In
the wild, stevia is a perennial
plant.
This basically means that it can survive on its own for several years
on end (usually 2 to 5). It blooms in summer, and the parts that are
above ground wither away in the wintertime. As the seasons cycle, the
stevia herb grows back from its roots.
When
cultivated at home though - especially in mild climates - the sweet
leaf is more often treated as an annual
plant, propagated through the use of stevia
seeds or stevia
plant cuttings, which is what we'll be focusing on. Growing
stevia is like survival of the fittest: focus your efforts on growing
several plants at once, as you may experience varying success early on.
Because the percentage of seed germination is low compared to using
cuttings from an existing plant, the latter method is usually
recommended.
No
matter which process you choose though, there are a number of general guidelines
you must take into account. As I mentioned in other sections of this
site, home-grown stevia leaves can be up to 40 times sweeter than
sugar. The
method you use for propagating stevia does not seem to
influence the sweetness factor, but there are a lot of factors involved
that do influence the sweetness of your stevia herb:
- The climate
you're
living in: stevia
grows the best in warm and sunny climates, and needs extra attention in
mild climates
- The amount of light your
plant is
exposed to: the more sunlight, the sweeter the leaves will
be
- The type of soil you use
to grow and
plant your sweet leaf in: use permeable soil (preferably a sandy soil).
If you're growing your herb in a pot, make sure it has a hole in the
bottom
- The amount of water it
receives:
although it is important to frequently water your stevia plant, don't
overdo it. Moisture is perfect, but an excess of water will cause the
plant to rot
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