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Andrographis is an interesting attractive plant that does best in hot humid locations. It loves sunshine and water. It can be grow other hot sunny locations provided it is watered. This annual plant can reach 35-40" in height in one season producing a dark green bush festooned with small white flowers with purple markings. Its not a fussy plant and will grow on almost any soil type as long as its not waterlogged. Once established it takes little or no care and can be left to just be enjoyed throughout the long flowering period. If growing for harvesting good soil and nitrogen fertilizers is recommended. The whole plant is very bitter so its unlikely to be eaten by wildlife but since we grow ours behind a fence we cant say for sure.



Description of Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata).
An erect branched annual ranging in height from 11" to 35" (0.3-0.9 meters). The plant has square stems with long lanceolate leaves, which have a sharp point at the outer end, widest in the center and narrow again where they join to the stem. Usually 2-5" long and ¾ - 1 1/2" wide. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stem. The plant begins as a dense clump of mid to dark green leaves but as they grow in height they branch producing multitudes of flowering stems and leaves appear to become sparser. The flowers themselves are small tubular at the base with three upright lobes at the top and a downward facing one at the front. The upright petals are usually spotted or striped with purple or rose. Each branch produces on a one or two blooms at once but flowers are produced in profusion from so many branches that there are always many blooms on each plant. Flowers are followed by long thin seed pods containing numerous yellow brown seeds. Under idea conditions this plant can reach the size and dimensions of a small shrub. The whole plant has a bitter taste due to the pungent chemical compounds and is therefore often known as "king of bitters".
Growing Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) from Seed.
Andrographis has a hard waxy seed coating which allows the seeds to remain viable for long periods of time in hot climates. However it makes it harder for the seed to break dormancy. Much research has been done on this plant since it is so important in Ayurvedic medicine and the consensus is that the seeds should be soaked in hot water for five minutes before sowing.
The temperature of the water should be around 50°C (122°F) for five minutes. Do not use boiling water and do not leave the seeds in the hot water for longer than five minutes or the viability can be decreased. After seeds have soaked sow them in seed trays or plug trays, see our general growing instructions for more detailed information on how to do this. When pots are filled add a thin layer of sand just before seeds are sown to provide some extra sharpness that will help scratch the tiny seeds outer coating and aid in germination. Cover seeds with a very thin layer of seeding mix, the seeds are small and don't like to be buried too deeply. Using this method we have found we get about an 85% germination rate on our seeds. Without this germination can be erratic and as low as 20%. Germination takes about 5-7 days using this method.

Location and Care of Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata).

Andrographis is native to India and Pakistan so it likes hot humid weather and is therefore an excellent garden plant especially in the south eastern region of the united states. This plant will not do well in cooler regions but if your summers are hot it should grow well. In dryer areas more watering may be required and some shade provided for the main part of the day.
While this plant really likes sunshine research studies in India have shown that it grows most prolifically is given some shade so in hot sunnier areas pick a location where there is some shade during the hottest part of the day.
Andrographis is not really fussy about soil type but it does need to be well drained, it will not survive in wet or waterlogged soils. It also seems to prefer some sand in the soil, but provided there is enough organic material to ensure good drainage this should not be necessary. A soil with good organic material will produce the biggest lushes plants and if growing for medicinal harvest plenty of organic material and nitrogen fertilizer is recommended to produce lush leaves and larger plants.
Water plants after planting out until they start to grow well and become established. Continued watering will depend on your location, if there is sufficient rainfall little or no extra will be needed, if planted in a dryer location or there is a period of no rain then extra watering will be required to keep the plants lush and growing. If insufficient water the lower leaves tend to yellow and fall off.
Once established andrographis is a very unfussy plant and takes little care and attention. It is extremely undemanding plant.
Spacing. Will really depend on your location. In good hot humid conditions with rich well drained soil this plant can reach 3 feet in height and similar spread, thus plants will need to be father apart, in less ideal conditions it may only reach 18". Commercially this plant is usually planted around 22" apart (60cm). If unsure of your results plant slightly closer together and remove some plants if they grow too large and overcrowd each other.
Harvesting of Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata).
The whole above ground plant should be harvested when flower begin to cover the plant, this is when the plant is producing the highest concentration of the principal andrographolide. Plants can then be dried for later use. Research studies have shown that there is more biomass on plants that are given some shade than those that are grown in full sunshine. In addition if plants have their tips cut off at about 6 weeks after transplanting it caused more branching leading to larger bushier plants that provided more biomass.
https://www.floralencounters.com/Seeds/seed_detail.jsp?grow=Kalmegh&productid=1078
 
Growing arnica is an excellent option for those who love rare and exotic herbs.


It is mostly grown for its medicinal properties but its also great for ornamental purposes due to its lovely yellow flowers that appear in spring and summer.


The Genus “Arnica” contains approximately thirty species, but Arnica montana is the most important and sought-after.


It is a member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae), and it is closely related to asters and daisies.


This plant is a perennial and native to mountainous regions of Europe. Many European countries have listed it under protected species due to its decline, mainly as a result of overharvesting but pollution also plays a part.


Arnica is very sensitive to pollution and it does not thrive in areas that have minimal residual nitrogen, even that which results from air deposition.


Air pollution, together with urbanization and encroaching agriculture provide more reasons as to why this plant is edging closer to extinction in many areas as well as creating a shortage of the medicinal herb for commercial purposes.


Under all these circumstances, it only makes sense to grow Arnica montana.


how to grow arnica How to Grow Arnica
Propagation

When growing arnica as a garden plant, it is best suited for a temperate climate zone, usually a recommended USDA zone of between 4 and 9.


Since the plants prefer higher elevations and temperate climates, warm, coastal climates can sometimes not be ideal for growing them though this is not entirely impossible.


Arnica is usually propagated from seeds, but it can also be grown by a division from the root of an existing plant.


The seeds usually take about a month to germinate, but in some instances, it can take much longer, so patience is sometimes required.


Sow the seeds in early spring in a shallow tray or another suitable container in a mixture of equal parts loam, peat, and sand. Push the seeds lightly below the surface of the growing medium and keep it moist.


It is best to place them in a cool place with indirect sunlight because the seeds need a chilling period to germinate.


The seedlings can be transplanted outdoors when the danger of frost has passed.


Growing arnica by root division is best done in the autumn after the leaves start withering.


growing arnica Growing Arnica – The Basics ©The Herbal Resource
Requirements of Growing Arnica and Care

Looking after the fully grown plants is relatively easy. They do not have many needs to grow, but still, several specific conditions are ideal for optimal growth.

Sun

Arnica prefers full sun, but it can also tolerate some shade, especially in warmer climates. When growing arnica plants in a container, place it in a location that has good exposure to the sun.

Soil

Growing arnica can be done in any type of soil, but it usually prefers sandy, well-drained and slightly alkaline soil.


If the soil is not well drained, it can be amended it with loam, peat, and sand. Also, use a pitchfork to break it up if it is hard clay or otherwise compacted.


Additionally, it produces by way of underground stolons, horizontal stems with nodes that root and shoot new stems up to the surface.


So amending the soil is also beneficial for this purpose since it allows the stolons to penetrate the surface smoothly and promotes the spread of the plant resulting in a good yield.

Watering

Arnica is not a drought-tolerant plant. Therefore, the soil should be kept moist by watering regularly, usually on a weekly basis while ensuring proper drainage.


Do not allow the soil to become too dry or soggy. As a guidance tip, water the plants when the topsoil feels slightly dry.

Fertilizing

Fertilizing the plant is not necessary since arnica can thrive in nutrient-poor soils, which is typical of sub-alpine plants.

Pest and Diseases

The Trypetes arnicivora fly is arnica’s main danger as it places its larvae in the flower heads.


It is one of the reasons why harvesting the flowers immediately after they start flowering is recommended, to avoid colonization of this pest.


Other potential culprits include looper caterpillars, snails, and rabbits, as well as phoma (a genus of common soil fungi).


Arnica is more prone to diseases when under high humidity conditions.

Harvest

Harvest the flowers during mid to late summer soon after they begin to blossom, together with the stems.


Proper drying should be done on screens in a dark, warm and well-ventilated area. Dry until the flowers are crispy. It is recommended to use them immediately after drying, but they can be stored as well for later use.


The roots are harvested in the fall when the plant has withered and dried under the same conditions as the flowers.


Never harvest the plant in the wild.

https://www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/growing-arnica.html
 

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