Pinellia is a distinctive plant that combines ornamental and medicinal value

Pinellia (Pinellia ternata) is a perennial herb of the genus Pinellia in the Araceae family, native to the Guanzhong area of Shaanxi, and has now spread throughout the country. Pinellia can not only be used as a medicinal material, but its flowers, leaves, and plant form are unusual and beautiful, giving it great potential for development as an ornamental plant.

The Pinellia plant reaches 15-30 cm tall, with a single leaf emerging from the top of the tuber, elliptical, with a relatively pointed tip, entire margins, smooth and hairless on both sides, 4-6 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide. Leaf shapes vary greatly, and sometimes there are also abnormally shaped leaves with lateral lobes of varying depth. From May to July it produces a spadix that resembles a scorpion's tail, 7-10 cm long, terminal and upright, extending beyond the spathe. The spathe is green, 6-7 cm long, with unisexual flowers. Monoecious, with male flowers borne on the upper part of the inflorescence, white; female flowers borne below the male flowers, green. The fruiting period is August to September.

I. Propagation methods

1. Pinellia is mainly propagated by tubers. In autumn, small tubers sprouting from 2-3 year old Pinellia can be obtained, stored in moist sandy soil, and placed in a cool shaded place. When the temperature reaches above 14°C in March to April of the following year, they can be planted; 2. Propagated by bulbils. After the mother stem sprouts leaves, select mature bulbils on the lower part of the petiole from May to June and bury them in sandy loam soil at a depth of 3 cm. In the same year they can grow 1-2 leaves, and the tuber diameter reaches about 1 cm; 3. Seed propagation. When the seeds mature in August to September, sow them immediately after collection, but the germination rate is not high and the cycle is relatively long.

II. Home cultivation

1. Substrate selection: Pinellia has a shallow root system and likes fertilizer and water. The substrate should be loose, fertile sandy loam, with a soil moisture content of 20%-30% and a pH value of 6-7.

2. Water management: After Pinellia sprouts leaves, the temperature is relatively high, and the aboveground part has poor drought resistance. Lack of water or overly dry air can cause its leaves to wither. On sunny summer days, persist in spraying water on the leaves once each in the morning and at noon, and water the substrate in the evening. If tap water is used for a long time, it can easily cause salinization of the potting soil and be detrimental to growth. Before watering, it can first be left in the sun for two days, or ferrous sulfate can be applied once every half month to reduce soil alkalinity. Except during the peak growth period, at other times it is best to maintain a semi-dry, semi-moist state. If the substrate is too wet, it can easily cause oxygen deficiency in the tubers, leading to root rot and stem rot.

3. Light: Pinellia likes light and is slightly shade-tolerant, but it does not like shade. It is best placed on a south-facing balcony or windowsill. When the midday summer sun shines directly on the south-facing balcony, it is best to move it to the side of the wall, and after the afternoon sunlight becomes weaker, move it back to the balcony. Light exceeding 90000 Lux and below 3000 Lux are both unfavorable for Pinellia growth.

4. Fertilizer: Pinellia likes fertilizer, and its fertilizer requirements are not very strict. In spring and autumn, apply a base fertilizer or compound fertilizer once by the hole application method. During the growing period, apply a dilute potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer once a month, which can be done together with spraying water on the leaves.