The Best Way to Grow Patchouli
Patchouli plants (Pogostemon patchouli) are perennial herbs that are grown for the aromatic oils made from their leaves. Patchouli plants are native to southern China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia, enjoying frost-free climates and warm environments. Patchouli plants typically grow up to 12 inches tall and wide in containers, producing leaves that grow up to 3 inches long and 1 ½ inches wide. They bloom in tiny, insignificant purplish flowers during late fall. Patchouli plants can grow from seeds, but the best way to grow the plants is from stem cuttings. Although stem cuttings often take months to root, they tend to be more successful than seed germination.
Select healthy stems on the patchouli plant that are at least 3 inches long and have one or two leaf nodes. Cut the new-growth stems in spring.
- Patchouli plants (Pogostemon patchouli) are perennial herbs that are grown for the aromatic oils made from their leaves.
Fill a 4- to 6-inch-diameter planter pot that has drainage holes in the bottom with a rich, well-draining potting soil, such as a mixture of two parts peat moss, one part sand or perlite and one part garden soil or loam. Insert the severed end of the patchouli stem, cutting into the potting mix deep enough so that it can stand up on its own.
Set the pot with the patchouli cutting in full to partial sunlight, such as in a south-facing window. Maintain normal to warm indoor air temperatures around the patchouli plant cutting of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Water the cutting once or twice each week to keep the soil evenly moistened, providing water until it begins to drain from the bottom of the pot. Feed the patchouli plant once every two weeks while it’s actively growing with a liquid 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer at half the dosage rate that’s indicated on the label.
Reduce watering during winter after the patchouli plant is finished flowering to keep the potting mix from drying out completely. Also cut back the patchouli plant’s stems after it flowers.
- Fill a 4- to 6-inch-diameter planter pot that has drainage holes in the bottom with a rich, well-draining potting soil, such as a mixture of two parts peat moss, one part sand or perlite and one part garden soil or loam.
- Water the cutting once or twice each week to keep the soil evenly moistened, providing water until it begins to drain from the bottom of the pot.
Tip
You can harvest and dry the patchouli plant’s leaves anytime while it’s actively growing, but don’t take more than one-third of the leaves at one time. Also, wait to begin harvesting the patchouli plant’s leaves until the cutting is well-rooted and has produced substantial new growth.
Warning
Never expose your patchouli plant to frosts or freezing temperatures, because doing so will kill the plant.
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References
Tips
- You can harvest and dry the patchouli plant's leaves anytime while it's actively growing, but don't take more than one-third of the leaves at one time. Also, wait to begin harvesting the patchouli plant's leaves until the cutting is well-rooted and has produced substantial new growth.
Warnings
- Never expose your patchouli plant to frosts or freezing temperatures, because doing so will kill the plant.
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Sarah Terry brings over 10 years of experience writing novels, business-to-business newsletters and a plethora of how-to articles. Terry has written articles and publications for a wide range of markets and subject matters, including Medicine & Health, Eli Financial, Dartnell Publications and Eli Journals.
