Are you a big fan of kratom?
If so, you may have pondered the possibility of growing your own kratom tree. Sounds like a great idea – except that it’s considerably harder than you might think.
Unless you’re a master gardener and/or live in a specific region with the exact conditions that allow the tree to thrive, you may not have much luck.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth giving it a shot! We’ll take a look at this interesting plant and what it takes to grow one.
Where Kratom Trees Grow Naturally
Kratom trees, also known as Mitragyna speciosa, are evergreens that are native to Southeast Asia. They grow particularly well in Indonesia, Bali, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Papua New Guinea, and Myanmar.
The trees favor the dense soil and the hot and moist tropical jungles and rainforests in this part of the world. In their natural habitat, the soil is so nutrient-rich that seeds easily propagate themselves. As such, kratom trees can grow up to 20-feet tall in just the first two years after popping out of the earth!
So, it’s easy to see that kratom requires very specific conditions to thrive.
What Are the Ideal Conditions?
Growing a Kratom tree is a labor of love. Even if you live in an acceptable climate for its propagation, you’ll need to attend to it regularly. And if you don’t live in the perfect climate and need to grow one inside, you can expect to spend A LOT of time caring for it and just trying to keep it alive.
One more thing to consider is whether you’re even permitted to grow Kratom where you live. Some places still consider Kratom a controlled substance and have put severe restrictions on its cultivation. Even if you live in an area where it’s completely legal, you’ll still want to be careful that it doesn’t end up in the hands of children or pets.
With all of that said, you’ll need to have the following in place:
Very Rich Soil
It’s tough to emulate the richness of rainforest soil. Loaded with nutrients on which the kratom tree thrives, it’s especially high in nitrogen. You also want a fairly acidic soil with a pH level of 5.5 – 6.5. The plant will likely affect the pH as it grows so you’ll need to continually monitor it to maintain that range.
Warm Temperatures
If there’s any chance your kratom tree will see the mercury drop below 60℉, you’ll want to reconsider trying to grow one outside where you are. Below 50℉ for any sustained amount of time and forget about it.
On the other hand, if you have a greenhouse available, it may stay warm enough to sustain the tree. Particularly if you don’t live in a place with very cold and prolonged winters. You can also attempt to grow it indoors, but there needs to be an abundance of light.
Which brings us to our next point.
A Lot of Light
If a kratom plant isn’t drenched in sunlight, you can be sure it will wither and die. Outdoors they want direct sunlight. If you must move them indoors, some serious grow lamps will be required. Sitting by a window won’t cut it.
Plenty of Water
Kratom plants like moist soil and wet roots. Once established, it’s almost impossible to overwater a kratom plant. There’s also no need for drainage. Furthermore, their leaves want that same moisture so if the plant’s not in a humidity-controlled room, be sure spritz the leaves regularly.
Ample Space to Grow
If you have big dreams of towering 20-foot plants, then you’ll need to space accordingly. Give your small kratom trees plenty of space to stretch outward and upward.
For plants growing indoors, it’s fine to start with smaller pots for seedlings. But if the seedlings are content, they will grow rapidly so you may be better off just starting with a larger planter that will sustain a full-grown tree. Again, be sure to provide plenty of space.
Starting with Kratom Tree Seeds
If you feel you’ve got the ideal conditions in place and you’re up for the challenge, here’s another thing to consider. Getting a kratom seed to actually take can be very difficult.
So first try to find the freshest seeds possible. Seeds have a limited viability period and if not planted quickly enough, it’s unlikely they’ll ever sprout. You’ll also want to order a lot of them since they have a low germination rate.
Also, keep the seeds moist until you’re ready to plant them. Any exposure to a dry atmosphere could zap them of their viability.
Once you plant them in that nutrient-rich, nitrogen-heavy soil, be sure to fertilize with nutrients as needed. Maintain a humidity level that is similar to the seed’s country of origin.
While established kratom plants are tough to overwater, the seeds can easily drown from overwatering. So, keep the soil moist, but not flooded. In addition, just as established plants thrive on a lot of light, it needs to be kept low during the germination period.
Just remember that even if you manage to get all of this right, the trees might not ever start growing. And this can be discouraging.
But if you’re not ready to throw in the towel, you could also purchase small plants that are already rooted. Then you can skip the germination part, at least.
Is Growing a Kratom Tree Your Best Option?
It depends on how much of a challenge you like! Trying to make your own kratom powder from growing a tree could take years. And that’s only if the kratom tree actually survives.
If you’re up for it, that’s great!
On the other hand, if you’d rather skip all that work, then contact us today to get kratom that’s as good as homegrown.
You’ll not only be purchasing from a highly reputable kratom source, but you can be assured that you’re getting the safest and most reliable product on the market.
