The following information is all about growing curry leaf plants in pots or containers.
Growing Curry Leaf Plants in Pots / Containers
The curry leaf plants grow well in all temperatures. Curry leaves are the popular spices in the world for their amazing flavor and aroma. Curry leaves are used almost in all the dishes around the world especially in India. Adding fresh curry leaves to the dishes will increase their flavor. Even though you get leaves and powders on the market, but leaves that grow in your home have a great taste. And now this article will give you the necessary information for growing curry leaves in Pots.
The curry leaf plant is a small bushy plant that grows 12 to 20 feet in height. It has green elongated pinnate leaves having 11 to 21 leaflets. The curry leaf plant produces white fragrant flowers that are not recommended for consumption.
History of Curry Leaves
Curry Leaves are native to Southeast Asia, mainly in India. Curry leaves are also known as sweet neem.
Scientific Name: Murraya Koenigii.
Varieties of Curry Leaves for Growing Curry Leaf Plants in Pots / Containers
Regular- This variety you see all the supermarkets, this curry leaf, tree grows tall quickly and has less fragrance.
Dwarf: This is a short variety of curry leaf plant, grows very short with long leaves. And these leaves have less fragrance.
Gamthi: This variety of curry leaf plant grow longer, but very slowly. This plant has thick, short leaves with amazing fragrance.
Curry Leaves in Indian Languages
Tamil – Kariveppilai.
Malayalam- kariveppila
Telugu- Karivepaku/Karepaku.
Kannada – Karibevu/ Baisoppu/Karivevina Soppu.
Hindi – Kadi Patta/ Mitha Neem/Curry Patta/Gandhela/ Bareanga.
Marathi – Kadhi Patta/Karhinimb/Poospala/Gandla/Jhirang/Pandheri Kunthi.
Oriya – Bhrusanga Patra/Barsan/Basango/Bhuraunga.
Tulu -Bevudirae.
Punjabi- Kadipatti/Curry Patta.
Suitable Conditions for Growing Curry Leaf Plants in Pots / Containers
Growing Conditions For Curry Leaves.
Curry leaf plant loves warm, humid climates. And it grows well in the subtropical and tropical heat.
The curry leaf plant grows well in all climatic conditions.
The plant needs full sun and moderate water to survive.
The curry leaf plant do’s good in both full to partial sunlight.
Soil for the slightly acidic and fertile.
The curry leaf plant needs well-drained soil mixed with cow dung or organic compost and river sand.
February to March is the best time to sow the plant.
Curry leaf plants are grown from both seeds and cuttings.
This plant takes 1-2 years of steady growth with healthy and aromatic leaves.
The curry leaf plant takes nearly 1 year to grow 6 inches in height.
Suitable Pots / Containers for Growing Curry Leaf Plants in Pots / Containers
Medium to large Pots with wide-open mouths is suitable Pots to grow curry leaf plant.
You can use plastic or clay Pots with 2 to 3 drainage holes.
Growing Curry Leaf Plants in Pots / Containers from Seeds
You can get seeds from the markets or can collect the black-colored seeds/berries from the curry leaf plant.
Remove seeds from the outer shell before sowing.
Now sow the seeds directly takes a long period to germinate. So, squeeze out the seed from the ripe berries and wrap it in wet tissue paper for a couple of days. And this process can speed up the germination.
Dig a ½ inch hole in the middle of the Pots and sow the seed. Cover the hole is potting mix and place the Pots in a warm place.
Curry leaves usually germinates in 10 to 20 days.
Growing Curry Leaf Plants in Pots / Containers from Stems
Take a suitable container and add a perfect mix.
Soil for Curry leaf plant in Pots: Ideal potting mix – equal parts of Soil+ dung or compost + sand.
Fill the container with potting mix and water it well.
Pick a thick branch from a curry leaf plant. The branch you select should not too flexible or too hard.
Now cut the branch slant about 5 inches long with about 4-5 leaf stems.
Remove the bottom leaf stems and plant the cut end into the soil.
Firm the soil around the cut branch.
After sowing cutting doesn’t water the Pots.
Now cover the potted stem cutting with polyethylene cover and make sure that the cover doesn’t touch the leaves. And place the container in the shade and warm areas for 2 weeks. Make some ventilation holes in the plastic bag.
Check the cutting every three days and check the moisture of the soil. Add some water if the soil gets dry.
The cutting starts growing in about 10 days.
Keep the Pots in the shade until the plants look firmer and stronger.
Growing Curry Leaf Plants in Pots / Containers by transplantation
Can buy a curry leaf plant from a garden shop/nursery.
Water the plant and tip around the pot.
Now take the plant carefully and replant it in another pot.
This is the easiest and fastest method to grow curry leaf plants in Pots.
Fertilizers for Growing Curry Leaf Plants in Pots / Containers
You shouldn’t use hard fertilizers to curry leaf plants.
In some cases, you add the fertilizer only to the container’s rim.
Use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer every month to boost up the growth of the plant.
Add a liquid organic fertilizer to plants for the growth of leaves.
Use iron sulfate or iron chelate every month for healthy foliage.
Epsom salt also helps the curry leaf plant to grow faster. So, add 1 teaspoon Epsom salt to 1 liter of water and feed the plant.
Buttermilk also acts best natural fertilizer for curry leaf plants.
Watering for Growing Curry Leaf Plants in Pots / Containers
Water, the only when the soil in the container dries out completely.
Curry leaf plant need warm water feeding
In winter water the plants only on alternative days.
Tips for Growing Curry Leaf Plants in Pots / Containers
Here are some essential tips that help to grow a healthy curry leaf plant
Young curry leaves need more care, so don’t keep them directly for more hours.
Cut the tips of the branches for more growth of branches and more leaves.
Pruning: Cut off the flowers and buds on branches, as they suck the energy and reduce the leaf production.
Pruning the curry leaf plant in spring promotes leaf production.
Always grow the plant in large Pots, as transplanting the curry leaf plant is a very hard job when it grows bigger.
Place Pots indoors or in a greenhouse in winter.
Don’t keep your Pots in a windy area, wind may spoil branches or stems.
Sometimes you can see white spots, black spots, white fungus, etc. on the curry leaves and stems
Some insects that can affect the curry leaf plants are aphids, scale, and mealybug. These insects affect mainly the fresh young leaves.
Spraying neem oil, pest oil or horticultural oil regularly can control diseases or insects in curry leaves.
Winter care for Growing Curry Leaf Plants in Pots / Containers
In winter the leaves turn yellow or pale. Plants may start losing leaves in winter.
The curry leaf plant needs special protection in winter.
In winter place the plants indoors.
In case you don’t have a place indoors, cover the plant with a black garbage bag from the top to toe. A plastic bag protects the plants from cold.
Harvesting the Curry Leaf Plants in Pots / Containers
Pick the fresh leaves regularly.
Harvesting the plant even encourages the growth of leaves.
Curry Leaf Plant flowers:
Curry Leaf Seeds.
Flowers produce blackberries, you can squeeze those berries and extract seeds.
These seeds are used to grow new plants. You can pick these seeds and store them.
Storing of Curry Leaves:
Curry leaves can be wrapped in paper and stored in the refrigerator. They stay fresh for 5 to 6 days.
You can dry and place in a container with a lid and store it for many days.
In case if you are interested in this: How To Grow Organic Lettuce.
