Caragana (Peashrub) cultivation methods, effects and uses, can the flowers be eaten?

Growing Techniques Jan 1, 1970 0 views

Care and management: water and fertilizer management. Caragana loves light and tolerates drought, so it should be placed in a spot with plenty of sunlight and good air circulation. It is also fairly cold-hardy in winter; in areas south of the Yellow River it can overwinter outdoors, and it is best to bury the whole pot in soil. Water according to the principle of "don't water until dry, and when you water, water thoroughly." Especially during the period, keep the pot soil moist

Care and Management

1. Water and Fertilizer Management

Caragana loves light and tolerates drought, so it should be placed in a spot with plenty of sunlight and good air circulation. It is also fairly cold-hardy in winter,

In areas south of the Yellow River it can overwinter outdoors, and it is best to bury the whole pot in soil. Water according to the principle of "don't water until dry, and when you water, water thoroughly." Especially during the period, keep the pot soil moist, which can extend the flowering period. During the winter dormant period, apply a liquid fertilizer once; before flowering in spring, water with a liquid fertilizer once, which can extend the flowering period; after the flowers fade, apply a topdressing once more to stimulate the growth of branches and leaves, and normally just apply a moderate amount of thin fertilizer.

2. Pruning

After the leaves drop in winter, cut away all kinds of branches that affect the tree shape; after flowering in spring, shorten the branches that have already bloomed to encourage new flowering branches; during the vigorous growth period, prune leggy shoots at any time and pinch back appropriately to maintain a graceful tree shape.[4]

3. Repotting

Repot every 2-3 years, preferably in early spring. When repotting, remove about 1/2 of the old soil, replace it with fresh potting soil, trim the root system, replant, place in a spot with indirect light, water thoroughly, and frequently spray the trunk head with atomized water; after it recovers, return to normal care.

Utilization Techniques

1. Grazing Utilization

Caragana is a high-quality leguminous forage. Caragana has luxuriant branches and leaves, high forage yield, rich nutrition and good palatability, and is an excellent forage shrub for livestock. Large areas of Caragana can increase forage yield and greatly improve the quality of livestock rations. Caragana pastures can be grazed year-round, and especially in winter and spring and in dry years, its forage value increases. When the grass withers in winter or when the land is sealed by snow, livestock that eat the young tender shoot tips and withered leaves of Caragana korshinskii will not become weak, which helps with lamb bearing; in early spring when pasture grass is in short supply between seasons, it leafs out and blooms early, and when dams eat its tender branches, leaves and flowers, they can quickly regain strength and ensure lambing. In summer droughts, when shallow-rooted pasture grasses on the range turn yellow in patches and some even die, Caragana korshinskii, relying on its strong root system and drought resistance, can still grow well and becomes the "life-saving grass" for livestock during summer droughts.

2. Grass Powder or Grass Pellet Processing

The coarse old branches of Caragana are crushed and processed into grass powder or grass pellets, and when used as supplementary feed for sheep and goats in winter and early spring, the palatability is also very good. At present, the use of Caragana in our banner is limited to natural grazing by cattle and sheep, with a utilization rate of less than 1%, causing large numbers of Caragana branches to age and even die, resulting in a waste of resources. Through manual or mechanical cutting, the branches of Caragana korshinskii are crushed and processed into grass powder or grass pellets and used as supplementary feed for livestock in winter and early spring, which can effectively develop and utilize Caragana resources, provide high-quality protein feed for livestock production, and at the same time yield significant economic benefits.

3. Silage Utilization

Caragana silage is one of the best utilization methods. The best utilization period for silage is the flowering stage and the vegetative stage. Experiments show that when Caragana is crushed at the flowering stage and then ensiled, the pit is opened after 20 days, the color is green, the smell is slightly sour, the structure is clear, the pH value is 4.6, crude protein 14.59%, crude fat 3.38%, crude fiber 34.41%, crude ash 8.58%, calcium 1.11, phosphorus 0.58%, and it can be fed. If the pit is left open too long, it will reduce the dominant position of lactic acid bacteria. Therefore, store according to the amount used, and the amount should not be too large; at low temperatures, its utilization time can be extended. It can also be mixed with a multi-strain solid-state fermentation agent and put into bags or pits for micro-silage.

Corn straw and Caragana are crushed at a ratio of 2:1 and mixed evenly, and the pit is opened after 30 days. The mixed silage is green in color, slightly sour in smell, with a fragrant aroma, clear in structure, pH value 3.1, crude protein 10.02%, crude fat 3.34%, crude fiber 34.05%, crude ash 5.37%, calcium 0.6, phosphorus 0.39%. Therefore, mixing Caragana with corn for silage can improve the palatability of Caragana.

4. Other Uses

Caragana has strong adaptability, tolerates drought and barren soil, and is not afraid of being buried by sand. It has good effects in windbreak and sand fixation, soil and water conservation, and improving the ecological environment. Caragana is a leguminous plant with a well-developed root system and contains large amounts of nitrogen and minerals. Its roots have many root nodules, which can fix nitrogen from the air, increase soil organic matter, and improve soil fertility and structure. The branches and leaves of Caragana are rich in elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, making it an excellent green manure. In addition, it is also a very good nectar source plant. The pods and seeds of Caragana are also very good feed. According to analysis, its seeds contain 27.4% crude protein and 31.6% starch. After processing, feeding the seeds to sheep has a fattening effect no less than that of soybeans. The roots, flowers and seeds of Caragana can all be used as medicine, with effects such as nourishing yin and blood, promoting menstruation, calming, and relieving itching.

Caragana propagation methods: Caragana can be propagated by sowing, cuttings, division, layering and other methods.

For sowing, it is best to sow as soon as the seeds are collected; if stored dry, the seeds should be soaked to promote germination before sowing the following spring;

Caragana cuttings can be taken as hardwood cuttings in February-March, or as softwood cuttings during the plum rain season. Cut the cuttings to 8-12 cm, insert them to 1/2 of their depth, set up a shade frame after insertion, water moderately, remove the shade frame after rooting, give full light, and they will grow vigorously, with a relatively high survival rate; division propagation is carried out in spring from February to March.

Caragana Cultivation Methods and Caragana Bonsai Making

Caragana has elegant branches and leaves, bright flowers, and a posture like a flying sparrow, with golden flowers, so it is also called golden sparrow flower (Jin Que Hua), and it is suitable for bonsai making. Next, Xiao Qi will share the cultivation methods of Caragana and how to make Caragana bonsai.

I. Caragana Cultivation Methods

1. Placement: Caragana in pots loves light and tolerates drought, so it should be placed in a spot with plenty of sunlight and good air circulation. It is also fairly cold-hardy in winter; in areas south of the Yellow River it can overwinter outdoors, and it is best to bury the whole pot in soil.

2. Watering: For Caragana in pots, water according to the principle of "don't water until dry, and when you water, water thoroughly." Especially during the period, keep the pot soil moist, which can extend the flowering period.

3. Fertilizing: For Caragana in pots, during the winter dormant period, apply a liquid fertilizer once; before flowering in spring, water with a liquid fertilizer once, which can extend the flowering period; after the flowers fade, apply a topdressing once more to stimulate the growth of branches and leaves, and normally just apply a moderate amount of thin fertilizer.

4. Pruning: For Caragana, after the leaves drop in winter, cut away all kinds of branches that affect the tree shape; after flowering in spring, shorten the branches that have already bloomed to encourage new flowering branches; during the vigorous growth period, prune leggy shoots at any time and pinch back appropriately to maintain a graceful tree shape.

5. Repotting: Repot Caragana every 2-3 years, preferably in early spring. When repotting, remove about 1/2 of the old soil, replace it with fresh potting soil, trim the root system, replant, place in a spot with indirect light, water thoroughly, and frequently spray the trunk head with atomized water; after it recovers, return to normal care.

II. Caragana Bonsai Making

1. Material selection: Besides cultivating seedlings, the trunk material for making bonsai can also be obtained by digging up old specimens of many years from the wild, choosing those with an aged and excellent posture, which can achieve the effect of rapid shaping. Digging can be done throughout the dormant period and the rainy season. The digging method is to first cut off most of the aboveground stems, then scrape away the surface soil, clarify the growth direction of the main root, and carefully and patiently dig along the direction of the main root from far to near, which helps protect the root system and reduce damage.

2. Potting: For Caragana bonsai, it is best to choose a round or square purple clay ceramic pot. In order to fully display the roots of Caragana, a relatively shallow pot can be chosen. For the potting soil, choose neutral or slightly acidic loam or light clay, and do not use alkaline soil; ordinary potting soil or garden soil can also be used. Potting should be done in early spring.

3. Styling: The main trunk and branches can be appropriately bent for styling, but pay attention to the effect from every side, and do not have bends only on the same plane; for small branches, mainly use pruning, and do not cut them all to the same length, so that they appear uneven and well-arranged. When changing soil or repotting, make use of the twisted and varied root system of Caragana, arrange and lay out the roots, intertwine them with each other, or appropriately wrap and tie them with palm fiber, so as to present the beautiful root form of gnarled and interlocking roots.

The above is an introduction to Caragana cultivation methods and Caragana bonsai making. We hope it is helpful to everyone for cultivating Caragana better.

Caragana Cultivation Methods

Temperature

Caragana tolerates high temperatures and also loves light, so we should best place it in a spot with plenty of sunlight and good air circulation for care. In the scorching summer, it is best to provide Caragana with appropriate shading, and it can be moved indoors for care. In winter, when outdoor temperatures are relatively low, we should place Caragana indoors at a relatively high temperature for care, with bright light and sufficient sunlight.

Watering

In daily watering, never water too much, and follow the principle of "don't water until dry, and when you water, water thoroughly." If there is standing water at the bottom, it can easily cause root rot. Therefore, we must both keep the pot soil moist and avoid watering too much. Proper watering can extend the flowering period of Caragana.

Fertilizing

Caragana has a relatively high demand for nutrients during its growing season, and we can follow the principle of "apply thin fertilizer frequently" when fertilizing. But Caragana can also be appropriately fertilized during the winter dormant period, liquid fertilizer can also be applied for spring flowering, and topdressing can be applied after the flowers fade.

Repotting

Caragana is generally repotted once every 2-3 years, and the time for repotting is in spring. When repotting, the old soil can be removed and the roots trimmed, then it can be replanted.

In the process of cultivating Caragana, what other precautions should be noted?

Can Caragana flowers be eaten? Yes, they can be eaten. Do they also have certain effects?

Caragana's Effects and Uses:

Caragana contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, multiple vitamins, multiple minerals and other components. Its nature and flavor are slightly warm and sweet, and it has the effects of nourishing yin, harmonizing blood, and strengthening the spleen. It treats consumptive fever and cough, dizziness and waist soreness, women's asthma and leukorrhea, infantile malnutrition, breast carbuncle, and traumatic injuries. "Zhiwu Geshi Tukao" records that it "nourishes yin and tonifies yang." "Shanghai Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines" records that it "activates blood and dispels wind, relieves cough, and strengthens. Treats dizziness and headache, tinnitus and blurred vision, chronic cough due to lung deficiency, and infantile malnutrition."

[Nature, flavor and meridian entry] Root: sweet, slightly pungent, neutral. Flower: sweet, warm.

[Functions and indications]

Root: nourishes and strengthens, activates blood and regulates menstruation, dispels wind and drains dampness. Used for hypertension, dizziness and vertigo, tinnitus and blurred vision, weak constitution and fatigue, irregular menstruation, leukorrhea, insufficient milk, rheumatic joint pain, and traumatic injuries.

Flower: dispels wind and activates blood, relieves cough and resolves phlegm. Used for dizziness and tinnitus, cough due to lung deficiency, and infantile indigestion.

This species is a toxic plant included in the Chinese Plant Atlas Database, and its toxicity is as follows: the LD50 of ethanol extract injected intraperitoneally in mice is 10 g/kg for stems and leaves.