How to Grow Lysimachia christinae? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Methods
Lysimachia christinae is a plant in the family Primulaceae, a common Chinese medicinal herb. Note that Lysimachia christinae should not be confused with Dichondra repens or Glechoma longituba. It can help prevent kidney stones and promote bile flow and stone expulsion, and has very good therapeutic and preventive effects on stones. It is distributed in all provinces south of the Yangtze River in China as well as in Taiwan, China, and has relatively high cultivation value. Let us take a look below at how to grow Lysimachia christinae!
Growing Environment for Lysimachia christinae
Lysimachia christinae is distributed in all provinces south of the Yangtze River in China as well as in Taiwan, China, and is widely found in tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. It has strong adaptability to the pH of water bodies, but it is best to keep it between 6.5 and 7.5. It likes warmth, avoids high temperatures, and tolerates low temperatures. It grows well within a temperature range of 16 to 24 degrees C, and the overwintering temperature should not be lower than 5 degrees C. When the room temperature exceeds 30 degrees C, plant growth will be inhibited. It likes moisture and is more commonly seen where there is flowing water.
Propagation Methods for Lysimachia christinae
1. Seed propagation: Because Lysimachia christinae seeds have hard seed coats, the usual hard seed rate is 40 to 90%. Before sowing, the seeds need to be sand-scarified for 3 to 5 minutes or soaked in hot water at 80 to 90 degrees C for 2 to 3 minutes, which can significantly increase the germination rate. First raise seedlings, then transplant. However, because Lysimachia christinae seeds are very small, not easy to collect, and the seedlings grow slowly, cuttings are mostly used for propagation.
2. Cutting propagation: Lysimachia christinae can be propagated by cuttings throughout the year, with a relatively high survival rate for cuttings in spring and autumn. When taking cuttings, cut off the creeping stems, and cut every 3 to 4 nodes into a section as a cutting. In the south, in May to June, and in the north, in July to August, when the plants grow luxuriantly, cut off the creeping stems and cut every 3 to 4 nodes into a section as a cutting. On a prepared bed, open shallow holes at a row and plant spacing of about 20 cm each, insert 2 cuttings per hole, bury 2 to 3 nodes in the soil, leave 1 to 2 nodes above the ground, press firmly with soil, then cover with a layer of heavy soil mixed with human and livestock manure and urine, about 1.5 cm thick. After cutting, if there is drought and no rain, water to keep the seedlings alive so as to promote survival.
How to Grow Lysimachia christinae?
1. Site selection: Lysimachia christinae is best planted in fertile sandy loam and cool, moist plots. It can also be scattered-cultivated in spare shaded and wet areas such as corners beside houses and beside pond dams and ditches. Before land preparation, apply sufficient base fertilizer, with 2500 to 3000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu. After plowing, rake the soil fine, open beds at 1.2 m, with a bed surface width of 90 cm, a ditch width of 30 cm, and a ditch depth of 20 cm.
2. Land preparation and planting: On the prepared ground, open high beds 1.3 m wide, and open shallow holes at a row and hole spacing of 16 to 20 cm each. Insert two cuttings per hole, bury 2 to 3 nodes in the soil, just like planting sweet potato, press firmly with soil, apply a handful of dry fertilizer, water thoroughly, and they will take root and survive within a few days.
3. Watering to keep seedlings alive: After cutting Lysimachia christinae, be sure to water to keep the seedlings alive and maintain moisture. When new leaves begin to emerge, apply light human and livestock manure water. When the vines grow to 13 to 15 cm, apply topdressing once more. After the autumn harvest, also apply topdressing once. Thereafter, repeat the same operation every year, mainly applying human and livestock manure water; you can also apply topdressing with urea diluted at 1:100. Frequent light applications are best. Before each fertilization, carry out one intertillage and weeding to promote vigorous perennial roots the following year.
4. Field management: When new leaves emerge, apply light human and livestock manure water once. If there are missing plants, promptly cut longer cuttings to fill the gaps. When the vines are about 20 cm long, carry out one intertillage and weeding, one hilling, and one topdressing. Apply about 15000 kg of light human and livestock manure and urine per hectare each time. After the autumn harvest, also carry out one intertillage and weeding and one topdressing. Thereafter, every year in March to April and after each harvest, carry out one intertillage and weeding and one application of human and livestock manure and urine.
5. Harvesting and processing: Lysimachia christinae can be harvested in September to October of the planting year, and thereafter can be harvested twice a year, the first time in June and the second time in September. At harvest, it generally grows to more than 40 to 50 cm. Cut it with a sickle, and leave 7 to 10 cm of stubble per clump to promote sprouting the next time or the following year. Tie every 20 to 30 plants around the head with a longer Lysimachia christinae vine, then sun-dry to obtain the medicinal material Lysimachia christinae. Commercial requirements are no impurities, no mud or sand, and no mold for it to be qualified, and those with large leaves, green color, and few fibrous roots are best.