Growing kratom can be a great way to expand your appreciation of the plant and make your love of kratom into a passionate hobby. It can feel more personal to use kratom grown by your hand, and everyone benefits from more local produce.
This guide will help you learn about the basics of growing kratom. Whether you have a green thumb or little gardening expertise, kratom planting is a fun way to spend time. It can also help you get kratom exactly how you like it and potentially lower its price.
This guide on growing kratom will let you know the basics about kratom as a plant. Understanding kratom’s tropical origins can be important in learning how to make a climate that is appropriate for kratom growth. It will also teach you what kind of kratom you might try growing at home and how to appropriately care for it. Finally, it will go into the important step of harvesting your kratom leaves. You can’t enjoy your kratom until you pick it.
That said, growing kratom takes some effort, so get ready to put in the work. The payoff is well worth it, but there is a reason people grow kratom as a profession.
Kratom grows natively in the southeast region of Asia, in the pacific islands, and in other countries. Kratom’s countries of origin include Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand. All these countries have several things in common that make them ideal locations for growing the plant. Kratom’s entire native range is tropical and volcanic, and these conditions ensure a constant baseline temperature and humidity. Volcanic soil is also perfect because it is nutrient-rich and drains readily.
As a tropical tree, kratom is an evergreen. However, if you are growing outside of a warm climate zone, you may need to move your kratom tree indoors or find another climate control method. If you live somewhere tropical or with warm summers, you might get by leaving your tree to live outside. Ideally, you will create a place for your kratom tree where the conditions are as close to one of its origin countries.
In many parts of the world, home is the only place you can grow kratom. Nutrient-rich, well-draining soils are a must-have, as is a warm, humid environment. The more controlled your environment is, the easier kratom is to grow. This is why some kratom gardeners grow completely indoors. Indoors, you can control the light, humidity, and temperature the plant is exposed. It might be difficult or expensive to set up, but your efforts will be well worth the fresh kratom harvest down the line.
Kratom has several needs to grow. For starters, tropical climates tend to have slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 through 6.5. Its soil is also full of humus from volcanic activity, and this porous rock helps create high amounts of drainage. When you visit your local garden center, make sure to let the staff know what your soil acidity and drainage needs are so they can help you get what you need.
You also want to make sure that the soil you use remains wet but not soggy. If it becomes too dry, the kratom tree can not grow. However, too much water will lead to fungus and rot, which can also kill the kratom plant. Soil composition is the largest factor that affects how well your plant retains water. Even outdoor growers want to pay attention to drainage and soil pH.
Other factors to worry about are light and humidity. Kratom thrives in abundant light and nearly 75% humidity. You do not find these in many places outside of tropical zones. Since few parts of the United States are tropical, you will likely want to find a way to grow your kratom indoors or in a greenhouse. Greenhouses are adept at replicating tropical climates because they are heated and humid microclimates. (ghgossip.com) Take care to get a tall greenhouse, though, so the structure can accommodate the kratom tree as it grows.
To start growing your kratom plant, you need kratom cuttings or seeds. The advantage of using cuttings is that you know they are viable, while seeds may require you to plant an abundance to get a return. Kratom has a naturally low germination rate, and since most seeds must be imported, you never know how long it has been since harvest. Seeds also tend to lose viability with age.
Despite this, the advantage of growing from seed is that you can store unused seeds for longer. You can hold onto ones you do not use, while kratom cuttings will die if they are not planted quickly. The primary advantage of growing from a cutting is that it can be easier to get started. Of course, after several years, you should not be surprised if it is hard to get kratom seeds germinated.
Ensuring your kratom plant makes it to maturity requires patience and care, but you can grow kratom at home with enough planning and action. Researching advice on video websites or search engines will also help you grow the perfect kratom plant suited to your needs.
What kind of kratom you end up with depends primarily on factors you control, like soil moisture, temperature, wind, and humidity. You should learn about pruning, feeding, and watering, all three of which are essential parts of kratom growing. You might also want to do your research on how long it needs light during the day and what temperature it needs exactly.
Ideal growing conditions may vary from strain to strain, and, as with any hobby, practice will be your best teacher for growing kratom.
Kratom trees can take several years to reach maturity. Once they are two years old, you will want to wait for the leaves to hit the perfect ripeness. Kratom trees show how mature they are with their colors, so learn how to identify different kratom veins. If you want something more relaxing, wait until maximum maturity. For more uplifting kratom, harvest it closer to the time the leaves mature. You may also consider looking into curing, drying, or powdering methods. Otherwise, kratom can be enjoyed fresh.
Growing kratom is a way to engage further with the hobby. If you’ve never tried gardening before, you might wonder if it’s even possible for you to grow kratom at home.
That said, the most important thing to keep in mind is that growing the kratom plant requires plenty of patience, energy, and time. If you live in temperate climates, like most of the continental United States, you may also have to use a greenhouse to ensure the plant grows in the right temperature, humidity, and light conditions. If you find yourself unable to keep up with all the effort, the good news is that you can continue to count on kratom sellers for your fix.