Yunnan Kaempferia is an erect herbaceous plant that grows in shady areas or on slopes at altitudes of 400-1800 (2300) meters. The seed cluster is used for medicinal purposes and has the functions of drying dampness, warming the stomach, and invigorating the spleen.
The mountain ginger prefers warm and humid environments. Select a well-drained, fertile, and loose plot of land under sparse trees as the planting area. Before planting, plow the land to a depth of 25-30 centimeters, remove weeds and grass roots, then rake the soil and mix it with mature compost as the base fertilizer.
Seed collection and processing: Mountain ginger seeds mature mostly in mid to late November. When the seeds turn green to red, choose plants with red socks as the mother plants for seed collection. Cut off the fruit clusters, remove the red berries, soak them in clear water, rub off the red skin and white seed coat, and drain the surface moisture of the seeds with a sieve in a cool place. Finally, evenly sow the seeds in a sandy pit under sparse trees outdoors, cover them with 1-2 centimeters of sand, and keep the sand moist with a seed spacing of 1 centimeter.
Transplanting: Seedlings emerge from sand sowing after about 4 months with a germination rate of over 90% and uniform emergence. About 2 months after emergence (May-June of the following year), when the seedlings grow 2 leaves about 4 centimeters long, transplant them to an area with scattered light under sparse trees. The spacing between plants is 50 centimeters x 50 centimeters. After planting, cover the soil and compact it, water it thoroughly to establish roots, and the transplanting process is easy for survival.
Division propagation: Adult mountain ginger plants have vigorous growth, large rhizomes, and many bud shoots, making them suitable for division propagation, which can be done all year round.
Planting: On the prepared land, dig holes with a spacing of 50 centimeters x 50 centimeters, and put 3-4 small seedlings into each hole. Cover the soil and compact it, water it thoroughly, and pay attention that the roots of mountain ginger are shallow, so do not plant too deep. New shoots will sprout in about half a month.
After successful transplantation, apply a small amount of mature soybean cake fertilizer several times. Apply fertilizer once or twice a month, and apply additional fertilizer in April of the following year.
Seedlings of mountain ginger can grow into well-shaped and aesthetically valuable clusters one and a half years after planting, while seedlings from dividing old plants can grow into well-shaped and aesthetically valuable clusters one year after planting.
