Cultivation Techniques and Management Methods for Clematis armandii
Site Selection and Land Preparation
The seedling nursery should be chosen in a warm, moist and fertile location, with deep plowing and land preparation. Apply 3000 kg of compost or barnyard manure per mu, make beds 1.3-1.5 m wide, and after leveling the bed surface, splash on 1500 kg of light human and livestock manure water, then wait for sowing. For the planting site, generally choose mountain land with deep soil, fertile and loose texture, good drainage, and partial shade. To benefit the growth of Clematis armandii and save land, it is best to cultivate along high earthen embankments or forest edges. After selecting and preparing the site, dig holes at a spacing of 1-1.2 m between plants and rows, making the holes large with a flat bottom, and mix evenly with base fertilizer before planting.
Propagation Methods
Clematis armandiiIn production, seed seedling propagation and stem-vine cutting propagation are mainly used.
(1) Seed seedling propagation: Sow from the Spring Equinox to Qingming. Evenly scatter the seeds on the bed surface, cover thinly with a layer of fine soil or plant ash. After seedlings emerge, carry out shallow loosening of the soil, weeding, thinning of seedlings, fertilization, and pest and disease management. When the vines reach more than 50 cm in length, they can be transplanted and established.
(2) Stem-vine cutting propagation: After "Yushui" (Rain Water), cut 2-3 year old stems and vines of Clematis armandii, cut them into sections about 30 cm long. Each section must have bud scales. On the prepared seedling bed, open furrows at a row spacing of 45-50 cm, 7-10 cm deep, place the sections flat against the furrow walls in 2 rows, with the cut ends meeting and the bud scales staggered. Splash on human and livestock manure water, cover with soil to level the bed (furrow), and follow the conventional management described above. In late autumn and early winter or the following spring, the seedlings can be dug up and transplanted for establishment. For cutting propagation, it is also possible to plant the Clematis armandii sections directly in the field according to the field cultivation specifications.
(3) Transplanting: In late autumn and early winter or around "Yushui" (Rain Water), transplanting and establishment can be carried out. For seedlings with more tillers, they can be cut into single plants for transplanting according to their growth condition. When planting, the farmyard manure applied in the holes must be mixed evenly. Place 1 plant per hole, cover with soil, firm it down, and water.
Field Management
(1) Intertillage, weeding and topdressing: After transplanting and before the rows close, carry out intertillage and weeding twice a year. The first time is in spring, with sufficient topdressing such as human and livestock manure and urine (an appropriate amount of urea may be added); the second time is in late autumn and early winter, with decomposed compost or barnyard manure applied and soil earthed up for overwintering.
(2) Intercropping and relay cropping: In the seedling stage, the plant clumps are relatively small and the gaps in the field are relatively large. Before the canopy closes, crops such as corn and winter wheat can be intercropped between the rows, and other broadleaf tree species can also be intercropped to grow in association with Clematis armandii.
(3) Pruning and shaping: After the plants have grown for 2-3 years, the clumps enlarge and the branches and leaves become dense. Pruning and shaping should be carried out according to the condition of the clumps, cutting off overly dense, overly weak or diseased branches. Branches that are too dense and meet medicinal requirements may also be cut off for medicinal use, so as to benefit growth.
Pest and Disease Control
Clematis armandii has relatively few pests and diseases. At present, the main pest found is aphids, which mostly occur in spring and damage the young buds in the leaf axils, causing slow growth and even wilting and death. Control methods: Clean the garden in winter, bury or burn fallen dead branches and leaves deeply to reduce overwintering pest sources; during the occurrence period, spray 50% fenitrothion 1000-2000 times dilution, or dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate 1500-2000 times dilution, or 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate 1500 times dilution, once every 7-10 days, for several consecutive applications.
Harvesting
Clematis armandii can be harvested after 3-5 years of planting. Harvesting can be done in spring or autumn, but autumn is better. When harvesting, cut the older stems and vines, and pay attention to managing the remaining parts so that they can be harvested again later.