What are the taboos of growing Mayodendron igneum (Bignoniaceae) in winter? Analysis of propagation, effects and uses

Mayodendron igneum can tolerate dry heat and semi-shade, but it is not cold-tolerant, so what are the taboos of growing it in winter? How is it propagated? What effects and uses does it have? According to source materials, the soil for growing Mayodendron igneum is generally required to be deep and fairly fertile, with good drainage, and preferably neutral or slightly acidic. Mayodendron igneum has a low demand for fertilizer and needs appropriate supplementary fertilizing, but light, frequent applications are best.

I. What are the taboos of growing Mayodendron igneum in winter?

1. Temperature requirements in winter

If the temperature can be kept between 23°C and 30°C in winter, it can grow normally; if the temperature stays between 5°C and 6°C for a long time, it is very easily frostbitten.

2. A too-dry environment is strictly forbidden in winter

Although it grows slowly in winter, an overly dry environment is extremely unfavorable to it, so water should often be sprinkled around it to increase the sense of moisture.

3. Overwatering is strictly forbidden in winter

Water loss in winter is inherently very small, and it does not need much water anyway, so watering must be controlled in winter, but it should not go the whole winter without water either. If the temperature is low, a little water can be sprinkled appropriately on its surface; if the temperature is normal, it can be watered thoroughly, but drainage must be good. Too much water not only harms the plant's health but also causes leggy growth.

4. Fertilizing is strictly forbidden in winter

It is not a plant that likes fertilizer to begin with, and fertilizing once to twice a year is enough, so in winter do not fertilize blindly, and the same goes for the other seasons, otherwise it will grow leggy in no time. When there is too much fertilizer, it likewise causes fertilizer burn and harms the plant.

5. There must be enough sunlight in winter

Sunlight is also one of the indispensable factors in growing it in winter, and the flowerpot should be rotated regularly so that every side can get sun.

II. How is it propagated?

1. Seed propagation of Mayodendron igneum

Seed propagation is the main method of propagating Mayodendron igneum.

Mayodendron igneum can bloom in many seasons, so we can collect seeds in many seasons, and therefore we generally use seed propagation to propagate Mayodendron igneum. Our method of collecting Mayodendron igneum seeds is to pick the ripe Mayodendron igneum fruits, place them in a windless environment to dry, and after cracks appear from drying, gently knock the Mayodendron igneum seeds out, and thus we have collected the Mayodendron igneum seeds. We can store the Mayodendron igneum seeds over winter and sow them when the suitable season comes.

We generally sow the seeds when it is warmer in spring. Because the seeds of Mayodendron igneum are very small, we generally broadcast them directly on the soil, then cover them with a thin layer of soil, keep the temperature at about 25°C, and at the same time keep the soil moist. They will germinate in about a week, and it takes three to five years of growing before they bloom.

2. Cutting propagation of Mayodendron igneum

Mayodendron igneum is generally not propagated by cuttings, because the survival rate of Mayodendron igneum propagated this way is relatively low. To increase the survival rate of cutting propagation, we can use the method of vegetative propagation; the air layering method can effectively increase the survival rate of Mayodendron igneum cutting propagation, and Mayodendron igneum propagated by this method is generally used for potted plants.

Mayodendron igneum successfully propagated by this method generally blooms in one to two years.

III. What effects and uses does it have?

1. Medicinal uses of Mayodendron igneum

Mayodendron igneum is a small tree, and the bark of Mayodendron igneum can be used as medicine. Besides the bark, the bark of the stem and the bark of the roots of Mayodendron igneum can also be used as medicine. As traditional Chinese medicine, the bark and root bark of Mayodendron igneum can be used to treat dysentery and also have a certain therapeutic effect on diarrhea. The bark of Mayodendron igneum can also be used to treat postpartum weakness and incomplete discharge of lochia.

2. Ornamental value of Mayodendron igneum

The flowers of Mayodendron igneum are a very vivid orange. The flowering period of Mayodendron igneum is from February to March each year. When it blooms, the flowers come in dense clusters, vivid and ardent, giving a feeling of vibrant spring. The tree form of Mayodendron igneum is also very graceful, and the flowers and tree form set each other off and complement each other, giving it very high ornamental value. Mayodendron igneum can be planted in home courtyards and can also adorn parks and gardens; as long as it is placed appropriately, it can become a beautiful scenic line. Mayodendron igneum can also be planted along streets as urban greening, and it can also form a unique urban landscape.

3. Edible value of Mayodendron igneum

Mayodendron igneum is a distinctive food of the Dai people, because Mayodendron igneum mostly grows in the low-altitude areas of Xishuangbanna. In Xishuangbanna, where the Dai people live, Mayodendron igneum is a very common plant, and people of all ethnic groups in this area eat Mayodendron igneum. Mayodendron igneum is a common food in this area; it can be stir-fried or cooked in soup, and any method works. It is a food with very strong local characteristics.