Kratom

Have been growing several trees from rooted cutting [bought online] here in zone 7a for almost 4 years now. All kept in pots and overwint...Read Moreered in heated room. Largest is roughly 7ft and is in a 5gal hydropower which I keep in a 17gal plastic tote. The tote I keep filled with several inches of water year round. It is cumbersome to move seasonally but I manage with a dolly and imo is worth it. Thrive in moisture and high humidity. Love heat aswell , humid heat, but do have slowing of growth at temps above roughly 100F and the same slowing/halting of growth below 55F/60F [estimate] they also tend to like acidic soil from what I can tell. Usually mix organic compost, vermiculite, peat moss, and top soil for my Mitragyna. Blooms are yellow and very reminiscent of the Temperate climate Button Bush. They are infact distant relatives. Mitragyma is also distantly related to the coffee tree. As someone else mentioned the seeds, if found somewhere, are NOT viable for very long at all. If purchasing be very cautious of claims otherwise. Low germination rate aswell, but the genetic diversity from seed grown is also invaluable to a 'collector's as almost ALL cuttings available are likely originally from very few individual plants at this point. Alkaloids are not present for several years - sometimes 7+- and will take time to mature in seef grown. However cuttings from mature trees will produce alkaloids at the same rate as the parent, so day 1 for a buyer. Alkaloid rates do fluctuate throughout the year from a lot of variables. The plant itself changes aswell with leaf color and new leaf color fluctuating from bright lime. Yellow/green to darker greens, and even reds. Same with stem color, the stem color will change throughout the year according to season and variables. One tree may have white, red, or green veins year round or cycle. The leaves are very aesthetically appealing for anyone taking s botanical interest. Aside from the immense medicinal benefits , it's just a striking plant in itself in my opinion. Easily one of my favorites.

Was wondering if anyone would be able to donate and mail any houseplant succulent and airplants to an ill relative as their last wish. Ne...Read Moreeds to be potted please.

The leaves of this plant have many beneficial medicinal qualities. The species is one of the most useful, yet overlooked, of the ethnobot...Read Moreanicals/homeopathics in western medicine.

I bought 2 rooted cuttings to add the plant to my medicinal plant collection. They love the long, hot humid summers here, but have to be ...Read Moretaken inside when temps dip below 50F or the huge leaves will start to fall off. The trees rapidly grow too big to be moved! Fortunately, they grow well from green cuttings, potted in sterile medium inside ziplocs under lights with or without rooting hormone, so you can start fresh every year.

Do not let the soil dry out on hot sunny days or they will wilt and scorch! They are heavy drinkers and feeders. Outdoors, few pests. Indoors, spider mites are a major problem, whiteflies and aphids less so.

From a distance, they look like avocado trees, but on close inspection, you notice the unique spearhead-shaped bud sheaths, which split open as the shiny, reddish new growth emerges. The bud sheaths are persistent on the stem, but eventually brown and drop.

Flowers do not appear on small plants, but they are terminal bright-yellow globular clusters. I'm unable to verify if they are fragrant, but the related Indian species M. parvifolia (Kaim) is very fragrant, as plants in this family often are (coffee, gardenia, seven-year apple). The flower color and architecture would probably have great appeal for butterflies and bees.

My friend has one in the ground at Key West, FL (zone 11) and it's doing well year-round.