How to grow snow lotus? A full analysis of cultivation key points

Snow lotus, known in Tibetan as Qiaguo Suba, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family. It is not only a rare and seldom-seen exotic flower, but also a world-famous rare Tibetan medicine. Artificial cultivation of snow lotus has good market prospects and considerable profits. The artificial snow lotus planting and seedling-raising experience from the snow lotus base of the Muskrat Farm in Da'an City, Jilin Province is now introduced to all friends.

I. Growth habits: Snow lotus grows on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and is suited to various complex climatic environments; the plant does not wither at temperatures of 1°C to 39°C, grows vigorously at 15°C to 25°C, and the roots can safely overwinter at -32°C.

II. Seed selection: Choose plump, brown-black, large and glossy seeds as seeds. Before sowing, soak them in a 1:1500 solution of strong rooting powder for 1 minute, then sow.

III. Preparation of nutrient soil: Nutrient soil is generally prepared by mixing humus soil, fine-medium sand, and decomposed organic fertilizer in a ratio of 6:2:2. After disinfection, sieve out impurities and hard clumps from the soil. The pH value of the nutrient soil is best at 5.5-7.5.

IV. Sowing: The soil temperature for snow lotus seed germination must be controlled between 20°C and 26°C, which is favorable for emergence. The saturated soil moisture content should be about 60%. Place the seeds flat in the holes, and cover with soil to a thickness equal to the length of the seed or 0.8 cm to 1 cm, preferably. Seedlings generally emerge in about 8 days.

V. During the seedling-raising process, pay attention to 5 preventions:

1. Prevent upside-down sowing of seeds: Snow lotus seeds are cone-shaped. If sown with the pointed end down, seedlings emerge easily, but the seedlings are not strong; if sown with the pointed end up, emergence is difficult. They must be sown flat.

2. Prevent seed rot: In early spring the weather is cold, the soil temperature is low, and humidity is high. If no seedlings emerge after 10 days, it indicates the seeds have turned black and rotted. Therefore, when planting, be sure to pay attention to the key issues of soil temperature and humidity.

3. Prevent seedlings from emerging with caps: Seedlings emerging with caps directly affects plant development, causing the seed coat shell to be carried out when the cotyledons emerge. The cause is soil that is too loose and covering soil that is too dry.

4. Prevent watering with hard water: During seedling raising, it is best to water before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m. with snow water, rainwater, river water, or lake water. If tap water is used, it must first be stored in a bucket for a full day and night so that the chlorine in the water volatilizes, and the water temperature is also close to the soil temperature before watering.

5. Prevent damping-off and seedling blight: During seedling raising, because of low temperatures and high humidity, snow lotus seedlings are most prone to damping-off and seedling blight during the period when they have 2 to 3 leaves at around 25 days. Preventive measures: the nutrient soil must be fully sterilized before sowing; apply decomposed fertilizer; control soil moisture; remove diseased plants immediately upon discovery, and spray the fungicide “Cu Dao Li Ku Jue” for control.

VI. Seedling transplanting: When the seedlings grow to 5 cm to 6 cm, they can be transplanted into flower pots and fields. It is best to choose an overcast day or after rain, which helps the seedlings survive.