Patchouli - Pogostemon cablin is easy to grow indoors if you give it what it likes. It is one of those plants that does double duty - it looks great and makes your home smell amazing. Those big, soft leaves release that deep, earthy scent just by being there.
☘️ Light and temperature
Patchouli loves bright shade. Think filtered light near a window, not harsh direct sun. Too much sun can burn the leaves, especially indoors. In lower light, it still grows well and keeps its fragrance. It is a tropical herb, so keep in warm - at room temperature.
☘️ Water and soil
This plant loves water. Use a well-draining soil mix and a pot with drainage holes, but do not let it dry out. Daily watering is usually fine in warm conditions. Good air circulation is important.
Growing patchouli is similar to growing herbs in containers - just be more generous with water than you would be with basil or oregano.
☘️ Containers and growth
Patchouli grows fast. Start in a 1-gallon pot, but plan to move it up to a 3-gallon container fairly quickly. More room means bigger leaves and a stronger scent.
☘️ Feeding
Feed regularly. You can use Sunshine Boosters Robusta with every watering, or apply Green Magic controlled-release fertilizer every 6 months and at each transplant. Patchouli responds quickly to feeding with lush growth.
☘️ Pruning and uses
Prune as the plant gets bigger to keep it full and bushy. Do not throw the leaves away - dry them for sachets or use fresh/dry leaves for tea.
☘️ Propagation
Patchouli roots very easily from cuttings. Snip a healthy stem, place it in water or moist soil, and it will root fast. It is one of the easiest plants to share with friends.
If you want a plant that grows fast, smells incredible, and actually does something useful indoors, patchouli is hard to beat.
Piper longum - Indian Long Pepper, Bengal Pepper or Pippali
🍴 Long Pepper Curry (Quick-n-Fun Exotic Recipe)
Ingredients
1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
1/2 tsp crushed dried long pepper (Piper longum)
1 tbsp vegetable or coconut oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh grated ginger
1/2 tsp turmeric
Salt to taste
Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
Add onion and saute until soft and translucent.
Add garlic, ginger, turmeric, and crushed long pepper. Stir for 30 seconds.
Pour in coconut milk and bring to a gentle simmer.
Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Season with salt and garnish with cilantro before serving.
🌿 About the plant:
Indian long pepper, also known as Pippali or Bengal pepper (Piper longum), is an ancient spice and medicinal plant from South Asia. Closely related to black pepper, it has a warmer, slightly sweeter heat and a complex aroma. Long pepper has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for respiratory and digestive support, including coughs, congestion, and stomach discomfort.
🌱 In the garden:
Piper longum grows as a climbing vine or shrubby climber that can be trained on a trellis, fence, or tree. It prefers warm conditions, regular moisture, and shade to partial shade. The plant starts with heart-shaped leaves that become more elongated as it matures, making it both useful and ornamental in tropical and subtropical gardens.
"A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them." - Liberty Hyde Bailey
Mango Tree for Zone 5: top 15 Condo Mango for growing in cold areas
Mango Tree for Zone 5
🥭 Mango Tree for Zone 5: top 15 Condo Mango for growing in cold areas
🥭 Can you grow a mango tree in Zone 5? Short answer - yes! The trick is - containers!
Mango trees are tropical plants but they do great in pots when you choose the right varieties.
🥭 Compact types stay short, respond well to pruning, and produce in containers.
You can grow them on a patio, balcony, even move them indoors in your condo for winter. That is why they are called condo mangoes!
During warm months, they live outside.
When cold weather hits, they come inside.
🥭 With good light, proper watering, fertilizing, and some patience, these trees can reward you with real mangoes. Not a farm harvest, but enough to enjoy and share.
