Where does arrowhead grow the most? A detailed explanation of the effects and benefits of eating arrowhead
The weather in January is freezing cold, and at this time what people long for most is a "steaming hot" hot pot. In rural areas, some people brave the cold wind and wade into paddy fields to dig arrowhead. This is only because arrowhead is transplanted in summer, and when the weather is at its coldest, that is the harvest time.
Arrowhead belongs to the Alismataceae family of perennial herbaceous plants, its leaves are shaped like arrows, and its rhizome contains the starch that humans need. In earlier famine years, people ate it to stay alive. At the same time, in terms of effects, arrowhead has medicinal value such as cooling the blood and stopping bleeding.
In terms of growth habits, arrowhead is mostly distributed in the regions south of the Yangtze River. It is a shallow-water plant, with a suitable water level of 10 to 20 cm, and a growth temperature of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. When the temperature hovers at 5 degrees Celsius, the terminal buds of the corms begin to sprout. When the temperature gradually drops to 15 degrees Celsius, the arrowhead corm will convert all its nutrients, and this is the digging and harvest period. It should be noted that arrowhead plants must rely on corms for planting; if the aboveground plant is used directly, it will easily wither and die.
In terms of soil, arrowhead requires clay loam rich in organic matter, with a soil depth requirement of 20 to 30 cm. The recommended pairing is loam with a pH value between 5~7 and an organic matter content above 1.5%.
Planting and care should provide sunlight. It likes light and needs to receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, as this growing environment is beneficial for leaf photosynthesis. In terms of fertilization, more is needed, and during the growth period it should be top-dressed at least 2 times.
Other things to note include pests and diseases. Generally speaking, arrowhead leaves are prone to leaf spot disease, smut disease, and so on. When leaf spot disease appears, the leaves will have pale yellow and red-yellow spots, while when smut disease appears, gray-black spots will appear on both sides of the leaf veins. For treatment, pay attention to light penetration and ventilation. In terms of insect pests, there are signs of pests such as scale insects and aphids. If scale insect damage occurs, it will cause the plant to weaken and the leaves to turn yellow. If aphids appear, because they can spread viruses, they will affect the plant's growth and flowering. It is recommended to check the plants regularly, and if any are found, measures should be taken immediately.