Medicinal plant Atis - Aconitum heterophyllum

10. Step 1
Soak atis tree seeds in a bowl of room-temperature water for three
days before sowing them. Dry the seeds on a dishrag or paper
towel for 20 minutes immediately before sowing them.
Step 2
Fill 10-inch nursery pots with a soil mixture comprised of three
parts loam, two parts compost and one part perlite. Use sterile
loam and neutral to mildly acidic compost for the soil mixture.

11. Step 3
Sow one atis tree seed in each 10-inch nursery pot. Bury the
seeds under three-fourth of an inch of soil. Firm the soil with the
flat of your hand to anchor the seeds.
Step 4
Water the soil mixture in each pot until it feels lightly moist at a
depth of 1 inch. Keep the soil moist at a 1-inch-depth at all times
but let the surface of the soil dry out slightly between waterings to
prevent mold growth on the soil.

12. Step 5
Set the pots in a greenhouse or outdoors against a sheltered,
south-facing wall. Rotate the pots a half-revolution every other day
to ensure even sun exposure on the sides of the pots, which will
keep the soil warm.
Step 6
Watch for germination two weeks after sowing the atis tree seeds,
but do not be worried if it takes a month for the seedlings to
emerge.

13. Step 7
Move the atis tree seedlings to a lightly shaded spot for the first
few months after they emerge to protect them from sunburn. Water
regularly after the seedlings emerge but avoid getting moisture on
the leaves or stem.
Step 8
Transplant the atis tree seedlings into a permanent bed six months
after they germinate. Choose a sunny spot with excellent drainage.
Space the trees 15 to 20 feet apart.

14. Step 9
Feed the atis trees once a year in early spring with 3-10-10 ratio
fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer according to the directions on the label
to protect the atis tree roots from damage.
Note - These three numbers represent the primary nutrients
(nitrogen(N) - phosphorus(P) - potassium(K)). This label,
known as the fertilizer grade, is a national standard. A bag
of 3-10-10 fertilizer contains 3 percent nitrogen, 10 percent
phosphate and 10 percent potash.

15. Harvesting/Post-harvesting
Harvesting of tubers is recommended after the completion of reproductive phase and maturation of seeds
during October-November.
Maximum yield is recorded during October-November period. However active content (atisine) and other
alkaloids content were found maximum when plant were harvested in July-August at the time of onset of
flowering period.
Further percentage of active contents slightly decreased with maturation of plant. After completion of
reproductive phase at any altitude, plants become mature for harvest and yield good percentage of active
contents.
Time of completion of reproductive phase differs with the altitude of cultivation. Generally the plants in
alpine areas complete their reproductive phase in the last week of October or first of November while the
plants cultivated at lower altitude complete their reproductive phase in the first half of October.
Plants raised from tuber cuttings completed their vegetative and reproductive phase within three years.
The harvesting period for this species is 3-4 years.