Five Tips for Growing a Patchouli Plant

Many gardeners grow patchouli plants because their leaves emit a powerful fragrance. They're also easy to grow, so they're suitable for beginners. If you want to grow one of these plants, there are a few things you should know. This article will give you a few tips to get you started.

Location

It is best that you grow your patchouli plant in a shady location. It grows best in humid weather and when it receives indirect sunlight for most of the day. Also, if you're planting multiple plants, then they should be about two feet away from each other to allow them room to grow.

Soil

Patchouli plants should be planted in moist soil with plenty of drainage. It should also be rich in organic materials, so you should add compost if you have to. The pH level of the should should lie between 5.5 and 6.0 which can you easily check with an inexpensive test.

You should also consider putting mulch down around the plant. This will help keep weeds from growing while conserving moisture.

Water

Patchouli plants should be watered thoroughly after you plant them. You should also ensure that the soil never dries out. It should be moist at all times. During the winter months, you can reduce your water frequency to every three days. When growing these plants in an indoor environment, you should mist the leaves daily to keep them from drying out

Fertilizer

You will need to give you patchouli plant fertilizer about once a month. It's best that you use a balanced 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer. If you notice that the tips of the leaves are starting to wither, you should cut back the fertilizing frequency to once every two months.

Flowering

It is very difficult for patchouli plants to produce flowers because they're photo-periodic. This means that you will need to keep the plant in complete darkness after the sun goes down. If you don't, then the plant won't produce any flowers.

These are a few tips for growing patchouli plants. You should grow them in a shady location that receives indirect sunlight It's also important that you never let the soil dry out.