How to grow Acorus calamus? Detailed care methods and precautions

Acorus calamus is a perennial herb, generally growing in marshes, streams or beside field ridges. We are all familiar with it. Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, it is often tied together with mugwort and placed under the eaves to ward off disease and evil spirits. Nowadays it is a deep-water plant used for landscaping in gardens and has high ornamental value. Below we will take a look at its care methods and precautions.

1. Planting soil

Acorus calamus likes loose, breathable sandy soil, so when planting, choose a plot with suitable soil. You can also mix vermiculite, river sand and soil yourself in a 1:1:1 ratio. When mixing, an appropriate amount of fertilizer can be used as a base fertilizer to increase the soil's fertility, so that it can supply enough nutrients and promote the growth and development of Acorus calamus.

2. Fertilizing

Acorus calamus has strong adaptability and can be grown with minimal care. It grows extremely fast in an environment with sufficient fertility and relatively prefers nitrogen fertilizer. When fertilizing, to avoid root burn caused by fertilizer that is too concentrated, it is recommended to apply fertilizer water. Generally, after applying the base fertilizer, 2-3 additional topdressings are still needed later. When fertilizing, pay attention to weeding. In the early stage, nitrogen fertilizer is mainly used, while during the flowering period, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer are mainly used. In this way, the disease resistance of Acorus calamus can be improved, allowing it to flower smoothly. Each time you fertilize, keep a certain distance from the root system to avoid root burn.

3. Water

Acorus calamus is an aquatic plant and likes a moist environment. It is not drought-tolerant, so the soil should often be kept moist to avoid wilting caused by lack of water. Generally, a certain water level should be maintained to keep the growing environment humid. If the temperature is too high and evaporation is great, you can spray water mist on the leaves to supplement moisture, so as to avoid excessive watering causing the leaves to turn yellow and wither.

4. Light

Acorus calamus prefers a shady environment and should not be exposed to strong direct sunlight for a long time, otherwise it will lose water and wither. When planting, special attention should be paid in summer. It should not be directly exposed to the sun and should be properly shaded. It can be paired with a shade net or moved indoors to a place with scattered light. When the light is not strong, there is no need to shade it. On the contrary, keeping it in an environment with suitable light can also speed up its growth.

The above are the care methods and precautions for Acorus calamus. We hope they can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.