A detailed guide to the planting methods and key technical points for Kochia scoparia (summer cypress)
1. Sowing and seedling raising
Can be direct-sown or raised as seedlings for transplanting. For open-field direct sowing, sow in early April; before sowing, apply plenty of base fertilizer. Hole sowing, row sowing or broadcast sowing are all acceptable. For seedling raising under protection, sow from early to mid-March, covering the seed with soil 3 to 4 times the seed diameter; seedlings emerge after 6 to 7 days.
2. Field management
Thinning or transplanting: if direct-sown, once the seedlings are 15 to 20 cm tall, thin them to a final stand at a plant-to-row spacing of 70×100 cm while harvesting young seedlings. Seedlings raised in a seedbed are transplanted to the field when they are 6 to 10 cm tall.
How to grow Kochia scoparia
1. Thinning and transplanting: for Kochia scoparia direct-sown in open ground, when the seedlings grow to 15 to 20 cm tall, thin them to a final stand at a plant-to-row spacing of 70 to 100 cm while harvesting young seedlings; for seedlings raised under protection, transplant them when the seedlings grow to 6 to 10 cm.
2. Water and fertilizer management: for Kochia scoparia, in addition to applying plenty of base fertilizer, apply a fast-dissolving bio-organic fertilizer at 150 kg per hectare in a single flush irrigation when thinning and when the plants are recovering from transplanting, and water once every 7 to 10 days during the growing period.
3. Pest and disease control: Kochia scoparia is easily harmed by aphids, which can be controlled by spraying a 1000 to 1200 times dilution of 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate; it is also easily parasitized by dodder, which should be removed promptly once found.
4. Timely harvesting: when growing Kochia scoparia, the young seedlings can generally be harvested once the plants grow to 15 to 20 cm tall; the young stems and leaves can be harvested successively from April to July, and after the Beginning of Autumn the whole plant or the seeds can be harvested.
Kochia scoparia planting methods
1. Soil
Kochia scoparia has low soil requirements and prefers loose, fertile sandy soil rich in humus with good drainage; however, it can also tolerate poor and thin soil, and can tolerate alkaline soil as well.
2. Light and temperature
Kochia scoparia likes a sunny, well-lit environment, but it is also a fairly shade-tolerant plant.
In terms of temperature, Kochia scoparia likes warmth and is not cold-tolerant. In addition, the suitable temperature for Kochia scoparia germination is between 10-20°C.
3. Water and fertilizer management
In terms of water and fertilizer management, the care and management of Kochia scoparia is still very simple and extensive. Basically, when planting out, you need to first apply a certain amount of base fertilizer for Kochia scopia and water thoroughly once,
after planting out, Kochia scoparia needs 2-3 topdressings of fertilizer each year, though of course it can also be left unfertilized. As for watering, although Kochia scoparia can tolerate drought, you should still supply a certain amount of water and keep the soil moist so that Kochia scoparia grows well. During the growing period, water once every 7-10 days. Let the soil dry and then water, avoiding waterlogging.
4. Propagation methods
Kochia scoparia is generally propagated by sowing, usually carried out in spring by direct sowing. Sow Kochia scoparia seeds in April each year; before sowing, apply base fertilizer and keep the soil moist; seedlings emerge in about 10 days, and you can plant them out at the appropriate time. Propagation of Kochia scoparia by sowing germinates quickly and evenly, and is simple to care for.
Notes on Kochia scoparia
1. Weeds: during the growth of Kochia scoparia, many weeds will inevitably appear and need to be removed. Weeding can be done by manual control, mechanical control, chemical control, replacement control and ecological control, among other methods.
2. Pests and diseases: Kochia scoparia is relatively susceptible to aphid damage and to dodder parasitism. These need to be controlled promptly.
Pests of Kochia scoparia and their control
During the growth of Kochia scoparia, diseases are not very likely to occur, but pests still are. Kochia scoparia is prone to aphid damage; when aphids are found, you can remove them by hand-picking, or use biological control methods. In addition, you can also spray a 1000-1200 times dilution of 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate to repel the insects, or spray a 500 times dilution of 10% imidacloprid wettable powder for control.
Besides aphids, there is also damage from green caterpillars, which mostly occurs from late June to mid-August. When green caterpillar damage is found, you can remove the insects by hand, or use pesticides, spraying a 1000 to 2000 times dilution of 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate or a 4000 times dilution of 20% Dingkang granules for control.
In summary, Kochia scoparia is not only beautiful and elegant and can be used as a potted plant to decorate a room, but also has very high edible value and medicinal value! What are you waiting for? Hurry up and take action to add another touch of greenery to your home!
How should potted Kochia scoparia be planted and cared for?
Brush lightly against Kochia scoparia and there is a faint pine scent; it is a very good ornamental plant that can be used to create flower hedges, flower borders, or several plants clustered in the center of a flower bed, and it can be pruned into various geometric shapes for display. Potted Kochia scoparia can be used to accent and decorate halls, reception rooms, conference venues and so on. Although it looks easy to cultivate, it actually is not; it is a plant that is hard to pamper.Cultivation steps: ① Buy a Kochia scoparia plant of moderate size. ② When transplanting into a new pot, lay a net inside the pot. ③ For the soil, mix potting soil and sandy soil in a 3:1 ratio, and fill the flower pot to the 1/2 mark. ④ Take the Kochia scoparia out of its original pot, place it in the new pot and hold it upright, then fill in the soil. ⑤ Water with a watering can and check whether the drainage hole works properly.
Care points: ① Kochia scoparia should be grown in a spot with plenty of light in spring and autumn, and moved indoors to a bright spot in winter.
② If drainage is poor, the roots of Kochia scoparia are prone to rot; it is suitable to soak the flower pot in water, and not suitable to water from top to bottom.
③ If the color of Kochia scoparia changes, it means there is not enough light or drainage is poor, so you should cut off the leaves that have changed color and repot it; if the situation still has not reversed, then the discoloration may be caused by poor ventilation, so it must be grown in a well-ventilated spot.
③ If the leaves turn brown or even die, it can still be kept as a potted ornamental, with a distinctive charm of its own.