Ice grass planting method and season

Ice grass , also known as ice plant and ice-leaf ice flower, is an annual or biennial herb of the Aizoaceae family and the ice flower genus, native to Africa. There are some bubble-like transparent liquids on the surface of its leaves and stems, which are as crystal clear as dewdrops. They are not only ornamental but also have high edible value, so they have good planting prospects. So what are the methods and seasons for planting ice grass? Let’s learn more about it below.

1. Planting season

Ice grass can be sown in spring and summer, but the best time is April to May.

2. Site selection and land preparation

Choose a plot with loose, well-drained sandy soil or light clay soil for planting. Before planting, organic fertilizer should be applied as base fertilizer, and the soil should be plowed to a depth of 20-30 cm, and then harrowed and compacted to make the soil surface fine and flat. To improve soil fertility.

3. Seed treatment

If you buy seeds with good quality and high germination rate, they generally do not need to be germinated and can be sown directly. Otherwise, you need to soak the seeds completely in water, change the water every day to allow the seeds to absorb enough water, then take them out to dry, and put them in a sealed container for germination.

4. Planting method

The methods can be divided into broadcasting and row sowing. When sowing, spread the seeds evenly in the prepared soil. In production, the method of row sowing is often adopted, and mechanical row sowing can be used. The row spacing should be kept at about 20-30 cm. Because the seeds of ice grass are relatively small, they cannot be sown too deep. A sowing depth of 2-3 cm is enough. Cover with soil to ensure close contact between the seeds and the soil to facilitate germination.

5. Transplanting and planting

35-40 days after sowing, when the seedlings grow 4-5 leaves, they can be transplanted and planted. Since the root system of ice grass is not well developed, in order to increase the survival rate, it can be moved to a nutrient cup for cultivation first, and then transplanted after about half a month when the root system has grown well.

6. Management points

The growth management of ice grass requires sufficient light, and the temperature should be controlled at 15-30℃. When the soil surface is dry, use drip irrigation to keep the soil moist. At the same time, do a good job of weeding and fertilizing to increase the yield of ice grass.



In general, ice plant has a wide range of uses and is cold-resistant, drought-tolerant, and highly adaptable, making it worthy of promotion in cultivation. Currently, the production areas of this African plant that have been successfully introduced into my country include Shandong, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Yunnan and other places.