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Caring For Moringa Tree As A Houseplant
Taking care of a Moringa tree as a houseplant is possible and a good idea. It is an attractive ornamental plant with nutritious and medicinal attributes. Many consider it a part of survival crops because it thrives in various conditions. It adapts in warm and cold areas, whether there are droughts or constant downpours. Their foliage, roots, flowers, and pods are edible. Folks appreciate these for their flavor and healing qualities. So many find taking care of the Moringa plant indoors practical.
This post discusses tips on how to grow Moringa indoors and keep them thriving inside. Many times, it’s the plant that grows well outside despite neglect. Yet it develops better with proper and consistent care. Included in this article are the health benefits of Moringa too. So keep reading to find out more about the plant.
Describe Moringa Tree As A Houseplant
It goes by the name Moringa Oleifera or drumstick tree. It’s a deep-rooted, thin, leafy, and deciduous tree. Maturity makes it become a steep plant, yet it’s what you can grow Moringa indoors. It has a taproot system that doesn’t branch to the sides a lot. Groups of fragrant white or yellowish blossoms come out months after planting. Sparse foliage on skinny branches displays clusters of green leaves throughout the year. Because of its features, it draws many homeowners to have it on their property. People put it in pots indoors to decorate different rooms. They also serve as food or medicine resources for homes. So it explains why many potted Moringa Oleifera trees are near kitchens and dining areas.
The drumstick tree grows fast and requires constant trimming when inside. But it’s due to that feature that it’s also appealing to many gardeners. It becomes 18 feet or so before it reaches 18 months. Hence, beginners may find it easy to grow it. Yet its height makes it challenging to harvest pods and foliage. Still, with constant pruning, people can set its peak and shape it. It’s way more manageable when it started developing from a pot. Some folks even create a bonsai out of it. So it’s also a tree that is controllable in how it grows.
Sunlight and Heat For The Moringa Oleifera
The Moringa tree as a houseplant isn’t demanding. It can thrive in spots with partial shade. But this tree can do well when there’s adequate heat and sunlight. When indoors, as a potted plant, it can grow well when close to windows. Putting them on the windowsill or shaded spots outdoors near your house works too. Steady exposure to grow lights and 6 to 7 hours of daily sunlight is enough. But leaving it where there the lights are always on won’t be a problem too. It grows fast as a flowering tree. Hence, it should make food a lot through photosynthesis. It’s why they can handle arid conditions.
Sunny locations can enjoy the health benefits of Moringa but so can areas with cold climates too. Controlling the temperature means being able to care for a Moringa plant indoors. This plant cannot withstand freezing temperatures. When it hits 41 to 32 Fahrenheit, its leaves will start to discolor and drop. But, in wintertime, putting them inside can help them manage the cold. They should survive with constant light warmth. During wintertime, heating a room to 75 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit is helpful. There shouldn’t be an issue about placing it near a heat source since it can take 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Yet it shouldn’t be too close to intense heat. Doing so will reduce its nutrients or vitamin content. So preparations are still necessary to grow Moringa indoors.
Watering Moringa Tree As A Houseplant
Leaving it outside to get rainfall as a mature tree is fine. Even if it doesn’t have thick leaves, it has other parts that let it keep moisture. It doesn’t ask for constant watering since it has thick roots that store plenty of water. When you put the Moringa plant indoors, weekly hydration may be enough. Plus, it requires an environment where it won’t stay wet. Hence, it must be in a well-draining or loamy soil. When you see that the ground is moist, don’t water it. Also, never forget to water it every so often, even if it’s drought-resistant. Since it produces branches and foliage fast, it asks for water to sustain it.
The first year of its planting is crucial for its growth. Thus it’s the time when it needs to get moisture the most. Water is essential in photosynthesis, and it encourages quality development. But, after germination, hydrating every other day will suffice. It’s appropriate to do so when seedlings begin to appear. When most parts of the tree are present, watering once weekly is adequate. Yet, as pointed out, it has roots extending far down. So it can thrive well with deep watering. Even with infrequent watering, such a method can keep it hydrated. For that reason, deep watering works as well as rainfalls.
Fertilizing And Pruning The Moringa Oleifera
Because of its rapid growth rate, it must have fertilizer to have adequate nutrients. It means a Moringa tree as a houseplant has to have high-nitrogen fertilizer. For leaf color and expansion, nitrogen is what plants need. But, of course, phosphorus and potassium are critical components too. Phosphorus must be there for root maintenance and to fight diseases. Potassium moves water and other nutrients within plant tissues. It helps plants with swift development and to have sturdy stems. Some gardeners agree that using fertilizers with an NPK ratio of 2:1:1 or 3:1:1 will suffice. Others use poultry manure, among other organic matter. Thus testing to find out which works best may be a part of growing the Moringa plant indoors.
Fertilizing the soil can only do so much for it. It must stay under control since its leaves and branches become many fast. It is also a tree that becomes very tall when neglected. Take note that a Moringa Oleifera can reach 10 to 12 meters high. Thus regular pruning is also crucial when you grow Moringa indoors. It’s to make it bushy rather than tall. This way, its stem becomes thicker too. Pruning the top growth when it gets steep and the blossoms during the first year are critical. Even if you don’t need the health benefits of Moringa, you must cut the foliage. So it needs attention on occasion to manage it, especially when inside.
What People Do With Moringa
People have a Moringa tree as a houseplant for various motives. Aside from having it for improving the home design, many take care of it for health reasons. The presence of this plant alone clears the air of some toxins. Also, it allows having fresh and breathable air. It absorbs carbon dioxide and other gases to release oxygen that is safe to inhale. Others own processed forms of the plant. It’s because it also comes in pills and powdered form nowadays. Folks ingest it as a beverage or part of a dish to enjoy the plant elements. So it’s clear why folks grow Moringa indoors or have forms of it available.
Moringa tea bags, capsules, and powders are in the market nowadays. Yet some prefer getting the leaves of the plant for a fresher taste and more nutritious food. Products saturated with extracts may allow for nutrient-dense food and drinks. But getting the health benefits of Moringa involves using its raw parts. It means getting components, like the leaves, and mixing them with food. Some combine the fresh foliage with a cold drink, while others put them in soups. Hence, there is a variety of things to do with this plant.
Benefits Of Moringa Tree As A Houseplant
Many who have a Moringa plant indoors use the vegetation for health purposes. Parts of the tree are edible and nutritious. When eaten raw or cooked, these plant sections bring about benefits. It has high levels of vitamins A and C, which are antioxidants. Consuming it helps to reduce inflammation. Also, it has more calcium than milk and extra potassium than a banana. Its content provides positive contributions to bone health and fluid balance within. Still, it may aid in lowering blood sugar levels. Successful sugar control helps diabetic patients manage. It may also prevent diabetes and its complications. A study showed that Moringa Oleifera helped some animals have reduced glycemic levels. So it comes as no surprise why health-conscious people grow Moringa indoors.
Other health benefits of Moringa include better digestion and lower cholesterol levels. Parts of the tree are low-fat and high in fiber. It’s not surprising that many who take it are healthy. It’s because low cholesterol equates to reduced fat deposits in the arteries. Also, plenty of fiber in the diet equates to better gut health and waste elimination. It means avoiding constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and other gastric issues. Hence, many homeowners have Moringa inside of their houses. They have it in plant or other edible forms.
To Wrap It All Up
A Moringa tree as a houseplant is worth it. It’s not only because having it means owning an exotic plant. The plant is low-maintenance and ideal for amateur gardeners. Even seasoned horticulturists appreciate it for its adaptability and as a high-yielding crop. It doesn’t demand a lot of sunlight, water, soil, fertilizer, and temperature. It also produces edible and nutritious parts. But, even if it is easy to take care of, it still requires attention every so often. It may wither from getting too cold. Still, it will have a particular shape with appropriate and enough care. So, it’s worth the effort to grow Moringa indoors.
As mentioned, many health benefits of Moringa plants are available. Thus folks take care of it to incorporate its consumable parts with food and drinks. It is another point that shows owning it is practical. We hope you learned a few helpful things about the Moringa Oleifera plant. Thanks for reading and please share your thoughts about this healthy herb.
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