Planting Techniques and Management Methods for Cat's Whiskers
Cat's Whiskers, originally named Orthosiphon aristatus (syn. Clerodendranthus spicatus), also known as "Cat's Whisker Plant," is a perennial herb in the Lamiaceae family. It can be used as medicine and has cooling and anti-inflammatory properties. It is mainly used to treat acute and chronic nephritis, cystitis, urinary tract stones, and rheumatoid arthritis. Currently, wild resources are gradually decreasing, and many regions have begun artificial cultivation. So how should Cat's Whiskers be planted? Let's find out.
1. Site Selection and Land Preparation
Cat's Whiskers prefers a hot and humid environment. It is afraid of cold, afraid of drought, and intolerant of waterlogging, but tolerant of fertilizer. When cultivating, it is advisable to choose sandy loam or loam soil with deep soil layers and rich organic matter, and it also requires appropriate shade. Many people choose to cultivate under forest or build sheds for cultivation. Before planting, the land should be prepared by clearing weeds and residual plants from the ground, breaking up soil clods, shaping and raking level. Base fertilizer can also be applied according to the soil fertility conditions.
2. Propagation Methods
Cat's Whiskers is generally propagated by cuttings. In the north, where temperatures are lower, the best time for cuttings is July-August. In the south, where the climate is warm, cuttings can be taken year-round, but March-April is best. Combined with pinching, cut off the top shoots that are thick and free of pests and diseases, and cut them into 10 cm lengths as cuttings. Each cutting should retain 2-3 nodes. Cuttings should be inserted as soon as they are cut. When inserting cuttings, it is advisable to control the plant and row spacing at 5×15 cm. Nutrient soil or river sand can be used as the substrate for cuttings. After insertion, the substrate should be kept moist, and there should be a certain degree of shade. It should not be exposed to strong direct sunlight. Roots will form in about 2 weeks.
3. Transplanting
After the cuttings have rooted and survived for half a month, they can be transplanted. When transplanting, water the ground thoroughly once before lifting the seedlings, then dig holes in the planting site for transplanting. The plant and row spacing should preferably be 30×30 cm. Place the seedlings upright into the holes, taking care to spread the roots out and not twist them together, so as not to affect the survival rate. After covering with soil, water thoroughly to settle the roots.
4. Field Management
After transplanting, attention should be paid to moisture retention. Water frequently to keep the soil moist, which can promote root growth. At the same time, weed and loosen the soil in a timely manner so that there are no weeds in the field. Especially after each watering, loosen the soil promptly to avoid soil compaction, increase soil permeability, and promote the root development of the seedlings. After each weeding, appropriate topdressing should be applied, preferably organic fertilizers such as decomposed stable manure or human and livestock manure.
The above is an introduction to the planting techniques for Cat's Whiskers. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.