Last Updated on March 1, 2022 by Guillermina
So you’re curious about growing ma huang indoors or Ephedra sinica? You have come to the right place. Today we are going to tackle the different ways to successfully grow this plant. But first what is ma huang?
Ma huang is an Asian plant. It is native to China and has been used as a major source of the drug ephedrine. It is also a popular herbal plant in China, which has been used for a thousand years already. It has several species, which are imperative in Ayurvedic medicine and are a great treatment for colds, coughs, and fever.
Today on the blog, we are going to tackle the different steps in growing Ma Huang indoors. Read on and discover more about this wonderfully unique plant.
How To Plant Ma Huang Seeds – Step by Step Guide
The best way to grow ma Huang is using its seeds. You may find ma Huang seeds in your local nursery, or purchase them online. Traditional Chinese plant shops usually have ma Huang seeds available because it is continuously used by the Chinese as medicines. The following are the steps on how to plant ma Huang.
- Sow the seeds with the point down. Choose a well-draining soil. The best soil for ma Huang is a mix of coarse sand, fine gravel, perlite, and diatomite. When using sand, don’t use the sand you get from the sea because it is salty. We recommend using river sand because of its tasteless and mineral-rich characteristics.
- Orient the seed onto the ground. If you simply scatter it across the surface, the readily may emerge skywards. As a result, the root will arch over to find soil. IN this case, you would be waiting for energy in the process and risking your plant drying out while being too exposed.
- Keep them in humid condition until the seeds germinate. You can also cover them in polyethylene plastic. Make sure to not let the container get too hot as it might kill your plant.
- Plant the Ma Huang in areas where there is indirect sunlight. Don’t let it get exposed to too much sunlight. The full sun should be fine once they are established.
Growing Ma Huang Ephedra Successfully
Growing Ma Huang seeds is just like growing succulents. The key to a triumphant Ma Huang plant is a combination of the following factors.
- Soil
- Sunlight
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Water
How Fast Does Ma Huang Grow?
Ma Huang can grow fast given the right condition. The following is a guide you can follow to grow Ma Huang fast.
1. Ensure Your Ma Huang Get Enough Light
Succulents love light and need around six hours of sun each day. Recently established Ma Huang can singe in direct daylight, so you might have to step by step acquaint them with full sun openness or furnish conceal with a sheer shade.
2. Turn Ma Huang Frequently
Since you are planting your Ma Huang indoors, you must expose all sides of your ma huang plant. Otherwise, the leaves from the unexposed part will become leggy in its search for sunlight.
3. Water According to the Season
Very much like us, Ma Huang needs more energy when they’re in a time of development. Throughout the spring and summer, the plants are flourishing and drinking up considerably more water than while they’re resting in the fall and winter.
4. Water the Soil Directly
Whenever you water your Ma Huang, drench the soil until water runs out of the seepage openings. Don’t utilize a shower jug to water your Ma Huang. Clouding can cause fragile roots and rotten leaves. You can likewise put pots in a dish of water and permit the water to ingest through the seepage opening. When the highest point of the dirt is clammy, eliminate it from the container.
5. Keep It Clean
Clear off the leaves and spines tenderly with a sodden fabric. You can also utilize a delicate paintbrush to get at hard-to-arrive spots.
6. Pick a Container with Drainage
Ma Huang prefers not to sit in waterlogged soil, so waste is vital to forestall decay. Your holder ought to have a seepage opening to permit abundant water to get away. Terracotta pots are great for Ma Huangs because it helps drain the excess water. Moreover, it is porous so it also helps absorb the moisture and keep your plant dry.
7. Plant Ma Huang in the Right Soil
Ma Huang needs soil that channels, so normal gardening soil or soil from your yard will not do. Alternately, you can use a succulent mix to grow your Ma Huang. Later you will find out that Ma Huang is just like any other succulent that loves dry soil and sunny spot.
8. Get rid of mealybugs
Bugs shouldn’t be an issue for indoor succulents, however, every so often you might need to manage bugs. Gnats are drawn to Ma Huang that is planted in soil that is excessively wet and doesn’t have appropriate seepage.
To dispose of eggs, splash the dirt with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Mealybugs are another nuisance for Ma Huang, so don’t just ignore the issue. If you want a natural remedy, you can opt for soap and water.
Where Does Ma Huang Grow?
Ma Huang is native to China but is imported nowadays in many parts of the world. You can buy Ma Huang seeds from online plant shops.
Ma Huang usually flowers from May to June while the seeds can ripen between August and September. The Ma Huang plant is unique because the flowers are either male or female. Hence, if you want to propagate your plant, you need to make sure that you have male and female plants.
Remember that Ma Huang loves the sunny location, so don’t keep it a dark corner of your home. Expose it to sunshine during hot summer days and keep it indoors during the winter. Ma Huang cannot survive in cold weather conditions so to keep it growing year-round, you can use grow lights for your Ma Huang plant in the winter.