Qingmuxiang is the dried root of the plant Aristolochia contorta. It is mainly produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, and other regions. It is used for dizziness and headache, chest and abdominal distention and pain, boils and carbuncles, snake and insect bites. How is Qingmuxiang propagated and what are the planting methods?
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Propagation methods of Qingmuxiang
1. Propagation by seeds
Qingmuxiang is generally sown in early spring, around late February or early to mid-March. The seeds are evenly sown on the seedbed, then covered with about 2 centimeters of soil and watered to maintain moisture.
The seedlings will emerge in about 15 days. After the emergence, thinning should be done, and weeds should be removed and the soil loosened. Transplanting can be done in late April or mid-May each year.
If direct sowing is done, it is usually done between mid-March and mid-April each year. After sowing, cover the seeds with 2 centimeters of soil, water them, and the seedlings will emerge in about two weeks.
2. Propagation by root division
Qingmuxiang can be propagated by root division before the seedlings of Qingmuxiang sprout in early spring.
Dig out the underground part of Qingmuxiang, then cut the rhizome of Qingmuxiang into small pieces and plant them. After planting, water them to keep the soil moist. The seedlings will emerge in about two weeks.
Qingmuxiang image
Planting methods of Qingmuxiang
Qingmuxiang has deep roots and prefers fertile soil. Sufficient base fertilizer should be applied when planting. Drainage should be taken into consideration during the rainy season, and watering should be done during dry weather.
Before the seedlings of Qingmuxiang emerge, the soil should be kept moist and watered appropriately. After the seedlings of Qingmuxiang emerge, watering should be done when encountering drought. Weeding is not necessary during the seedling stage of Qingmuxiang.
When the seedlings of Qingmuxiang grow to 6 centimeters, thinning can be done. When the seedlings of Qingmuxiang grow to 10 centimeters, they can be transplanted with a spacing of 20 centimeters.
In July and August each year, weeding can be done together with cultivation. Yellowing old leaves can be pruned to promote light penetration.
During summer, watering can be done in the morning and evening, and watering should be avoided at noon. During the rainy season, care should be taken to avoid waterlogging and root rot.
After the beginning of autumn, Qingmuxiang grows rapidly, and fertilization should be applied accordingly.
Qingmuxiang generally does not flower in the first year of sowing. If it produces flower stalks, they can be removed. In the second year, flower stalks will bloom. Besides keeping some for seed production, other flower stalks can be removed to reduce nutrient consumption.
Qingmuxiang is prone to leaf spot disease and root rot, so prevention and control measures should be taken.
