Ginseng

Chinese medicine counts ginseng to be one of the most valuable medicinal plants, whereby mostly the root, which sometimes resembles the human shape, but also leaves and stems are used, paid for $ 000. Acting forces: The saponins contained in the plant are supposed to improve cardiac output, breathing and immune defense and blood sugar, fat and cholesterol levels are supposed to be reduced. The botanical name reflects the meanings mentioned above: Panax = Greek = all-healing / Ginseng = Chinese jen shen = human root. Tea: Pour one gram of root powder with 100 ml of boiling water. One to two cups a day have an invigorating effect. The natural habitats of ginseng can be found in northeastern Chinese provinces, in the north of Korea and in the south of the Russian Primorye region.

Cultivation
Growing from seeds indoors is possible all year round. Ginseng is a so-called cold germ and it is best to grow it in a bowl. Press the seeds only lightly into a loose and moist, but not soaked, growing medium and place the bowl in a light place at around 20 ° Celsius. Keep the growing medium moist, but not wet. After two to four weeks, a cooling period of two to four weeks is necessary, during which the ambient temperature of the seed tray should only be around 5 ° Celsius. Germination takes place towards the end of this cooling period.

care
Ginseng prefers to stand in a lime-free, humus-rich and permeable plant substrate. Ginseng can be grown well in the house, but is also suitable for the garden due to its frost resistance. In August you can encourage the development of strong roots by adding organic fertilizers. Harvest: From the third year the plant forms red inflorescences and from the age of four to six years the spindle-shaped human roots can be dug up and dried. This is best done in the fall, when the above-ground parts of the plant have withdrawn. After washing, the roots are dried in the oven at a maximum of 40 ° Celsius with the oven door slightly open, then ground to powder and stored cool in a dark glass vessel.

Location
A partially shaded location without direct sun is ideal, as the leaves burn quickly and the plant dies.

in winter
Ginseng likes to overwinter in a cool room at around