Last Updated on July 4, 2022
Are you among those who can attest to the effectiveness of Moringa? Do you want to continue enjoying its benefits but prefer to do it the natural way? If so, then I can help you with that. In this article, we’re going to talk about the steps you need in growing a container or indoors Moringa.
As someone who has successfully grown a few indoor Moringa trees, I can assure you that the entire process is ridiculously quick and easy. I decided to put up this guide, so I can share with you the proper techniques for growing Moringa in a confined space.
Table of Contents
About Moringa Tree
The Moringa tree is native to India and is being cultivated in various tropical and subtropical areas. In the US, however, it can grow within USDA Zones 9 to 11. It can easily grow in a pot if exposed to enough sunlight in temperate climates. However, it will go dormant if exposed to temperatures below 18° C.
Since it’s not tolerant of low temperatures, the Moringa tree will die if exposed to extreme cold weather. For that, if you’re living in such a climatic condition, I’d suggest you grow your Moringa tree in a huge container or cover it with blankets.
Benefits of Growing Moringa Tree at Home
Before you start growing your own Moringa tree, you should first know the benefits of growing one. They’re as follows:
- Bees and other pollinators are attracted to the tiny flowers of the Moringa tree, more specifically to their sweet nectar.
- You can make your own natural and fresh Moringa tea. The drink makes for an excellent addition to your diet, mainly due to its high nutrient and antioxidants content. It’s also known to offer a lot of other health benefits.
- Its seeds can serve as a natural purifier. In fact, they’re widely used in countries where water can be quite turbid for drinking purposes. By simply crushing Moringa seeds and throwing them into the water, you will be able to purify and clarify the water for domestic use.
- The fruits and leaves of the Moringa tree all make for some tasty and nutritious meals. In fact, you can make Indian curry as well as other Southeast Asian recipes with Moringa.
Growing Moringa Tree Indoors
The Moringa can grow fast as long as its growing requirements are met. In fact, you can have a full-grown Moringa tree just 8 months after sowing the seeds. To achieve that, you have to make sure the following requirements are met:
- Location – it’s important to plant your Moringa tree in a sunny location, preferably one that receives a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight every day.
- Water – another important requirement for growing a Moringa tree is water. You’d want to water it moderately while young, then water it sparingly once it’s grown. Don’t water it too much as it can only cause the leaves to turn yellow.
- Soil – you can use any potting mix as long as it’s fertile and is rich in organic matter.
- Fertilizer – a Moringa tree doesn’t necessarily need fertilizers to grow. You can use manure or compost instead. However, if it’s experiencing growth problems, you can use a general purpose fertilizer.
To make sure you can successfully grow your own Moringa tree at home, you have to prepare the following materials:
Now that you know the requirements for a successful Moringa tree cultivation, let’s move on to the steps you have to follow.
Step #1: Pick the right location to place your pot
The Moringa tree will require abundant sunlight in order to grow. Therefore, you have to pick an indoor location which can receive a lot of sunlight every day. Preferably, you’d want to expose your Moringa plant to sunlight for at least 6-8 hours per day.
Step #2: Fill the pot with soil
Once you’ve decided the right place for your pot, you can then start to fill the pot with soil. It can be a combination of 5% composted manure, 10% sand, and 85% soil. The reason for this is because Moringas can get easily waterlogged if placed in a potting mixture that doesn’t drain well.
Step #3: Dig holes and plant the seeds
Start digging holes that are 1-feet square and 1-feet deep, then fill them with loose soil. Also, make sure they’re 2 inches apart. Place around 3-5 seeds in each hole, making sure that the seeds aren’t planted deeper than half an inch. Cover them with soil afterward.
You can buy Moringa seeds online.
Step #4: Water the surrounding soil
During the early stages, your Moringa plant will require just enough water to grow. Therefore, make sure you water the surrounding soil enough to make it moist. However, don’t water too much as it will only cause the seeds to become waterlogged.
Step #5: Remove unhealthy saplings
Once your Moringa saplings are around 6 inches tall, you’ll have to get rid of the unhealthy ones and keep only the healthiest. After that, apply a layer of compost to promote further growth. Also, don’t overwater the soil and make sure it stays dry to prevent choking the roots.
Step #6: Transplant the grown Moringa seeds into individual pots
After reaching at least 1-ft high, you may start transplanting your healthy Moringa plants into individual pots. When transplanting, make sure you use the right tools to prevent damaging the plant’s root system.
You can germinate Moringa seed before planting it in a pot:
Caring for Your Plant
Once you have successfully grown your Moringa plant, you’ll have to make sure you take care of it properly. Here are some tips I can recommend:
- Using your pruning shears, prune old branches as the tree starts to mature. This will encourage fruiting and further growth.
- Look for any pests in your saplings and get rid of them as soon as possible. Also, make sure that there are no weeds present.
- Remove the flowers during your tree’s first year of growth to further encourage fruiting.
- Moringa is drought-tolerant; however, you have to water it once its leaves start to sag.
Conclusion
The Moringa tree is packed with tons of essential oils and vitamins. The best part is, it’s actually pretty easy to plant your own Moringa tree in your backyard, even indoors! If you’re thinking about planting your own right now, then this guide will definitely be of great help for you.
Have you enjoyed the guide so far? If so, please leave your thoughts, insights, and possible questions in the comments below. I’ll be excited to answer them as soon as possible. Also, if you like it, please share it with your friends to further spread the information.
Thanks for reading!
Lacey is an environmental enthusiast and passionate advocate for living green and sustainable. She believes that everyone can make a difference, no matter how small. Lacey is dedicated to reducing her own carbon footprint and educating others on the importance of living greener. She is an advocate for green energy and sustainable practices. She is an active member of her local community, volunteering with local conservation efforts, and taking part in sustainability initiatives. Lacey is a firm believer that the only way to ensure a sustainable future is to work together and make small, but important changes.
