Growing Betel Leaf easily at home

There are very few plants that are super easy to grow and have many benefits and look very beautiful.Betel leaf is one such plant.

Scientific Name : Piper Betel
Family : Piperaceae(Pepper)
Common Name : Betel leaf

Sunlight exposure : Full Shade
Water Needs : Medium,Always moist, Don't over water.

Betel leaf is basically a herb commonly called as “Paan” in India.It is widely used in various religious/pooja events and even on auspicious occasions like weddings and festivals.

Betel leaf is an evergreen perennial climber and its leaves are glossy heart shaped that have a sweet scent.

Here are some of the benefits of Betel leaf

• Chewing 1-2 betel leafs daily can provide the calcium.
• Eating betel leaf after meals can help lighten stomach and even prevent indigestion.
• Betel leafs are also used as mouth freshener and help control bad breath.
• Dried betel leafs are used in preparing various mouth fresheners.

Soil: Betel leaf grows well in any soil type.

Planter: This plant requires medium planter,at least 18".It can also grow in large size planters for bigger plant and more harvest.

Fertilizer: Betel leaf will be more than happy just with regular compost or cow manure.No need to add any fancy fertilizers.Simple compost will do the trick.

Water & Sunlight: Betel leaf requires filtered sunlight or partial shade.It hates full or direct sunlight.Give it enough water but don't over water else it will rot.

Pests: It is quiet resistant to pests but spider mites can sometimes create havoc.

Propogation: The best way to propagate betel leaf is through cuttings.

Growing Betel leaf:

Most balcony gardeners are unable to grow many plants due to lack of sunlight.Its a major issue which people face when growing plants in balcony.

But Betel leaf is one such completely shade loving plant and hence a must have for every balcony gardener.

Betel leaf plant can be easily grown in pots almost anytime of the year.

One can also grow them in hanging pots.

Betel leaf plant cannot grow in hot climate and its leaves start turning yellow and drop.

It requires outside shade ,not indoor shade.So avoid growing it indoors.

The most easy way to grow this plant is by cuttings or saplings from nursery.

You can take a healthy stem  and make a 45 degree cut below the leaf node.Now remove all lower leaves, leaving only the top 2 leaves .Place the stem in a bowl of water and keep it near windowsill.

Replace water every 2 days.Once enough roots are formed shift them into containers.

As betel leaf is a climber it must be grown over a moss stick for healthy growth.

Betel leafs can be grown in any soil type.All it requires is lot of compost and always moist soil.

Remember to pluck leaves regularly to encourage new growth.

This plant is not generally not affected or troubled by pests.

But it can sometimes be attacked by spider mites which can be controlled by neem oil and soap solution.

My betel leaf plant during initial stage of growth.
So start growing this beautiful and hugely beneficial herb.