The Latest Three-Leaf Rattan Vine Planting Techniques and Methods Tutorial
Three-leaf rattan vine (Tetrastigma hemsleyanum) is a herbaceous climbing plant in the grape family, genus Tetrastigma, also known as three-leaf cliff-climbing vine, snake aconite, stone mouse, and so on. The whole plant can be used as medicine. It grows on mountain slopes in thickets, in valleys, and in rock crevices under forest along streams. The underground tuberous roots and fruits have the best medicinal effects. Due to different places of origin, its shape and medicinal properties may vary slightly. Now let us take a look together at the planting techniques for three-leaf rattan vine!
Growth Habits
Three-leaf rattan vine prefers a cool climate. It grows robustly at an optimal temperature of around 25°C, and growth stalls when the winter temperature drops to 10°C. It is drought-tolerant and dislikes waterlogging. It is not demanding about soil, but is best planted in loam rich in humus or containing lime. It has strong shade tolerance, resistance to disease, few pests, is very cold-hardy, and highly adaptable. In a shady, damp outdoor environment it can be planted as ground cover, with a very high survival rate and coverage rate, and it grows quickly.
Propagation Techniques
Three-leaf rattan vine is usually propagated by cuttings, carried out in spring and summer, with spring being better. Select robust branches and cut them into 12-15 cm cuttings, insert them obliquely into the seedbed to a depth of 2/3 of the branch length, press firmly after inserting, and water to keep moist. About 30-40 days after insertion, when roots have grown and leaves appear, they can be transplanted. Open holes at a row and plant spacing of 100×100 cm, plant 2-3 plants per hole, press firmly, and water thoroughly to settle the roots. In addition, it can also be propagated by seed.
Field Management
When the vines of three-leaf rattan vine grow to 35-40 cm, set up trellises to guide the vines to climb. Cultivate and weed 3-4 times each year. In spring and summer, mainly apply diluted human waste or chemical fertilizer; in autumn and winter, open ring-shaped trenches and apply compost or barnyard manure, and earth up the soil. In winter, appropriately prune away overly dense weak branches and dead branches. For pest and disease control of three-leaf rattan vine, the main problem is leaf spot disease damaging the leaves, which can be controlled with 65% zineb at 55-600 times dilution or 1:1:150 Bordeaux mixture.
Timely Harvesting
The medicinal value of three-leaf rattan vine does not depend on its size, similar to other precious Chinese medicinal materials, but on its years of growth and the selection of an appropriate harvesting time. Each year, from the Winter Solstice to Awakening of Insects, select three-leaf rattan vine that has grown for more than three years for harvesting. This harvesting method yields good quality (during the dormant period) and high grade. The tuberous roots of three-leaf rattan vine harvested at this time have a starch content above 70%, and the medicinal effect is the best.