: The star anise tree is not strict about soil requirements, but the content of nutrients in the soil directly affects the yield and quality of star anise. It is suitable for growing in loose-textured, relatively deep, humus-rich, fertile and moist laterite soil.

Planting methods for the star anise tree

1. Forest land preparation: For afforestation with star anise trees, choose plots on the north slope of hilly mountainous land with undulating terrain and good wind shelter, with relatively deep, fertile, and loose soil layers and convenient irrigation and drainage. Because it is a shallow-rooted tree species with rather brittle branches, it should not be planted in places exposed to strong winds.

2. Timely planting: The best time for afforestation with star anise trees is around Great Cold. It is best to lift the seedlings and plant them on the same day. If they cannot be planted immediately, dip the roots in yellow mud slurry and then transport them to the afforestation site for planting. To increase the survival rate, it is best to choose overcast and rainy days for afforestation.

3. Scientific fertilization: The best time to fertilize star anise trees is February and June each year. Spring fertilizer can promote shoot growth, and summer fertilizer can promote vigorous growth of star anise. Fertilization is mainly nitrogen fertilizer, and for young forests over three years old, compound fertilizer can also be applied.

4. Timely weeding: Star anise trees should be cultivated and weeded at least 1 to 2 times each year, which can be done in January to February and May to June respectively. For light weed infestations, manual methods can be used, while for forest land with a large affected area, glyphosate can be used directly for chemical weeding.

5. Young forest management

① Pruning and shaping: Pruning and shaping of star anise trees is generally carried out when the young forest is 1.5 to 2.0 m tall to promote branching. It is enough to keep 2 to 3 branches per plant. Remove water sprouts, crossing branches, dead branches, overly dense branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, and weak slender branches.

② Shading and moisture retention: In young star anise forests, most exposed open areas should be covered. Natural plants such as weeds, shrubs, and miscellaneous tree forests can be used as shade trees to achieve balanced temperature, maintain moisture, prevent sunscald, and reduce soil erosion.

6. Mature forest management

① Pruning and shaping: Cut few or no sparse branches. Appropriately heavily prune branches that bear little fruit, are overly dense, or are inner canopy branches in the lower part of the crown. Lightly prune outer branches or branches in the middle and upper part of the crown. Heavily prune branches with many dry parts and diseased or pest-infested branches with abnormal growth and development.

② Reclamation of mature forests: Reclamation can change the soil structure where star anise is planted to replenish soil moisture and promote normal flower bud differentiation and the growth and development of young fruit. Reclamation is generally carried out once every 3 to 4 years.

7. Disease and pest control

① Anthracnose: For star anise anthracnose, completely remove infected branches and leaves and burn them in a centralized manner. In the early stage of the disease, spray 0.5% Bordeaux mixture for control. To improve the tree's own disease resistance, apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer or farmyard manure.

② Leaf beetle: For star anise leaf beetle, spray with 80% trichlorfon or 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate mixed with water.

③ Dropworm: For star anise dropworm, spray with leafhopper powder emulsifiable concentrate or 203 emulsifiable concentrate mixed with water. After spraying, once the insects are startled and drop down on silk threads, spray the insects on the ground once more.