Natural food coloring refers to pigments extracted or prepared from plants, animals, microorganisms or other natural sources for coloring food. These pigments are naturally produced due to biochemical reactions in living organisms and do not contain synthetic chemical components. Natural Food Colorants,Natural Food Pigments, natural food color Xi'an Day Natural Inc. , https://herb.dayqc.com
what is natural food color?
Natural food colors can be divided into the following categories according to their source:
1. Plant pigments: This is the most common source of natural food pigments, including pigments derived from a variety of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plant roots. For example, red beets can provide red pigments, carrots can provide orange pigments, turmeric can provide yellow pigments, and blueberries and purple potatoes can provide purple and blue pigments.
2. Animal pigments: These pigments are rare and usually come from the tissues or excretions of certain animals. For example, cochineal is a red pigment derived from the cochineal insects that live on certain cacti.
3. Microbial pigments: Some microorganisms, such as monascus, can produce specific pigments, such as monascus red pigments.
4. Mineral pigments: Although less used, certain inorganic minerals can also be used as natural food pigments, such as titanium dioxide (white) and iron oxide (red, yellow and black). However, due to possible toxicity issues with some mineral pigments, their use is often severely restricted or banned.
Natural food colors are generally considered safer and healthier than synthetic colors due to their nature. However, their color stability, heat resistance, light resistance, and interaction with other food ingredients may not be as good as synthetic pigments, so their application in the food industry sometimes presents some challenges. At the same time, the extraction and processing of natural pigments can also affect their cost and sustainability. Nevertheless, as consumer concerns about food safety and health increase, the demand for natural food coloring is growing.
Boxwood is a popular evergreen shrub native to the southern regions, belonging to the genus Buxus. It has been widely appreciated for its compact growth, dense foliage, and year-round green appearance, making it a favorite in landscaping projects such as hedges and ornamental shapes. In northern China, boxwood is one of the most commonly used plants in garden design. However, due to climate limitations, it has been challenging to propagate boxwood seedlings in the north. As a result, most seedlings are transported from the south, which increases costs and reduces survival rates.
To address this issue, we developed an improved propagation technique through extensive research and field trials. By shifting from winter cuttings to summer cuttings, using a stone-based substrate instead of traditional soil, and selecting younger shoots rather than old branches, we significantly improved the success rate. This method has now been successfully implemented across large areas in northern China, with a survival rate exceeding 85%. The process is simple and efficient, effectively solving the long-standing problem of difficult seedling cultivation in the region.
Last year alone, we produced over 400,000 boxwood seedlings using this technique. Below are the detailed steps and technical points:
**1. Cutting Bed Preparation**
- Choose a well-drained, ventilated area. Construct beds with a width of 1–1.2 meters and a height of 0.5–0.6 meters. Surround the bed with bricks and level the surface.
- Use a mix of crushed stone and fine sand for the substrate, about 4–5 cm thick, with a 2 cm layer of coarse sand at the bottom for better drainage.
- Provide shade using a 65% shading net, either in a greenhouse or on a bamboo/steel frame structure. Ensure the frame is sturdy for winter cover.
- Install a micro-sprinkler system to maintain humidity and temperature. A fully automatic system is ideal, but manual control can also work if necessary.
**2. Cutting Selection and Preparation**
- Cuttings should be taken between mid-May and early August, ideally just before or after the peak growth period.
- Select healthy, young plants (1–5 years old) with no pests. Use semi-hardened shoots from the current season or robust two-year-old branches. Avoid using branches older than three years.
- Harvest cuttings in the morning or late afternoon to minimize water loss. After cutting, place them in the shade. Trim the base to leave 4–5 cm of stem, keep 2–3 leafy sections at the top, and ensure enough leaves for root development.
**3. Planting the Cuttings**
- Soak the cuttings in clean water for 30–50 minutes before planting.
- Apply a rooting hormone (e.g., 500 g/kg indolebutyric acid) to the base.
- Plant cuttings in rows spaced 4×4 cm or 5×5 cm apart. Insert them 4–5 cm deep into the substrate and gently press the soil around the stems.
**4. Post-Planting Care**
- Maintain high humidity (70%+), with the substrate moisture between 15–25%. Adjust watering based on weather and rooting progress.
- Spray fungicides like carbendazim or chlorothalonil every two weeks to prevent disease. Monitor for pests and treat promptly.
- If not transplanted immediately, apply a diluted fertilizer solution (0.3–0.5%) every 15 days.
- For same-year transplanting, gradually remove the shade and reduce watering after two months to acclimate the seedlings to outdoor conditions.
This method has proven highly effective, offering a sustainable and cost-efficient way to grow boxwood in northern regions.