[MPWG] Demand for Rhodiola from the wild

[HERBWORLD at aol.com]

This is from our Herbalpedia CD (an encyclopedia on CD with 1250 monographs 
of botanicals) on cultivating Rhodiola

Cultivation: Hardy from zones 2-9; flowers in spring and summer.   Prefers a 
fertile well drained open loam in a sunny position. Tolerates fairly damp 
conditions but prefers a raised well-drained spot. Established plants are drought 
resistant. This species is extremely polymorphic.  Plants often self-sows when 
they are growing in a suitable position. They can self-sow to the point of 
nuisance.  Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.  
Surface sow seed in a sunny position in a greenhouse in spring. Do not let 
the compost dry out. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 42°F. Prick 
out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, 
and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in early 
summer of the following year.  Division in August to October. Very easy, larger 
divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. It is 
better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold 
frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring 
or early summer.  Cuttings can be taken in the growing season. Basal shoots in 
early summer are easiest. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem 
when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots 
and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are 
rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Maureen Rogers
The Herb Growing & Marketing Network
PO Box 245, Silver Spring, PA 17575-0245
717-393-3295; FAX: 717-393-9261
www.herbalpedia.com  www.herbworld.com and www.herbnet.com 
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