Sugarcane.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Media

Tipo de planta

Perennial grass

Luz

Full sun

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada 2 a 4 días

Tamaño adulto

10 to 20 feet

Ritmo de crecimiento

Rápido

Rusticidad

USDA 9 a 12

Floración

Late autumn to winter

Cuidados

Keep the soil consistently moist and provide as much direct sunlight as possible. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal a need for more nitrogen or better drainage. Ensure the plant stays in a warm environment, as it is very sensitive to frost.

Riego

Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged.

Abonado

Apply a balanced fertilizer monthly during the active growing season.

Poda

Remove dead or damaged lower leaves to improve airflow.

Trasplante

Repot when the roots become crowded or the plant becomes top heavy.

Suelo

Rich, well draining loam

pH del suelo

6.0 to 7.5

Temperatura

15 a 35°C

Humedad

60 a 90%

Seguridad

Personas

The plant is non-toxic, though the sharp, serrated leaf edges can cause painful skin cuts.

Niños

The sharp, saw-toothed edges of the leaves can easily cut a child's skin if they run their hands along them.

Alérgenos por contacto

The stiff, serrated leaf margins can cause mechanical irritation and small cuts on the skin.

Alérgenos en el aire

The large, feathery flower plumes can release significant amounts of pollen that may trigger hay fever in sensitive individuals.

Comestibilidad

Raw sugarcane is safe, but avoid consuming if the stalks show signs of red rot or mold as these can produce toxins.

Cómo identificarla

• Tall, thick, bamboo like stalks
• Long, broad, arching green leaves
• Fibrous stems containing sweet juice
• Feathery, plume like flower spikes

Altura

2 a 5m

Anchura

0,6 a 1,5m

Hojas

green, evergreen

Flores

silver, white, 30 a 60cm

Frutos

brown, Autumn to winter

Problemas frecuentes

• Sugarcane borer — Larvae tunnel into the stalks, weakening the plant and reducing sugar content.
• Red rot — A fungal infection that causes internal reddening and souring of the stalk tissues.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

cuttings, division

Cuándo plantar

Spring

Plant nitrogen-fixing legumes nearby to help meet the high fertility requirements of this fast-growing grass.

Buenas compañeras

• Sweet Potato — It acts as a living mulch to suppress weeds around the base of the sugarcane.
• Judía común — Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which helps support the heavy nutrient needs of the sugarcane.

Especies parecidas

• Chinese silver grass — It shares a similar clumping growth habit but is much more cold-hardy.
• Sorghum — It is a related grass that is also used for sugar production in some regions.

Ciencia

Familia

Poaceae

Género

Saccharum

Orden

Poales

Clase

Liliopsida

Distribución natural

Tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia.

Conservación

This species is widely cultivated and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in hot, humid environments with abundant water and deep, fertile soil.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source

Polinizadores

abejas, mariposas

Usos

sugar production, molasses, ornamental grass, biofuel

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Can I grow sugarcane in a pot?

Yes, it grows well in large containers if provided with plenty of water and warmth.

How do I harvest it?

Cut the stalks at ground level once they reach maturity and the lower leaves begin to dry.

De dónde viene el nombre

The genus name Saccharum comes from the Greek word for sugar, while the species name officinarum refers to its historical status as a plant sold in apothecaries.

Bueno saberlo

• Sugarcane is a member of the grass family, Poaceae.
• It accounts for nearly 80 percent of the world's sugar production.
• The plant stores sugar in its internodes rather than its roots.
• Sugarcane was first domesticated in New Guinea thousands of years ago.