Patchouli is a plant best known for its strong musky scent that can be used as a fragrance. Besides for its fragrance, patchouli is also used for culinary purposes, cold and body remedies, and the oil extracted from the plant is used for chewing gums, baked goods and candy.
Where Patchouli Grows
Patchouli grows best in warm, humid climates as it is indigenous in Southeast Asia. They also grow in areas such as Florida and Texas. The patchouli plant is considered a tropical perennial. It is best to grow patchouli as a house plant when living in colder climates and should be done so indoors to prevent killing the plant with frost.
Different Ways of Growing
There are a couple of ways to cultivate patchouli. One of the ways is to propagate by cuttings, preferably semi-woody cuttings in the fall or winter. Propagating by cuttings means that you can grow new plants by cutting the stems of leaves and planting them in soil. With the proper care, they can grow roots and begin growth as an individual plant. Semi-woody cuttings are stems that are not yet fully matured. After cutting, it is best to trim off excess leaves from the stem, treat the cut stem with hormone to boost its ability to grow roots, and plant the stem in moist soil. Maintain moisture for the stem as it is an important step towards developing roots. Rooting hormones are available at any home and garden store. Another way to grow patchouli is to cultivate using seeds. Treat the seeds as perennials and therefore the seeds should be sown in the fall or winter so that it will bloom during warmer weather. You can also purchase pre-rooted plants and simply grow them at home. But again the best way to grow is by using semi-woody cuttings as it is capable of producing more plants with more ease than growing with seeds.
Conditions for Growing
The best conditions for growing patchouli is in full sunlight or partial shading. If growing as a house plant, it's best to put the plant near a window sill where it will get the most amount of sun. It can also grow under florescent lighting but should be placed close to the bulb. The soil needs to be moist at all times and should have good drainage. If getting more meticulous, make sure the pH level is at 7. Use fertilizer, being careful not to over fertilize. Make sure to keep the plant in warm locations.
Tags: also grow, fall winter, grow patchouli, grow roots, house plant