What are the cultivation techniques for Ophiopogon japonicus? A comprehensive analysis of the key points

What are the cultivation techniques for Ophiopogon japonicus? Ophiopogon japonicus is native to China, and is also distributed in Japan, Vietnam and India. It is cultivated in southern China and other places. It grows on shady, damp hillsides, under forests or beside streams at altitudes below 2000 m. The small tuberous roots of Ophiopogon japonicus are a traditional Chinese medicine, with effects of promoting fluid production and quenching thirst, and moistening the lungs and relieving cough.

Ophiopogon japonicus is the fruit of the Ophiopogon japonicus plant, a perennial herb of the Liliaceae family that grows in clumps and prefers a warm and humid climate. It is suited to loose, fertile loam and sandy loam with good drainage; soil that is too sandy or too clayey is not suitable for cultivating Ophiopogon japonicus. How much do you know about Ophiopogon japonicus? Today the editor will briefly introduce its cultivation methods.

Growing environment of Ophiopogon japonicus

Before learning the cultivation methods of Ophiopogon japonicus, let us first understand its growth conditions. Ophiopogon japonicus is a perennial evergreen herb. Its rhizome is short and thick, with slender creeping stems and membranous scales. It prefers a slightly moist soil environment and requires a good amount of water. In addition to timely irrigation after planting to soak the field soil and promote the rapid emergence of new shoots in the seedlings, water should also be applied in time in early May when the weather is dry and hot and soil moisture evaporates quickly. If there is a drought in winter and spring, water 1 to 2 times before early February to promote the growth of the root tubers.

Cultivation techniques and methods of Ophiopogon japonicus

Seedlings

Ophiopogon japonicus is propagated by division. In Sichuan around Qingming, and in Zhejiang from Lixia to Mangzhong, when digging up Ophiopogon japonicus, select plants with dark green color and robust growth, cut off the tuberous roots and fibrous roots, divide them into individual plants, trim off the remaining fibrous roots, and cut off part of the stem base (to the extent that a white core appears on the cut surface of the rhizome and the leaves do not spread apart), then plant immediately. If they cannot be planted in time, the seedlings must be "kept": soak the stem bases of the seedlings briefly in clean water so they absorb enough moisture, then stand them upright together and place them on loosened soil already dug in a cool place, covering them with soil around to preserve them. If the temperature is too high, water once a day or every other day. The seedling-keeping period should not exceed 7 days.

Planting

In Sichuan this is done in April, and in Zhejiang in May, on a sunny or cloudy day. Sichuan uses furrow planting in rows, with a row spacing of about 15 cm and a depth of about 5 cm. First apply dilute pig manure water into the furrow, then plant the seedlings at a plant spacing of 6-9 cm, with 3 plants per clump; after planting, cover with soil, press firmly and tamp down so that the seedlings stand upright and stable, achieving level ground and upright seedlings. Zhejiang uses hole planting, with holes 3-5 cm deep, a row spacing of 25 cm and a plant spacing of 15 cm, planting 9-10 seedlings per hole. Cover the base and press firmly.

Fertilizing Ophiopogon japonicus

Ophiopogon japonicus has a long growth period and needs a lot of fertilizer. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, timely topdressing should be carried out according to its growth conditions. Generally, topdressing is done more than 3 times: the first in mid-July, the second in early August, and the third in early November. When topdressing, nitrogen fertilizer should not be excessive, so as to avoid excessive vegetative growth of the aboveground parts. In Zhejiang production areas, in addition to base fertilizer, some superphosphate is applied in the holes at planting and mixed into the soil to increase yield. Spring and autumn are the periods when the tuberous roots expand and the rhizomes elongate and increase, and when tillering is vigorous; at this time, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be applied heavily.

Ophiopogon japonicus has high medicinal value and is often used for dry cough due to lung dryness, consumptive cough due to yin deficiency, throat impediment and sore throat, thirst due to fluid damage, internal heat and wasting thirst, restlessness and insomnia, and constipation due to intestinal dryness. The flowers of Ophiopogon japonicus are also very beautiful. If you like it, you can try growing a small amount at home.

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