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So, you’ve tried Kratom and decided you like the benefits it provides. Next, you have this great idea! Surely it would be easier, quicker and more accessible to have your very own Kratom plant in your backyard, right?
You wouldn’t be the first person to consider this and while it’s not impossible, there’s a bit more to whether or not you can grow Mitragyna Speciosa yourself.
While Kratom seeds need little in the way of maintenance to thrive once planted in the right conditions, the seeds themselves are very delicate and have an extremely short life span after harvest. The chances of purchasing seeds outside of their natural habitat and getting them to another area of the world before they are useless are going to be slim. If you find yourself lucky enough to achieve this, then yes, it’s possible to grow a Kratom plant with the right tools and time.
If you live in or travel around Southeast Asia, accessing natural Kratom seeds shouldn’t be too hard. However, if you live further away, like in the United States or Canada, access to healthy, sustainable Kratom seeds will be very hard. Assuming you do manage to obtain some healthy seeds either in-person or online, actually growing the tree can be a simple process to follow.
How to Grow a Kratom Plant
If you manage to obtain some Kratom seeds, here’s what you need to know:
Step 1. Planting Your Kratom
Seedlings:
- If you can obtain Kratom seeds, it is important to plant a bunch of them at the same time with the hope that at least some of them will take root.
- Place the seeds into a planter full of rich soil, making sure the seed is totally covered up.
Cuttings:
- If you are starting with a cutting (a portion of the plant’s stem, leaf, or root), the process will be a little more involved, as these are known for growing mold or mildew and have to acclimate to different environments.
- Plant multiple cuttings into a planter full of rich soil and place them into a plastic bag, opening the bag multiple times a day for a period of time, getting the plant used to the weather.
- After some time, remove the bag and keep the plant in direct sunlight.
Step 2. Maintaining Your Plants Growth
Once your plant is in the soil and ready to go, it will need little maintenance to keep it going. Give your plant sunlight or artificial light periodically and keep it away from frigid temperatures. You should also water your plant daily and make sure the soil is never dried out but also never flooded.
Step 3. Harvesting the Leaves
From seedlings, your plants can take up to three years to start producing viable Kratom leaves. The tallest trees, or the oldest trees, have the highest potency. This means you have to remain patient and dedicated during the process.
After your plant is ready, you can carefully pick the leaves from its branches. You have to be careful that you don’t become too greedy trimming the tree of everything it has, as this will slow or even halt leaf production. Take what you need and allow the tree to regenerate. This is exactly what Kratom farmers do to preserve their plants and optimize the potency of the leaves.
What to Do With Your Kratom Leaves Once You Have Them
Should you successfully manage to grow your own Kratom tree to the point it has matured enough to produce leaves, here is what you can do with it:
- Fresh Kratom Leaves – You can chew on either the leaves or the roots of the Kratom plant to get the effects it provides.
- Dried Kratom Leave – If you choose to not chew on the leaf, you can always dry them out. Dried Kratom leaves can be brewed into a tea and consumed as a drink, or you can crush them up into a powder and take via Toss n’ Wash, or even put them into a capsule to take it in pill form.
Where Can you Buy Kratom Seeds?
There are many companies that appear to sell Kratoms seeds and cuttings online, offering to ship them to just about anywhere in the world. Making sure you purchase seeds from reputable sellers and in bulk is the best advice you can take.
As previously mentioned, the survival rate for Kratom seeds is extremely low; within days of being harvested, 20% for fresh seeds to be exact. It drops to 10% or lower for seeds that are not very fresh. So, we suggest not getting your hopes up the first, second, or even third time around. Patience is a virtue!
Tips For Growing Kratom Seeds
- Make sure the seeds you purchase are actually Kratom seeds. Do your homework and know what you are looking for. Sometimes other parts of the plant are mistakenly (or maliciously) sold in place of the actual seed.
- Keep the plant in a tropical-like location to mimic the conditions of a tropical rain forest while it is in the early growth stages. Try and mimic the environment of the seeds original location, for example Borneo, since this is what actually impacts the strains effects.
- Kratom seeds are tiny and thin and can be very delicate, so handle very carefully.
- Although Kratom needs constant water, they are not able to survive if given too much. Flooding your Kratom plant will kill it quickly.
So, is it Worth it?
Kratom is very new to mainstream consumers; in the West, little is still known about the Kratom tree, its properties, and the benefits it possesses. However, we do know it can be difficult to get our hands on fresh seeds that are capable of growing and thriving.
Yes, you can grow Kratom plants yourself, but honestly, it’s a lot of effort when it would be much easier to let others do all the hard work.
