Schisandra chinensis is an ornamental vine with white flowers and bright green foliage. With its appearance, lemongrass can decorate any garden. The liana on the hedge looks very impressive, wrapping around the gate, and it is also decorated with gazebos and arches.

It is important that for almost the entire season lemongrass is able to maintain its decorative look. And in the fall, when blood-red berries ripen against the background of yellowed leaves, the vine looks just great.

Chinese magnolia vine: cultivation and care

Not many people know that all parts of the vine contain useful substances and are used to prepare potions for depression and chronic fatigue.

Appearance:

Chinese magnolia vine: planting and care

Lemongrass feels great in a mild warm climate where there are no winters, and in middle lane. In the first case, Chinese magnolia vine is planted in autumn, in October, so that it can strengthen and acclimatize over the winter. In the middle lane, landing is carried out only in the spring and not earlier than April. Despite the fact that the vines grow in height, the distance between them must be at least one meter. The same applies to the structure near which the landing is made. Measure a distance of at least one and a half meters from it.

He prefers light soil with a high content of humus and good drainage. The place where to plant lemongrass, choose the lighted. Seedlings are suitable for planting, in which the trunk height is at least ten centimeters, and the roots are well developed. Too branched roots are pruned.

Growing seedlings

The pit for seedlings should be not less than forty centimeters deep with a diameter of seventy centimeters. Put expanded clay or crushed stone on the bottom, and fill the pit itself halfway with humus, ash, superphosphate and leafy soil.

To nourish the roots, the following mixture is prepared: the mullein is mixed with clay and water is added. Everything is mixed and the roots of the vine are dipped into this composition. Bury the root system in such a way that the neck is on the surface of the earth. The earth is rammed and a mound is made. The soil is abundantly watered with water, and when it goes into the ground, sprinkle the hole with peat or humus.

Usually vine seedlings take root very well.. Caring for them is very simple. It is enough to water them occasionally and cover them in case of a scorching sun. The best seedlings are two-year-old vines.

Much will depend on the location. When the vine is well protected from the winds and is in a warm place, then appearance Lemongrass will be healthy and blooming. The west side of the site or the east is perfect.

Schisandra chinensis: planting seeds

This growing method is very time consuming. and for this reason little popular among gardeners. Seeds are prepared in autumn. Sow them in wet sand and mix regularly. Dried sand is constantly moistened. Store the seed container in a cool place.

At the end of February, the container is placed in a warm place and it should be there until the end of March. Then again move to the refrigerator or basement. Thus, the seeds are forced to wake up and begin to germinate.

Seeds should be planted in a greenhouse in the garden. The soil for seeds is prepared as follows: park land mixed with river sand in a ratio of 2:1. From above, a bed with seeds already planted is sprinkled with peat. Water as needed, as it is impossible to fill the seeds with a large amount of water. So, during the year they keep the sprouts under the film in the greenhouse, and after a year, they grow without shelter. After two years, the seedlings should be planted in a permanent place in the garden.

Lemongrass cultivation and care involves:

• Good soil moisture.
• Top dressing.
• Darkening from the scorching sun.

Feeding lemongrass usually starts from the third year of life.. To do this, use saltpeter, bird droppings, ash and superphosphate. Feeding with saltpeter in the spring, you will achieve lush foliage in your vine. In summer, water every two weeks with diluted bird droppings or other organic fertilizers. In the autumn they are fed with ashes.

Fruits with flowers in Chinese lemongrass appear only in the fifth year of life. Now, as a top dressing, you can use nitrophoska and potassium sulfate. Water the vine abundantly. So, for one watering they spend up to five buckets of water for each vine.

Every year in early spring, lemongrass is pruned. Remove the top and two-row vines.

Watering

Pour lemongrass Chinese plentifully. In the wild, this plant prefers to settle in moist soils. Even taking into account the fact that the root system is located horizontally and the roots practically do not go deep, a lot of water will be required.

They try to water with warm and settled water, after which the hole is sprinkled with peat or moss to avoid drying out.

Support for Chinese magnolia vine

So that the plant has large and juicy berries on large brushes , use tapestries. Thus, the illumination of the vine increases. It was noticed that a small shrub has practically no fruits. They put the supports as soon as the seedling is planted.

The support consists of columns about two and a half meters high. They are deepened by sixty centimeters, and the distance between them should be at least three meters. Three rows of metal wire are stretched, and the distance between them should be sixty centimeters. As the vine grows, it is tied up each time to the next level. Young shoots are arranged in the form of a fan.

pruning lemongrass

From the age of three in the liana, the active growth of the root system slows down and begins to grow rapidly ground part. Usually three shoots are left, and the rest should be removed. When the lemongrass reaches fifteen years old, they try to remove all the old branches from it, and leave only the young ones.

In October, dried branches are pruned, and if necessary, pruning is carried out in the middle of summer. The only times of the year when you cannot do anything to lemongrass are winter and the end of spring. During this period, there is usually an active sap flow.

Be sure to remove root shoots, and this should be done below ground level, digging the ground a little.

To form a creeper, side branches are occasionally removed.

Wintering

For the winter, only young vines are covered, up to the age of three. In the future, Schisandra chinensis will not need shelter. They are usually insulated with leaves and spruce branches.

How to pick berries

In the fifth year of life, Schisandra chinensis begins to bear fruit.. As soon as the fruits turn red, you can harvest. Harvest fruits in whole bunches. Do this carefully so as not to damage the seeds in the fruits, otherwise the taste of the berries will change and become bitter. Harvested fruits are processed on the same day to avoid fermentation and mold.

Diseases and pests

The smell of Chinese magnolia vine perfectly repels all pests, but diseases typical of garden plants he can't escape. The most common problems:

First time on medicinal properties This plant drew the attention of Chinese healers. Since then, the popularity and fame of lemongrass as a healer has been strengthened. At the moment, in many countries, entire plantations are grown for the needs of pharmaceuticals.

The effect that berries and preparations from them have on nervous system, it is difficult to overestimate. It was not for nothing that the northerners-hunters, going hunting, took lemongrass berries with them. They not only helped restore performance, but also acted as an excellent sedative, allowing you to concentrate and withstand severe frosts.

The fruits of this plant significantly improve visual acuity. Use the fruits during the treatment of depression and nervous exhaustion. Lemongrass has proven itself well for anemia and intestinal infections. It has an antidote effect and can even withdraw from a post-alcohol or drug state.

At home, prepare a tincture of dried berries in a ratio of 1:4. The berries are infused in a dark place for two weeks. Then use the finished tincture of twenty grams a day after meals. This product is great for relieving fatigue. Moreover, its action, unlike caffeine, acts gently without harm to the body.

From dried berries powder is prepared and added to tea as a tonic. No less healthy tea is prepared from the leaves of Chinese magnolia vine.

Juice from lemongrass berries is prepared as follows: the berries, sorted and peeled from the stalks, are covered with sugar and left for three days. The resulting juice is poured into jars and stored in the refrigerator. They drink it along with hot tea, adding it instead of sugar, or use it as a syrup for desserts.

Branches of the plant can also be used to make lemongrass tea. Those shoots that you cut in the summer, do not throw away, but chop and harvest for the winter. Thus, you will have an excellent vitamin drink until spring.

Schisandra chinensis is a tree-like liana, the leaves of which spread the aroma of lemon around. The plant is used for landscaping vertical walls, fences, arbors in the country. But it can be grown at home on the south side of the apartment. It is important to create the most natural conditions and properly care for the plant. Liana blooms for only 1 week, but gives sweet fruits, they are used for homemade preparations.

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Description

Schisandra chinensis or schizandra belongs to subtropical plants. It grows wild in China, is grown in Russia and the CIS countries. The climate of the middle zone with mild winters, as in the Moscow region, is best suited for magnolia vine. In the Urals and Siberia, it requires shelter for the winter, but feels good at home.

The liana can reach a height of 10 m. The main tree-like stem is 4 cm thick. The lashes are flexible, wrap around any vertical support. The leaves are fleshy, 5-10 cm in size. The flowers are small, pale yellow or pale pink. They bloom in June, and by the end of summer, bright red berries ripen. In autumn, the plant changes the color of the leaves, and with the onset of frost sheds them.



Male and female plants

Lemongrass is a bisexual liana, both male and female are formed on it. female flowers. This facilitates pollination and fruit formation. Usually male flowers located on the lower parts of the plant, and female - on the upper. Therefore, it is important to put supports and grow the vine only vertically.

Features of propagation by seeds do not guarantee the formation of a bisexual plant. Flowers of only one sex can be formed or every year in different ways. This does not provide a stable harvest. To pick berries, it is better to plant monoecious and dioecious vines side by side.



Landing

Lemongrass can be planted with seeds or seedlings. In the latter case, all hereditary characteristics of the plant are preserved, including its sex. When planting seeds, there is no such guarantee.

To grow lemongrass from seeds, they need to be stratified. They are soaked in water for 5 days, the liquid is changed daily. After that, they are poured into calcined wet sand or peat and left in a dark place at room temperature. After that, the mixture is kept in the refrigerator for another 2 months. Periodically tediously check the box, the sand should remain wet. In February, the box is taken out and left at room temperature.

In spring, seeds can be planted in the ground. Optimal soil composition:

• compost;
• humus;
• sod land;
• wood ash.

All components are taken from equal parts, cleaned of stones and disinfected with boiling water. After a few days, you can plant the seeds along with the sand.

It is better to do this in the spring, in March-April at a temperature of 18-20 degrees. Before the first shoots appear, the box is covered with a film, it is slightly opened daily for ventilation. It is better to put it in a lighted place, since lemongrass belongs to light-loving plants.

Sprouts are planted in a permanent place in May. A plot in the garden is chosen on the south side, protected from the wind. Liana houses are placed on the south window or balcony.

Growing from seedlings is advisable only on outdoors, as they are adapted to outdoor conditions, they have formed a trunk and root system. You need to buy seedlings at the age of 2-3 years.




For planting, you can use young shoots that are dug up from the roots of an adult plant. They are planted in the ground and covered with a jar until the sprout takes root.



Home care

Planting lemongrass is the easiest step in growing. Much harder to take care of. On the open places Liana is growing well, she has enough fresh air, sun and moisture. And in an apartment this can be a problem.

It is necessary to bring the conditions of maintenance of lemongrass as close as possible to natural. He needs a lot of light, so you need to keep him on the south side of the apartment. It is better to take the pot with the plant to the balcony for the summer, provided that it is protected from the wind. Liana care consists of watering, fertilizing, pruning and preparing for winter.

It should be watered with boiled settled water. In nature, lemongrass grows in a humid climate, so it needs to be watered frequently. It is important to shake off water from young plants so that they do not rot. In summer, adult plants are sprayed with warm water.

From the age of three, you need to start fertilizing the soil. Liquid organic fertilizers are suitable for lemongrass. In the summer it is tedious to breed chicken manure water and water the vine with a mixture of 1 time in 3 weeks. In the spring, at the beginning of growth, 1.5 tablespoons of saltpeter are added, and in the fall, ash or potassium salt.

For the formation of the trunk and lateral stems, it is important to properly prune. It is not required in the first years, as the shoots grow slowly, all growth goes into the roots. On an adult plant, broken and dry branches are removed in the fall. Leave 3 strong stems, cutting off dense growth. This improves growth and fruiting. Once every 8-10 years old shoots are cut out, leaving strong young ones.



plant supports

For lemongrass, a strong and reliable support is important. Since the shoots are flexible, they are difficult to break, any material is suitable as a support - wood, metal, plastic. You can purchase a wooden trellis for your home or make your own. The stems will cling to it themselves and develop properly.

In autumn, with a reduction in daylight hours, watering should be reduced. Gradually, the plant will shed its leaves. The shoots must be removed from the supports and laid on the ground. On the garden plot they are covered with spruce branches, but in the conditions of an apartment, shelter is not required, it is enough to put the pot in a dark place. You can take it to the cellar and store at a temperature of +5 degrees.

Diseases and pests

Schisandra chinensis is resistant to pests and diseases. They rarely attack the vine due to the persistent citrus scent. In rare cases, she falls ill with the following diseases:

• Powdery mildew. Appears on leaves white coating. To save the plant, the leaves must be completely cut off and burned, and the shoots should be sprayed with Bordeaux liquid at a concentration of 1%.
• Spotting. Leaves show spots of yellow or Brown. The affected leaves must be cut and burned, and the vine should be sprayed with a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid.
• Fusarium wilt. The leaves become covered with spots, the plant fades. It cannot be saved, it must be completely cut out and burned so that other flowers do not become infected.

To protect lemongrass and the rest houseplants from disease, they should be regularly inspected for pests and leaf spots. At the first sign, the damaged parts are removed and the plant is disinfected.

fruit picking

It is unlikely that pollination will occur at home and fruits will form on lemongrass. This can only happen if you keep it on an open balcony or terrace.




It begins to bear fruit after a long period of time after planting - 6-10 years. If the fruits do not form, most likely, flowers of only one sex appear on the vine.

The berries usually ripen by September. They need to be collected with brushes so as not to crush. It is best to process the fruits immediately after harvest. You can freeze them with sugar, make jam, tincture or compote.

Schisandra chinensis is an ornamental vine that can be grown outdoors and at home. At proper care it retains its attractiveness, pleases flower growers with a pleasant aroma, beautiful flowers and fruits.

Schisandra chinensis (lat. Schisandra chinensis) is a species of the genus Lemongrass of the Schisandra family, found in the wild on the edges and clearings of coniferous-deciduous and deciduous forests, in narrow valleys of streams and mountain rivers, in old burnt areas and clearings in Korea, Japan, China and Russian territory Far East. It grows in groups, forming thickets and climbing mountains to a height of up to 600 m above sea level. Chinese magnolia vine has been grown in culture for a very long time: for medicinal purposes, it began to be cultivated at least 250 years before our era.

Planting and caring for Schisandra chinensis (in brief)

• Bloom: from the fifth or sixth year of life in late May or early July. Flowering lasts about two weeks.
• Landing: in October or late April-early May.
• Lighting: bright sunlight or partial shade.
• The soil: light, rich in humus, moderately moist and drained.
• Watering: frequent and plentiful: 6-7 buckets of water are poured under each bush.
• Top dressing: from the third season, 1 time in 2-3 weeks, organic fertilizer is applied to the trunk circle - a solution of chicken manure or mullein. The trunk space is mulched with a layer of humus or leaf compost. In autumn, 20 g of superphosphate and 100 g of wood ash are embedded in the soil under each plant to a depth of 10 cm.
• Garter: the trellis on which this vine is grown is installed immediately after planting. When the liana is located near the wall of the building, it is allowed along a ladder installed obliquely to the wall.
• Pruning: from the third year after planting, formative pruning begins, which is carried out in the fall, after leaf fall. Unnecessary basal processes are also removed.
• Reproduction: seeds, root cuttings and shoots.
• Pests: is not struck.
• Diseases: powdery mildew, ramularia, ascochitosis and fusarium.
• Properties: is a valuable medicinal plant.

Read more about growing Schisandra chinensis below.

Schisandra chinensis - description

The plant is a climbing deciduous vine up to 15 m long with a trunk up to 2.5 cm in diameter and shoots covered with brown-brown bark, flaky on old ones, and shiny and smooth on young ones. Both shoots and leaves of lemongrass have a characteristic citrus aroma, from which the plant gets its name.

Lemongrass leaves are dense, obovate or elliptical, with a wedge-shaped base and few and implicit teeth along the edges. The leaves are connected with shoots by pink or red petioles up to 3 cm long. In spring and summer, the upper part of the leaf plate is light green, shiny, bare, and the lower part is bluish, with pubescence along the veins. In autumn, the leaves of Schisandra chinensis turn yellow-orange and ocher-yellow.

Fragrant waxy white dioecious flowers up to 2 cm in diameter on drooping pedicels are arranged in 3-5 pieces in the axils of the leaves. Composite cyst-like fruit up to 10 cm long consists of edible spherical two-seeded berries of red color and sour taste. The berries of Chinese magnolia vine also have a plant-specific odor. Reniform seeds of Schizandra chinensis remain viable only until spring.

Planting Schisandra chinensis

When to plant Schisandra chinensis

Growing and caring for Chinese magnolia vine is carried out not only for medicinal purposes, but also for decorating the site, since the plant has high decorative qualities. In areas with a warm, mild climate, lemongrass is planted in October, and in the middle lane, planting is done in late April or early May. Professionals recommend planting at least three plants at once at a distance of 1m from each other. If you want to grow a vine near the house, step back from the wall 1-1.5 m so that water from the roof does not drip onto the lemongrass.

How to plant Schisandra chinensis

Lemongrass prefers light but humus-rich, moist and well-drained soil. The plant is shade tolerant, but will thrive in a well-lit area.

As planting material two-three-year-old seedlings are used, in which, with a shoot height of only 10-15 cm, the root system is well developed. Before planting, the taller shoots of the seedling are shortened to 3 buds, and the roots are cut to 20-25 cm.

A landing pit for Chinese magnolia vine is dug with a diameter of 60-70 cm and a depth of at least 40 cm. A drainage layer of expanded clay, broken brick or crushed stone 10 cm thick is laid on the bottom, and a soil mixture is prepared from equal parts of humus, leaf compost and sod to fill the pit. land, adding 200 g of superphosphate, half a kilogram of wood ash to it and mixing thoroughly. Before planting, a soil mixture is poured onto the drainage layer.

Dip the roots of the seedling in a clay mash, on a bucket of which you should add 1 liter of mullein, and place the plant on a mound so that its root collar is at the level of the surface after planting. Spread the roots of lemongrass and fill the hole with prepared fertile soil. Then tamp the soil in the near-stem circle and water it abundantly, and when the water is absorbed, cover the root hole with humus or peat. Schisandra chinensis seedlings take root very quickly, but it is desirable to protect them from the bright sun at first, to ensure regular watering and evening spraying in dry weather.

Chinese lemongrass care

Growing Schisandra chinensis

Planting and caring for Schizandra chinensis is not laborious and will not take you much time. The main care measures are watering, loosening the soil, removing weeds, top dressing, spraying in prolonged dry heat and pruning.

During the growing season, lemongrass is watered often and plentifully: 6-7 buckets of water are poured under the plant at a time. The next day after moistening or rain, you need to loosen the soil around the vine and remove weeds. Do not neglect the evening spraying of Chinese magnolia vine in the heat. Especially young vines need this procedure. To prevent rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil, it is best to always keep the tree ring under organic mulch.

They start feeding Chinese magnolia vine from the third year of life: during spring and summer, once every two to three weeks, a solution of organic fertilizers is applied to the soil - cow (1:10) or chicken (1:20) droppings. A good result is the mulching of the near-stem circle of Chinese magnolia vine with humus or leaf compost. After leaf fall, 100 g of wood ash and 20 g of superphosphate are added under each bush, followed by embedding to a depth of about 10 cm, followed by mandatory subsequent watering of the soil in the near-stem circle.

Fruiting vines during the flowering period are fed with Nitrophoska at the rate of 50 g per m², and after flowering, a solution of fermented mullein or bird droppings is poured under the plant. In autumn, 60 g of superphosphate and 30-40 g of potassium sulfate are scattered under the bushes, and 1 time in 2-3 years, compost is placed under each plant to a depth of 6-8 cm at the rate of 4-5 kg ​​per m².

Schisandra chinensis, since it is a liana, is grown on a trellis, which is installed in the year of planting. This arrangement of branches and shoots allows the sun's rays to better illuminate the plant, and this contributes to the formation of larger fruits and an increase in yield. If you grow lemongrass without support, it is unlikely to bear fruit. The trellis is made of pillars of such a height that, after digging in to a depth of 60 cm, they rise 2-2.5 m above the ground. The distance between the pillars is about 3 m, and they are connected together by three rows of horizontal wire guides, the lower of which is pulled a height of 50 cm from the ground, and the next every 70-100 cm. In the first year, the overgrown shoots are tied to the lower guide, and in the subsequent ones - to those located above. Shoots are fixed on a support with a fan. For the winter, Chinese magnolia vine is not removed from the trellis.

If you are planting a vine near the house, then you can use an inclined ladder installed as a support.

Pruning of lemongrass begins in the third year after planting, when the development of its root system is replaced by increased growth of shoots. From correct pruning depends not only on the decorative effect of Schizandra chinensis, but also on the quality of its fruiting. At the first formative pruning, from 3 to 6 of the strongest and most correctly located shoots are left on the bush - the future skeleton of the plant, and the rest of the shoots are cut out at ground level. In the future, Chinese magnolia vine is pruned twice a year: in autumn and summer. In autumn, after all the leaves have fallen from the plant, weak, diseased, improperly growing and dried shoots that have formed over the summer are cut out. The part of the vine that has been actively bearing fruit for the past three years should also be removed. This is done so that the young shoots of the vine can develop and produce crops.

In summer, lemongrass is pruned only if the plant has formed too many young shoots. Professionals advise cutting branches 10-12 buds from the edge. In addition, you need to deal with root offspring every year, as well as regularly replace old skeletal branches with new strong shoots from root shoots.

Pests and diseases of Schisandra chinensis

Lemongrass has good immunity and, subject to agricultural technology and good care very rarely affected by diseases. It is also resistant to pests. However, if you got infected planting material, you need to be prepared to confront diseases. Most often, lemongrass is affected by spotting, powdery mildew and Fusarium wilt.

From the spots of lemongrass chinensis amaze ramulariasis and ascochitosis. Brown blurry spots and edges on the leaves are the main signs of these diseases. Black dots may appear on the underside of the leaf plate - pycnidia of the fungus. Sick leaves should be removed and burned, and the vine should be treated with one percent Bordeaux liquid or another copper-based fungicide.

powdery mildew covers the leaves and stems of the plant with a sloppy whitish coating. As a result of the development of the disease, lemongrass leaves fall prematurely. Powdery mildew also affects the shoots, buds and roots of Schisandra chinensis. If its symptoms are detected, all affected leaves must be removed, and the plant should be treated with sulfur powder and a solution of soda ash until the vine recovers. The intervals between treatments are 7-10 days.

Fusarium can hit lemongrass at any age, but more often this trouble happens with young plants. The cause of the disease is, as a rule, infection of the planting material. Wilting is manifested by the formation of rotting areas on the root collar and roots of the plant. The stalks of lemongrass darken, become thinner, the leaves turn yellow and fall off, and the vine dies from blockage of blood vessels. It is impossible to cure Chinese magnolia vine from Fusarium, but it is quite possible to prevent the development of the disease if the seeds and seedlings are treated with a fungicide solution before sowing and planting, and the soil with Trichodermin. If the plant is still sick, it will have to be removed and burned, and healthy bushes, until they become infected, should be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Schisandra chinensis in the suburbs

Schisandra chinensis in the Moscow region has long been a rarity, like Chinese magnolia vine in the Urals, since the plant normally tolerates even harsh winters down to -35 ºC, and the decorative and healing qualities of this crop, as well as unpretentiousness in care, make the Far Eastern liana more and more popular among gardeners - lovers. In the middle lane, Chinese magnolia vine for the winter does not need to be laid on the ground or covered; only young plants need protection from the cold, and then only in the first winter. But in the conditions of Siberian frosts, the lashes are carefully removed from the trellis, placed on a spread spruce branch or straw and sprinkled abundantly on top with leaves, straw, or covered with spruce branches.

Propagation of Schisandra chinensis

Chinese magnolia vine propagates by seeds, shoots and root cuttings, however, all the properties of the mother plant are preserved only during vegetative propagation.

Propagation of Schisandra chinensis by seeds

The easiest way is to sow lemongrass seeds on prepared beds before winter immediately after they are harvested. It is possible to sow in the spring, but in this case the seeds are stratified: they are kept in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator for two months. There is a very effective method of preparing seeds for sowing, developed by professionals: they are stored in fruits until January, then they are washed from pulp, put in a nylon stocking and placed under constantly flowing water. At home, seeds in a stocking can be kept in cistern toilet bowl so that after each flush they are in a fresh clean water. Four days later, the seeds are squeezed out, placed directly in a stocking in a container with wet calcined sand and kept at a temperature of 18-20 ºC for a month, after which the container with the seeds is buried in the snow for stratification. A month later, the seeds are brought into a room with a temperature of 10 ºC and observed: after a week or two, they begin to crack, and then they can be sown to a depth of 5 mm in boxes with a mixture of sand and humus in equal parts. Crops are covered with paper and watered daily. Shoots with large cotyledons, similar to cucumber sprouts, will appear in 1-2 weeks. Seedling care consists in protection from direct sunlight, watering and 1-2 treatments with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to prevent black leg and other fungal diseases. At the stage of development of 3-4 true leaves, the seedlings dive into larger boxes according to the 5x5 cm scheme, and in early June, after the heat is finally established, the hardened seedlings of Schisandra chinensis can be planted in open ground in partial shade. The feeding area of ​​one plant is 10x10 cm². Protect seedlings from too strong sun, and with the onset of autumn, cover them with spruce branches or a thick layer of foliage. In a permanent place, Chinese magnolia vine is planted from seeds at the age of two to three years.

Reproduction of Schisandra chinensis shoots

by the most effective way breeding is the planting of shoots. Liana is literally surrounded by many shoots on which dormant buds are located. The offspring are separated from the bush and immediately transplanted to a permanent place. In the southern regions, this can be done before the start of sap flow and after leaf fall, and in the northern regions - only in early spring.

Reproduction of lemongrass by root cuttings

Pieces of roots 5 to 10 cm long with several dormant buds are cut from the rhizome and, so that the overgrown roots do not dry out, the segments are immediately sprinkled with moist soil or covered with a wet napkin. Then the root cuttings are planted in a garden bed or in a cold greenhouse according to the 10x10 scheme and covered with a layer fertile soil 2-3 cm thick. Planting care consists in regular watering. In the spring of next year, the cuttings that have sprouted are planted in a permanent place.

Varieties of Schisandra chinensis

Unfortunately, there are not so many varieties of Chinese magnolia vine. Currently, the most famous of them are:

• Garden-1- a self-pollinating highly productive winter-hardy variety, the branches of which reach a length of 10 m. The fruits of the Chinese magnolia vine of this variety consist of spherical juicy and sour red berries with a lemon smell, collected in racemes up to 10 cm long;
• Mountain- winter-hardy and productive variety of medium ripening, relatively resistant to diseases and pests. Seed fruit up to 9 cm long and weighing up to 13 g consists of 15-17 dark red berries of bitter-sour taste;
• Volgar- winter-hardy, drought-resistant, practically not affected by diseases and pests lemongrass late deadline maturation and universal purpose. It is a monoecious vine with fruits weighing up to 7.3 g, consisting of 14-15 round red fruitlets of a sour taste with a resinous aroma;
• firstborn- frost-resistant and resistant to diseases and pests, a medium-term ripening variety of Russian selection with carmine-red fruits with juicy bright red pulp, a specific sour taste and lemon aroma;
• Myth – hybrid variety of unknown origin with medium length fruitlets, consisting of 15 red fruitlets with a pleasant sour taste.

Properties of Schisandra chinensis - harm and benefit

Medicinal properties of Chinese magnolia vine

For medicinal purposes, mostly the fruits and seeds of the plant are used. The fruits of Schizandra chinensis contain resinous substances, schisandrin, potassium, organic acids (malic, citric and tartaric), vitamins, mineral salts, trace elements copper, iodine, selenium, manganese, iron, zinc, essential oil.

O useful properties This species has been known since Ancient China and actively used the plant in pharmacology. Today Schisandra chinensis is grown on an industrial scale. The berries of the plant have the ability to tone up and stimulate the nervous system, so Nanai hunters, setting off on a journey, take a handful of dried fruits with them. And not so long ago, tests involving military personnel and athletes showed that lemongrass has the ability to relieve fatigue during strong physical activity: only 2-5 Schisandra chinensis berries have a stronger effect than phenamine or cola, but, unlike these stimulants, do not give negative side effects. Schisandra chinensis berries are also shown to those who are engaged in intense mental work, and it is very important that their tonic effect does not deplete nerve cells.

Lemongrass preparations increase the body's resistance to diseases and adverse effects environment, stimulate the respiratory system and the work of the heart muscle. Often they are prescribed in the complex treatment of diseases caused by asthenic and depressive states. It is indicative of the fact that as a result of taking Schisandra chinensis preparations, signs of overexcitation have never been noted.

Fresh juice of lemongrass berries is able to restrain the development of many pathogens. The high efficiency of the treatment of chronic gastritis with plant seeds has been proven: even a single dose of powder from the seeds of Schisandra chinensis led to the normalization of gastric acidity in patients suffering from either too high or too low of its level.

Summing up, we can say that Chinese magnolia vine gives a positive effect:

• with a general decline in strength;
• with high mental or physical stress;
• with low blood pressure;
• with bronchitis, asthma and tuberculosis;
• with anemia;
• with sexual weakness;
• in diseases of the stomach, kidneys and liver.

Schisandra chinensis - contraindications

Schisandra chinensis, like other medicinal plants, has its own contraindications. You can not eat its berries, drink its juice and take plant preparations under the following conditions and pathologies:

• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• allergy;
• epilepsy;
• pregnancy;
• increased excitability;
• arterial hypertension;
• insomnia;
• arachnoiditis;
• increased intracranial pressure;
• acute infectious disease.

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Schisandra chinensis, cultivation and care

Schisandra chinensis, the cultivation and care of which, requires compliance with certain conditions, is gaining great popularity among gardeners. The benefits and healing properties of the plant can hardly be overestimated for the human body. It is quite easy to breed wonderful creepers in the country, you only need a little knowledge and a desire to have a beautiful garden, and an example can be seen in the photo.

How to choose seedlings?

Grow a shrub in open field and fruiting can be achieved only after the successful purchase of seedlings and proper fit. To do this, select healthy bushes of two or three years of age, with roots of at least 20-25 centimeters. The roots of the plant at the time of purchase should be moist, without visible damage.

If the seedlings are sold with a clod of earth, this is even better. So the plant will be less stressed when transplanted to a permanent place. The bark of young vines should be smooth, a wrinkled cover may indicate a lack of moisture and improper storage.

During transportation, the roots are wrapped in a damp cloth, a plastic bag and transported in this state, especially if they are transported over long distances. If the roots were dry at the time of sale, but in general, after visual inspection, they look strong and vigorous, place them in water for 10-12 hours. Rooting stimulants (, etc.) can be added to the water, lemongrass will quickly move away from stress and restore vital processes.

Planting seedlings - we take into account the nuances and prepare the place

Planting a vine is a quick and easy process. It is necessary to properly prepare the soil and planting pit. Seedlings are located on the south side of the site, they do not grow well in drafts and in the shade. It is not recommended to plant bushes near buildings, outbuildings that create a shadow. If necessary, 1.5-2 meters retreat from the structures.

in the photo - chinensis schisandra seedlings
in the photo - a planted seedling of Chinese magnolia vine

Planting dates for seedlings are September and October. In early spring you can also plant a liana (preferably for the northern regions, in the Urals, in Siberia, the Moscow region, where in autumn frequent early frosts can destroy the plant).

Land for planting should be loose and preferably with drainage. They dig a hole 0.4-0.5 meters deep and 50-60 centimeters wide, pebbles, broken bricks or slate are laid on the bottom. Then a fertile mixture is poured (turf land, compost or humus). They put the seedling upright and fall asleep with the remaining fertile soil mixture. The root neck during planting should be 5-4 centimeters above ground level. Then the plant is thoroughly watered (2-3 buckets of water per bush will be enough).

When planting, the plants are placed every 1.3-1.5 m, leaving a row spacing of 2.2-2.5 meters. It is advisable to plant at least two vines with different varietal characteristics. This technique allows you to increase the yield several times.

Planting a crop with seeds

Reproduction by seeds is carried out in April and May. Seeds must be stratified before sowing. In autumn, the seed material is mixed with moistened sand and stored at a temperature of 5-7 ° C above zero (a refrigerator can be used at home). Once every 14 days, the seeds with sand are taken out and aired, not forgetting to mix.

60 days before sowing seeds (in February, March), the container with them is transferred to a warm room (t + 20 ° C) for one month. Then for 30 days the temperature is reduced to +8°C. Sand throughout the entire time of stratification should remain in a moist state.

in the photo - seeds of Schisandra chinensis

Sowing of seeds is carried out in pre-prepared grooves 20 mm deep in moistened soil, diluted with sand (1: 1). After sowing, the furrows are covered, slightly compacting the soil, mulched with peat chips and sand (1: 1) in a small layer (2-2.5 cm), then watered. It is desirable to equip the bed in a greenhouse. Watering is required rare, only on hot days in the morning.

It is advisable to shake off the grown seedlings after each watering. excess water, running your palm over the leaves of lemongrass, allowing it to dry completely. This approach allows you to protect young sprouts from rot. high humidity and high air temperature are detrimental to young seedlings. It is recommended to keep the leaves dry. For better ventilation of the sprouts, do not sow the seeds too densely.

For the winter, grown plants in the greenhouse do not require shelter. V next year seedlings dive to a permanent place. Usually, seedlings grown from seeds in this way are equivalent to four-year-old vines.

How to take care of the culture?

In order for the vine to quickly and get stronger and grow, take care of top dressing. Young lemongrass is fertilized according to the following scheme, in the spring 4 tsp are added to the near-trunk circle. ammonium nitrate and mulch with compost (humus).

in the photo - Chinese lemongrass in the photo - the harvest of Schisandra chinensis

Until August, in the summer, organic fertilizer is applied in liquid form every 7-10 days. Liquid top dressing, according to experienced agronomists, is most effective for young vines. A solution of mullein is prepared at the rate of 1:30, chicken manure is diluted in the same way.

When the culture begins to bear fruit, such frequent top dressing is stopped and fertilized only as needed (usually once a year in the fall). Lemongrass is not afraid of withering. All fertilizers of an adult plant come down to mulching with compost (5-7 cm) or fallen leaves (15-20 cm). Having created just such conditions, the future harvest is laid, and not the growth of shoots.

In a state of slight stress, the plant intensively begins to lay more female inflorescences, prepare to reproduce by seeds, and not by root offspring, that's the whole secret of productivity. If an adult liana is often fed, new shoots with male flowers will actively grow.

Young vines require fairly frequent watering; the soil should not be allowed to dry out completely. The lack of moisture leads to the fact that the leaves turn yellow and fade. Light green or brown spots also appear on the leaves, sometimes the edges become brown. An adult plant that has entered fruiting is watered only when the foliage wilts in the summer.

When caring for vines, you need to know how to properly cut them. Dense thickets lead to the absence of flowers, therefore, the plant does not bear fruit. There is no nectar in the flowers, pollination mainly occurs due to the wind in dry weather. Male flowers are located at the bottom of the vines, female ones at the top. Pollen needs to rise up to set fruit. It is impossible to meet these conditions without pruning. Through dense foliage, pollination occurs weakly or not at all, as a result, fruits are not formed.

in the photo - caring for Chinese lemongrass

In early spring, thinning pruning must be carried out for the proper formation of the crown, removing all intertwined tops and shoots, dry and frozen branches. Creepers of the second order (those that grow from the main central stems) are recommended to be shortened by 25-30 centimeters.

When growing, be sure to take care of the support; without a trellis, fruiting will be poor. Do not let the vine grow, dig out any excess layering, keep the plant within the perimeter of the trellis. Limiting root nutrition within the trellis will force the crop to propagate by seed. So we specifically create conditions for the formation of more flowers.

When caring for a wonderful plant, it is important to remember that the earth is not loosened in the trunk circle, the roots, which are located at a shallow depth, are damaged. It is recommended to mulch with humus or compost. To make the vine bear fruit as early as possible and collect good harvest fruit, you must follow the basic golden rules.

More than a thousand years ago in China, Japan, Korea, lemongrass was already known and appreciated, harvesting its berries for future use. Dried berries were taken with them by hunters and sailors to help fight fatigue and overcome sleep, to give strength.

The harvest of lemongrass is ripening. Photo

Nowadays, sometimes lemongrass is grown as an ornamental crop: it grows quickly and beautifully braids supports, can decorate any garden building - from arches to pergolas or gazebos. But its healing properties are many times greater than the decorative features.

What is useful lemongrass

The main is considered tonic effect berries: they can be eaten fresh or dry, you can store them in the refrigerator, sprinkled with sugar. Alcohol tinctures are also prepared from them. Young shoots and berries of lemongrass are also added to tea or brewed as an independent drink.

Spring, lemongrass is preparing to bloom. Photo

Lemongrass stimulates the nervous system well, increases attention and concentration. It is used when you need to help the body adapt to difficult and adverse conditions. But any preparations from this plant categorically contraindicated those who have high blood pressure, have heart problems, who suffer from insomnia.

It also has an unusual taste and is very aromatic. Smell of lemongrass amazing combination resinous coniferous and bright lemon aroma. After tasting the berry, you will first feel a sweet-salty taste, then very sour, and when you bite into the seed, you will feel a specific bitterness.

How to grow lemongrass

You can grow lemongrass from seed or propagate root growth. The seed method of reproduction is considered the main one, but it takes a lot of time: before planting in a permanent place, seedlings need to be grown for 2-3 years in a special seedling bed.

You can find lemongrass seedlings and seeds in our catalog, which contains products from various online garden stores. .

Growing lemongrass from root shoots is much easier and faster. To do this, carefully dig out young shoots and separate them from the main root with a pruner or a sharp knife, and then plant them in a permanent place and water them well. Most of the plants do well.

But with this method of reproduction there is one danger: if the operation is not carried out on time, an abundant flow of juice may begin, which is almost impossible to stop, and as a result, the entire vine dies. For the same reason avoid spring pruning lemongrass - it is usually carried out in June-July.

How to care for lemongrass

The main thing in caring for lemongrass is to provide it with reliable support. Without support, it can grow, but it will not bloom and bear fruit. For the winter, it is sometimes recommended to remove the vine from the supports, but, firstly, it is very difficult to implement in practice: the stems wrap around and braid them quite tightly; secondly, in natural conditions - in the taiga - lemongrass endures even very harsh winters, of course, on its natural supports and without additional shelters.

For the winter, lemongrass does not need to be removed from the supports and covered. Photo

The soil under the vine for the winter can be additionally mulched (add humus); but it is enough and simply not to remove the leaves that have fallen in autumn from under it (lemongrass is a deciduous liana). In practice, this plant is harmed not so much by frosts in winter - it is accustomed to them - as by late return frosts, which practically do not occur in its homeland. Spring colds can damage buds and flowers, and there will be no harvest.

Blooming lemongrass. Photo