How to grow Asparagus myriocladus well? Practical care tips shared
Asparagus myriocladus is also known as hydrangea pine, water pine, pine-leaf asparagus fern, pine-leaf Asparagus, pine-bamboo grass and so on, and is especially suited to potted display. Below we look at the cultivation techniques and care tips for Asparagus myriocladus bonsai.
I. Growing environment
1. Before introducing how to grow Asparagus myriocladus, we first need to understand what kind of environment it likes to grow in. Asparagus myriocladus prefers a warm, humid and shaded environment.
2. Asparagus myriocladus prefers a warm, humid and semi-shaded environment. It is not cold-tolerant, fears strong light and long periods of scorching sun and high temperatures, and is not tolerant of drought or waterlogging.
3. When the winter temperature falls below 5°C, it is easily frost-damaged; excessively high summer temperatures will stop the growth of Asparagus myriocladus and turn the phylloclades yellow. Loose, fertile leaf mould is best.
II. Cultivation methods
1. Asparagus myriocladus is generally propagated by division, and can also be grown from seed, but seedling growth is slow.
2. During the growing season it should be watered thoroughly; after autumn, as temperatures drop, watering should be gradually reduced.
3. To make the branches and leaves luxuriant, more nitrogen and potassium fertiliser can be applied, with a top dressing about every 15 days.
4. During the spring and summer growing period it needs plenty of water, but the potting soil must not become waterlogged, otherwise root rot and leaf drop easily occur.
5. If the potting soil is too dry, the leaves turn yellow, causing the leaf margins to wither and yellow or the leaves to wilt and drop.
III. Plant management
1. The cultivation and management of Asparagus myriocladus is relatively simple. During the spring and summer growing period, fertilise once every half month, mainly with nitrogen and potassium, and at ordinary times take care that the potting soil does not become waterlogged.
2. When growing Asparagus myriocladus, fertilise once a month, applying more nitrogen and potassium fertiliser; for all four seasons use a high-potassium nitrate fertiliser.
3. In the heat of midsummer, strong light or insufficient light can also cause the leaves to turn yellow, wilt and drop; after autumn, as temperatures drop, gradually reduce watering.
4. After 2-3 years in a pot, repot in spring. Cut out crowded stems and long branches to improve ventilation and light penetration. During the growing period, remove dead branches and yellow leaves at any time to keep the plant shape symmetrical and attractive.
IV. Pest and disease control
1. Asparagus myriocladus is mainly affected by leaf blight, which can be sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder.
2. Pests include whitefly and scale insects, which can be killed by spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsion.
3. Asparagus myriocladus prefers a warm, humid and semi-shaded environment, is relatively drought-tolerant and has fairly strong cold tolerance. It is not demanding about soil, preferring a sandy loam with good aeration and drainage and rich in humus.
V. Winter and summer management
1. Excessively high summer temperatures may stop the growth of Asparagus myriocladus and turn the leaf clusters yellow. It should be shaded appropriately to prevent scorching sunlight, and sprayed with water frequently to keep the clump green and attractive.
2. Asparagus myriocladus likes a warm, humid environment and fears strong light and low temperatures. In summer take care to shade it, and in winter it needs plenty of sunlight. Loose, fertile leaf mould is best for the soil. Its cold resistance is fairly strong, and it can overwinter safely as long as the winter temperature does not fall below 5°C.
Asparagus myriocladus has few pests and diseases. It only begins to grow above 15°C, grows best at 20-30°C, and stops growing when the high temperature exceeds 35°C. Therefore, when growing Asparagus myriocladus, you must control the temperature well.
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Asparagus myriocladus Asparagus myrioeladus Illustrated guide to Asparagus myriocladus: how to grow Asparagus myriocladus / how to propagate Asparagus myriocladus
Asparagus myriocladus profileAsparagus myriocladus Asparagus myrioeladus
How to grow and points to note for Asparagus myriocladus An introduction to Asparagus myriocladus
Asparagus myriocladus is also known as hydrangea pine, water pine, pine-leaf asparagus fern, pine-leaf Asparagus and so on. It is a perennial shrubby herb of the genus Asparagus in the family Asparagaceae. The plant is about 1.5 m tall, with stems erect or slightly spreading, woody and shrub-like. It has white, thick, fleshy roots.
The branchlets of Asparagus myriocladus are slender, and the leaves are short pine-needle-shaped, clustered into balls, very much like the needles of five-needle pine. New leaves are emerald green, old leaves dark green. Flowers are white, berries black. It has small tuberous roots and countless clustered stems, much branched, greyish white, woody at the base, with leaf-like or spine-like foliage. New leaves are bright green, old leaves have a white powdery appearance.
The phylloclades of Asparagus myriocladus are flat and linear, clustered, spherical, borne on woody branches, and dark green. The flowers are pale red to white, fragrant, with a flowering period from July to August.
Morphological characteristics of Asparagus myriocladus
Asparagus myriocladus is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant. The plant is erect, 30-60 cm tall, with small tuberous roots, much branched and with clustered stems. The leaves are scale-like or spine-like, and new leaves are bright green. The flowers are pale red, with a flowering period from July to August.
Asparagus myriocladus is about 1.5 m tall, with stems erect or slightly spreading, woody and shrub-like. It has white, thick, fleshy roots. The branchlets are slender, and the leaves are short pine-needle-shaped, clustered into balls, very much like the needles of five-needle pine. New leaves are emerald green, old leaves dark green. Flowers are white, berries black. It has small tuberous roots and countless clustered stems, much branched, greyish white, woody at the base, with leaf-like or spine-like foliage. New leaves are bright green, old leaves have a white powdery appearance. The phylloclades are flat and linear, clustered, spherical, borne on woody branches, and dark green. The flowers of Asparagus myriocladus are pale red to white, fragrant, with a flowering period from July to August.
Ecological habits of Asparagus myriocladus
Asparagus myriocladus prefers a warm, humid and shaded environment. The optimum growing temperature is 20-30°C, and the overwintering temperature must be above 3°C.
Asparagus myriocladus prefers a warm, humid and semi-shaded environment. It is not cold-tolerant, fears strong light and long periods of scorching sun and high temperatures, and is not tolerant of drought or waterlogging. The optimum growing temperature is 20-25°C; the winter temperature should not fall below 10°C, and below 5°C it is easily frost-damaged; when the summer high temperature exceeds 35°C, growth stops and the phylloclades turn yellow. Loose, fertile leaf mould is best.
Asparagus myriocladus prefers a warm, humid and semi-shaded environment, is relatively drought-tolerant and has fairly strong cold tolerance. It is not demanding about soil, preferring a sandy loam with good aeration and drainage and rich in humus. The optimum growing temperature is 20-30°C, and the overwintering temperature is 3°C. When the summer high temperature exceeds 35°C, growth stops and the leaf clusters turn yellow; it should be shaded appropriately to prevent scorching sunlight, and sprayed with water frequently to keep the clump green and attractive. It likes a warm, humid environment and fears strong light and low temperatures; in summer take care to shade it, and in winter it needs plenty of sunlight; loose, fertile leaf mould is best for the soil; its cold resistance is fairly strong, and it can overwinter safely as long as the winter temperature does not fall below 5°C.
Cultivation techniques for Asparagus myriocladus
During the spring and summer growing period, Asparagus myriocladus needs plenty of water, but the potting soil must not become waterlogged, otherwise root rot and leaf drop easily occur. If the potting soil is too dry, the leaves turn yellow, causing the leaf margins to wither and yellow or the leaves to wilt and drop.
Fertilise once a month, applying more nitrogen and potassium fertiliser or Huibao 20-80-20 all-season high-potassium nitrate fertiliser. In the heat of midsummer, strong light or insufficient light can also cause the leaves to turn yellow, wilt and drop; after autumn, as temperatures drop, gradually reduce watering. After 2-3 years in a pot, repot in spring. Cut out crowded stems and long branches to improve ventilation and light penetration.
During the growing period, remove dead branches and yellow leaves at any time to keep the plant shape symmetrical and attractive. It is mostly propagated by division, and can also be grown from seed, but seedling growth is slow. During the growing season it should be watered thoroughly; after autumn, as temperatures drop, watering should be gradually reduced. To make the branches and leaves luxuriant, more nitrogen and potassium fertiliser can be applied, with a top dressing about every 15 days.
Cultivation management
The cultivation and management of Asparagus myriocladus is relatively simple. During the spring and summer growing period, fertilise once every half month, mainly with nitrogen and potassium, and at ordinary times take care that the potting soil does not become waterlogged, otherwise it will cause root rot and yellow leaves; in autumn watering should be gradually reduced. To maintain the plant shape, it needs frequent pruning. If whitefly or scale insects appear, spray a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsion to kill them. For potting Asparagus myriocladus, a mixture of equal parts leaf mould, garden soil and river sand is commonly used as the substrate, with a little decomposed base fertiliser added at planting. Spring and summer are its peak growing seasons, requiring plenty of water, but the potting soil should not be allowed to become waterlogged, so as to avoid rot of the tuberous roots; after late autumn the amount of watering should be gradually reduced, keeping the potting soil only slightly moist. To make the branches and leaves grow luxuriantly, attention should be paid to supplementing nutrients during the growing season, generally applying liquid fertiliser 1-2 times a month. It likes semi-shade, and in the hot summer attention should be paid to shading to prevent scorching sun, so as to avoid the branches and leaves being scorched or turning yellow.
Cultivation and care
Asparagus myriocladus only begins to grow when the temperature is above 15°C, and 20-30°C is most suitable for its growth. In summer, potted plants should be placed in a well-ventilated, semi-shaded spot, avoiding direct strong light, otherwise the leaves are easily scorched, reducing their ornamental value. During the spring and summer growing seasons it needs plenty of water, but the potting soil must not become waterlogged, otherwise root rot and leaf drop easily occur. Fertilise once a month, applying more nitrogen and potassium fertiliser. After autumn, as temperatures drop and growth weakens, watering should be gradually reduced. To beautify the plant shape, it needs frequent pruning. In winter it should be kept indoors above 5°C, and it is enough to keep the potting soil moist. It should be repotted once every spring; this way the stems and branches of Asparagus myriocladus can be upright, the colour emerald green and the branches and leaves luxuriant.
How to grow Asparagus myriocladus: collecting from the wild
From wild hillside woodland, select sturdy, short-stemmed wild seedlings of Asparagus myriocladus, preferably small old stumps growing in rock crevices, on cliff faces or beside gullies. When collecting, take care to protect as many secondary and fibrous roots as possible, then plant them in the ground to cultivate and build up the stock, and pot and shape them the following spring.
Potting process
Choosing a pot
For Asparagus myriocladus, a purple clay pottery pot is suitable, and a glazed pottery pot can also be used. For a newly potted plant, a plain fired tile pot with good air permeability can be used first, and after it has settled in, it can be transferred to an elegant shallow purple clay pot. Apart from cascade styles, which use a deep cylindrical pot or a relatively deep square or round pot, a rectangular medium-shallow pot is generally suitable. The shape of the pot can also be determined by the tree shape; for example, for a curved-trunk style a drum-shaped shallow round pot can be used, and the pot colour may be either purplish red or pale yellow.
Soil
Asparagus myriocladus can adapt to many kinds of soil, but is not tolerant of saline-alkaline soil; a deep, moist, loose, slightly acidic sandy loam is best. For potting, use matured garden soil and leaf mould with an appropriate amount of sand mixed in.
Planting
For potting Asparagus myriocladus, it is best to plant before bud break in March; it can also be planted in autumn, but this is not favourable for rooting. When digging up the seedlings, keep the original soil; overly long straight roots can be shortened, and dead roots cut off. If planting in a shallow pot, take care to secure the trunk: an iron rod can be placed under the drainage hole, and slightly thicker metal wire tied to the thicker roots, passed out through the pot hole, then wound around the iron rod and tied tightly, to prevent the wind from shaking it and loosening the roots, which would affect survival. For planting techniques, refer to Huangshan pine.
Shaping techniques
Working
The shaping of Asparagus myriocladus can be mainly by wiring, with pruning as a supplement. Use metal wire or palm fibre for wiring. Asparagus myriocladus branches are relatively soft, so wiring with metal wire is simple and easy, and allows free bending. If 2-3 year old young seedlings are used as material, bend the trunk to a certain degree, cut off branches and stems that obstruct the shaping, then wire the retained side branches into a horizontal or slightly drooping form; after a year of growth, remove the metal wire, readjust the angles, and wire again; after several years it can take shape.
For stumps of Asparagus myriocladus collected from the wild, they can be potted and worked only after a year of stock cultivation. Shaping must be handled according to the material, making full use of the natural form of the raw material, with only a little artificial wiring, so that it has a natural wild charm.
Tree shapes
Asparagus myriocladus bonsai can be made into upright, slanting, curved-trunk, cascade and other styles, each with its own charm. The upright style is vigorous, tall and simple; the slanting style is elegant, vigorous and powerful; the curved-trunk style is "twisting and turning in a coiled posture, winding and undulating like a dragon"; the cascade style is like an ancient pine on a cliff, hanging perilously over the danger, a grey dragon poking out its head, about to dive into the four seas.
Propagation methods for Asparagus myriocladus
Asparagus myriocladus is mostly propagated by division, and can also be grown from seed, but seedling growth is slow.
During the growing season, Asparagus myriocladus should be watered thoroughly; after autumn, as temperatures drop, watering should be gradually reduced. To make the branches and leaves luxuriant, more nitrogen and potassium fertiliser can be applied, with a top dressing about every 15 days. Artificial propagation: it prefers a warm, humid and semi-shaded environment, is relatively drought-tolerant and has fairly strong cold tolerance. It is not demanding about soil, preferring a sandy loam with good aeration and drainage and rich in humus. The optimum growing temperature is 20-30°C, and the overwintering temperature is 3°C.
Artificial propagation
Asparagus myriocladus is mostly propagated by raising seedlings from seed, with a germination rate as high as over 90%. When the cones mature from mid-September to mid-to-late October, collect them promptly, first stacking them for 5-7 days, then sun-drying them for 3-4 days, tapping and turning them so the seeds come out; promptly water-select them, remove empty grains and debris, and after drying in the shade store them in bags for the winter. Asparagus myriocladus has a thick seed coat and germinates slowly, so it should be sown early. Choose a nursery site with well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and apply plenty of base fertiliser when preparing the ground. Carry out germination treatment before sowing. Soak the seeds in cold water for 3-7 days (changing the water during soaking), then mix the seeds with slaked lime; once the seed coat has split, they can be sown. Germination and emergence begin in mid-to-late April, and the seedlings can reach 8-12 cm in the same year.
Disease and pest control for Asparagus myriocladus
Asparagus myriocladus has relatively few pests and diseases, but in hot, dry conditions red spider mites and scale insects may occur, and attention must be paid to spraying for control. It is mostly propagated by division, and can also be grown from seed, but seedling growth is slow. During the growing season it should be watered thoroughly; after autumn, as temperatures drop, watering should be gradually reduced. To make the branches and leaves luxuriant, more nitrogen and potassium fertiliser can be applied, with a top dressing about every 15 days. Asparagus myriocladus has relatively few pests and diseases, but in hot, dry conditions red spider mites and scale insects may occur, and attention must be paid to spraying for control. Asparagus myriocladus has a neat plant shape, with upright, firm stems and branches; the leaves are clustered in balls and soft in texture, so green they seem about to drip, combining hardness and softness, and are deeply loved by people.
It is mainly affected by leaf blight, which can be sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder. Pests include whitefly and scale insects, which can be killed by spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsion.
If whitefly or scale insects appear, spray a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsion to kill them. For potting Asparagus myriocladus, a mixture of equal parts leaf mould, garden soil and river sand is commonly used as the substrate, with a little decomposed base fertiliser added at planting. Spring and summer are its peak growing seasons, requiring plenty of water, but the potting soil should not be allowed to become waterlogged, so as to avoid rot of the tuberous roots; after late autumn the amount of watering should be gradually reduced, keeping the potting soil only slightly moist. To make the branches and leaves grow luxuriantly, attention should be paid to supplementing nutrients during the growing season, generally applying liquid fertiliser 1-2 times a month. It likes semi-shade, and in the hot summer attention should be paid to shading to prevent scorching sun, so as to avoid the branches and leaves being scorched or turning yellow.
Asparagus myriocladus has relatively few pests and diseases, but in hot, dry conditions red spider mites and scale insects may occur, and attention must be paid to spraying for control. It is mostly propagated by division, and can also be grown from seed, but seedling growth is slow. During the growing season it should be watered thoroughly; after autumn, as temperatures drop, watering should be gradually reduced.
Distribution range of Asparagus myriocladus
Asparagus myriocladus is native to Natal, South Africa, and is widely cultivated around the world.
Uses and purposes of Asparagus myriocladus: potted display
Asparagus myriocladus is extremely suitable for potted display, and in warm regions it can also be used in flower beds. It is simple to cultivate and manage, and has good shade tolerance, making it suitable for small and medium pots for indoor arrangement; at the same time, it is also an excellent material for the backing foliage in flower arrangements.
Home potted plants
Asparagus myriocladus has an attractive plant shape, with leaves so green they seem about to drip, and is deeply loved by people. Displayed in pots on a tea table or desk, it adds a touch of scholarly elegance to a room.
The flower language of Asparagus myriocladus
The flower language of Asparagus myriocladus is: longevity.
Meaning of a bouquet (basket): wishing you fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea and a life as long as the Southern Mountains.
Flower materials used: chrysanthemum, carnation, bird of paradise, Aspidistra, sweet pea, Asparagus myriocladus, baby's breath.
Flower language: chrysanthemum: longevity, noble purity. Bird of paradise: longevity, happiness, freedom. Asparagus myriocladus: longevity.
Pictures of Asparagus myriocladus
Care methods for Asparagus myriocladus
Asparagus myriocladus is a perennial shrubby herbaceous plant of the genus Asparagus in the family Liliaceae, also known as hydrangea pine, water pine, pine-leaf asparagus fern and so on. Asparagus myriocladus is now a major material for making bonsai; with proper care, Asparagus myriocladus bonsai will be very beautiful. So how exactly should Asparagus myriocladus be grown?
Asparagus myriocladus
Asparagus myriocladus prefers a warm, humid and semi-shaded environment, is relatively drought-tolerant and has fairly strong cold tolerance. It is not demanding about soil, preferring a sandy loam with good aeration and drainage and rich in humus. For potting, a mixture of equal parts leaf mould, garden soil and river sand is commonly used as the substrate, with a little decomposed base fertiliser added at planting. Spring and summer are its peak growing seasons, requiring plenty of water, but the potting soil should not be allowed to become waterlogged, so as to avoid rot of the tuberous roots; after late autumn the amount of watering should be gradually reduced, keeping the potting soil only slightly moist.
Asparagus myriocladus only begins to grow when the temperature is above 15°C, and 20-30°C is most suitable for its growth. When the high temperature exceeds 35°C, growth stops and the leaf clusters turn yellow. In summer, attention should be paid to appropriate shading to prevent scorching sunlight, and it should be sprayed with water frequently, so as to avoid the branches and leaves being scorched or turning yellow.
In winter it needs plenty of sunlight; loose, fertile leaf mould is best for the soil; its cold resistance is fairly strong, and it can overwinter safely as long as the winter temperature does not fall below 5°C.
The cultivation and management of Asparagus myriocladus is relatively simple. Generally, during the spring and summer growing period, fertilise once every half month, mainly with nitrogen and potassium, and at ordinary times take care that the potting soil does not become waterlogged, otherwise it will cause root rot and yellow leaves; in autumn watering should be gradually reduced.
Asparagus myriocladus has relatively few pests and diseases, but in hot, dry conditions red spider mites and scale insects may occur, and they can be killed by spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsion.