How to propagate the two-line arrowroot

Division method

Division is the most commonly used propagation method for two-line arrowroot, which is usually carried out in spring when the temperature reaches around 20℃.

The soil for flower pots or seedbeds should be slightly acidic soil rich in humus, generally made by mixing equal amounts of leaf mold and peat soil; it can also be made by mixing pond mud, peat, and perlite in a ratio of 2:3:1; or by adding loose leaf mold rich in organic matter and 1/3 perlite, plus a small amount of base fertilizer.

First, use a sharp knife to cut the root blocks with stems, leaves or leaf buds. If it is a family breeding and the quantity required is small, you can directly place the cut root blocks with stems, leaves and leaf buds in the flowerpot; if it is a large-scale breeding, place them in the seedbed.

The ambient temperature should be kept at 20℃-28℃ and the relative humidity should be above 80%. If the temperature and humidity are not reached, a layer of film should be covered on the flower pot or seedbed.

Cutting method

Cuttings are generally carried out when the temperature is not lower than 20℃ and can be done in any season.

The top tender shoots are generally used for double-line arrowroot cuttings. The length of the cut cuttings should be 10-15 cm. If the leaves grow vigorously, one-third of the leaves need to be retained. If the leaves grow weakly and are relatively small, one-half of the leaves need to be retained.

Before cuttings, soak the cuttings in 500ppm naphthaleneacetic acid solution for 2-3 seconds. They can also be treated with indoleacetic acid, indolebutyric acid and ABT rooting powder.

After processing, the cuttings will be inserted into the seedbed or flowerpot at an angle. If propagated in large quantities, the spacing between rows and plants of double-line arrowroot should be about 5×10 cm to ensure the normal growth of the plant.

After cutting, cover with film, control the temperature at 20℃-30℃, and the relative humidity of the air at 75%-85%.

The survival rate of cuttings is lower than that of division propagation, which is about 50%, so it is best to adopt the division propagation method for general household breeding.