Detailed Explanation of Melastoma dodecandrum Planting Techniques and Cultivation Management Points
Melastoma dodecandrum is a creeping small shrub of the Melastomataceae family, Melastoma genus. It is an excellent groundcover plant that combines medicinal, ornamental and health benefits. The whole plant can be used as medicine, with effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and stopping bleeding. It is often used for high fever, pulmonary abscess, swollen throat, toothache, hemorrhoids, venomous snake bites, etc. So how should Melastoma dodecandrum be planted? Let's take a look together.
1. Site selection and land preparation
Melastoma dodecandrum has low requirements for soil and can be planted on acidic, barren soil on hillsides, by rivers, at field edges, and around houses, but it grows slowly, and its flowering amount and fruit count are also relatively low, affecting its ornamental and medicinal value. Therefore, it is advisable to choose loam soil with high terrain, deep soil layer, loose texture, and rich organic matter for planting. Begin land preparation in early spring, break up the soil clods, rake fine and level, then form ridges and make drainage ditches.
2. Propagation methods
Artificial cultivation generally uses division propagation, which can be transplanted after rain in early spring with an extremely high survival rate, while transplanting in summer high temperatures or in the dry season of autumn and winter has a low survival rate. Seeds can also be obtained from wild resources for propagation, but in different growing environments, seeds from wild resources will be affected by external conditions and show different growth states, so try to choose varieties that grow faster, have large flowering amounts, and large fruits, to avoid low planting benefits.
3. Cultivation management
Melastoma dodecandrum is cold-tolerant and barren-tolerant. After transplanting, it requires no excessive management, only that its growth speed is relatively slow. During the seedling stage or after transplanting, attention should be paid to weeding to prevent weeds from affecting its growth. Once it covers the ground surface, weeds find it extremely difficult to invade, and at this point weeding is needed. Because it is itself a wild plant, it has strong adaptability and resistance to pests and diseases, and no pests or diseases have been observed during artificial cultivation, so no chemical control is needed.
4. Fertilizer and water management
Melastoma dodecandrum depletes soil fertility, so generally during land preparation, 400-500 kg of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer per mu and an appropriate amount of micronutrient fertilizer can be applied. One month after planting, depending on the plant's growth, apply once per mu a thin slurry of manure and urine or 100 kg of urea solution. During flowering and bud emergence and fruiting, an appropriate amount of phosphorus-potassium fertilizer and boron fertilizer can be added to increase flowering amount and fruit-setting rate. Melastoma dodecandrum has low water requirements. When planting in the south, drainage measures should be taken during the rainy season to prevent root rot, but during drought, an appropriate amount of watering is also needed to prevent low fruit-setting rate and fruit cracking.
The above is an introduction to the planting techniques of Melastoma dodecandrum. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.