How to propagate Heliconia

The first method: sowing method

Heliconia is an insect-pollinated plant and cannot complete pollination without the help of insects, which means it cannot bear fruit naturally. The substrate can be heated in a pot and then the seeds can be germinated with warm water. Soil is very important. We can generally use loose and permeable soil, which can be prepared by mixing equal amounts of peat soil, garden soil and sand. Of course, you can also simply use sand directly for sowing.

The second method: division

Division is the most commonly used method of propagating Scorpion Tail Banana. The best time to divide Scorpion Tail Banana is in late spring and early summer. Because the underground stems and vines of Heliconia banana have a strong ability to extend their growth, and its underground stems have a large number of buds. Generally, when there is sufficient fertilizer, high temperature and high humidity, tillering seedlings will emerge in large numbers. In order to ensure a high survival rate, when dividing the plants, be sure to dig out the mother plant with underground stems, and use a knife to divide the rhizomes of the mother plant into several clumps for planting. It can usually be planted in pots or directly in a greenhouse. When potted, it is generally better to use 3 to 4 root segments or 6 to 7 leaves. When planting, be sure to keep 20 to 30 cm of stems, and cut off the dead branches and bad leaves on the stems to prevent moisture from evaporating faster. When cutting the rhizome of the heliconia banana, be careful to make the incision smooth and not too large, and try to avoid damaging the root system. When cultivating, be careful not to plant the pseudostem too deep to prevent it from failing to develop, and the leaf clusters need to be exposed to the ground to facilitate survival.

The third method: tissue culture

During disinfection, first soak the tubers that are about to sprout in 0.1% carbendazim solution for 5-6 hours and then culture them in a plastic bag that is as opaque as possible until the seeds of the scorpion banana germinate. Secondly, cut off the seed buds of the scorpion banana, disinfect them routinely, and then inoculate them on the culture medium. This can better promote the growth of axillary buds. If conditions permit, it is best to cultivate it in a cultivation field or at room temperature, which can ensure a fairly high survival rate.