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Take Care Of Jiaogulan Houseplant Indoors
With a Jiaogulan houseplant, you have an ornamental and medicinal herb. The plant is decorative as a perennial vine with five leaflets. It also goes by Gynostemma Pentaphyllum in Latin due to its look. It is hardy and requires little and fundamental care. The plant has the status of Ginseng too. Being a versatile adaptogen gives people reasons to take care of it. So it explains why many Asian and Western households have it. Plantations with this plant are also available across the globe.
This post explores the herb that goes by the name Gynostemma Pentaphyllum in Latin. Also included are descriptions, requirements, and health benefits of this herbaceous vine. Thus please read on to discover more about this fascinating and edible plant.
Look and Properties Of The Jiaogulan Houseplant
It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae species and is a climbing vine. Its tendrils attach it to objects and other plants to help it grow. These structures allow them to catch light from high places. But they can do well and set roots on the ground when things to climb on are unavailable. They grow fast and adjust to various environmental conditions. Hence, they are adaptable and offer more than Jiaogulan health benefits. Still, set like fingers on a hand, it has decorative, soft, serrated, and green leaflets from slim stems. But the plant also produces inedible tiny purple fruits. With its attractive look, it’s also clear why people grow Jiaogulan indoors.
In several parts of Asia, folks brew Jiaogulan tea by boiling the leaves. The plant is native to sections of China, Japan, and Korea. Yet some countries like Thailand have plantations of it in idyllic forests. People describe it as a plant that helps to cope with stress, worry, exhaustion, and other issues. Japanese researchers discovered beneficial saponins present in its leaves. These compounds are also present in Ginseng. Thus its consumption encourages physiological stabilization and homeostasis. So folks noted that and started taking care of the plant for personal consumption.
Tips To Grow Jiaogulan Indoors
A Jiaogulan houseplant can thrive inside. But it can also grow well when placed in the deck or greenhouse. It will develop as long as plenty of sunlight and water are present. Seedlings need adequate water to sprout. Level and deep watering is the key to keeping this plant happy. Yet it requires an ideal environment to manage and turn great. Leaving it outdoors in areas with warm climates will keep it alive and well. After all, it gets hydration through rainfall irrigation. Also, the plant can grow in neutral soil or ground with mild acidity or alkalinity. Better growth may happen when there’s fertilizer, but it can handle little of it or its absence. Hence, taking care of batches to have a constant supply of Jiaogulan tea is possible.
It needs to stay warm inside when freezing temperatures come during wintertime. Insulating openings like windows and doors may help with this. It wouldn’t hurt to have a couple of heating appliances too. Still, it must have several hours of light. Putting it near the windowsill or somewhere outside can help it thrive. Since days are shorter in winter, using grow lights is helpful. It’s a hassle to bring pots outdoors one by one during the day for sun exposure. This plant does well when it’s 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and at night. Correct and constant care can grant a plant that provides Jiaogulan health benefits. So it’s crucial to remember these when growing the Gynostemma Pentaphyllum.
Propagating The Jiaogulan Houseplant
People can grow Jiaogulan indoors by seed germination, cuttings, and plant division. To illustrate, putting seeds in the ground and watering them will work. But the soil must be moist for days until sprouting happens. Once a few leaves are showing, reduce the watering frequency. Keeping the ground wet but not soaked is the key to success. Planting cuttings can also make them take root. After the ends of the shoots are in the soil, put plenty of water too. Like the seedlings, provide as much sunlight as you can. If not that, at least have some grow lights available. Consider the same things when propagating by division. Being a tropical plant, remember that it needs plenty of sunlight and water. Hence, it takes some skill to grow Jiaogulan tea plants.
When propagating, consider having various pots ready. Dividing mature plants into smaller sections requires having bigger containers. A grown Gynostemma Pentaphyllum takes up a lot of space for its roots. You only use small containers when planting seeds. But any well-draining soil will work for raising a Jiaogulan plant. It is bigger by a little over 2 feet high per year and develops new roots. So it makes sense for regular replanting to bigger pots to allow more room for growth. Consider these if you wish to be successful in getting Jiaogulan health benefits.
Extra Care For The Jiaogulan Houseplant
Fresh and healthy leaves must be available to create Jiaogulan tea. To have such foliage, you need a thriving plant. Keep it moist for 3 to 5 days weekly, expose it to bright natural light, and put it in breathable and cultivated soil. But providing adequate water, sunlight exposure, and quality soil may not be enough. When taking care of this tropical herb, there must be pruning and pest protection. Proper placement of it matters too. After all, there may be an overgrowth, and the plant can become invasive. Small insects can invade it since it also has sap in them. Still, though it likes hot weather, its leaves may wilt from too much heat and drought. So, even if it may withstand some neglect, it’s crucial to give attention to it.
Checking on it helps to grow Jiaogulan indoors with these in mind. It’s crucial to do some cutting when there are many leaflets around. Regular pruning removes old branches, produces fresher leaves, and shapes plants. Gardeners recommend doing this activity during the growing months. It’s because winter causes the leaves to fall off. Also, aphids and other critters may get to it. Mildew may also surface and cause an infestation. Sprays to kill these things involve mixing water with soap or baking soda. Putting the plant in sunny areas can help control pests and diseases too. Yet ensure that the Gynostemma Pentaphyllum is in a shaded spot. It is to prevent it from becoming too weak and dry from dehydration.
The Jiaogulan Health Benefits
Gardeners put a Jiaogulan houseplant indoors to harvest the leaflets and stems. People process foliage, for the most part, to create beverages. It’s the reason why there’s Jiaogulan tea too. Some dry or boil the leaves to extract the beneficial compounds. Others use the leaflets as a garnish for salads and other dishes. Hence, there are various ways to avail of the Jiaogulan health benefits.
Many use parts of this plant to get saponins to bind with bile acids and reduce their cholesterol levels. With reduced LDL cholesterol, better health follows. It implies lesser waxy substances within the blood vessels. It results in lower risks of cardiac diseases and better functioning. Thus it may be beneficial in preventing stroke. Some of the saponins can lower some bacteria that can damage the intestines. These chemicals also relieve oxidative stress and can help prevent or address cancer. Still, people may get help with obesity when they grow Jiaogulan indoors. It’s because of the Gypenosides in the plant. So, packed with beneficial compounds, this plant is worth the effort.
How To Make Jiaogulan Tea and More
When you have a couple of Jiaogulan houseplant leaves, it’s easy to make a healthy beverage. All you need is a couple of them with boiling water. Infusing a teaspoon in one cup for a few minutes will suffice. Doing that will bring about an aromatic drink that has a similar taste to green tea. But many report it to deliver some sweetness. So drinking it may be helpful for people who have diabetes. A study even showed it to help lower blood sugar levels. Hence, growing the Gynostemma Pentaphyllum is a convenient way to be healthy.
Aside from brewing warm tea from its leaves, the plant is still edible in other ways. Some grow Jiaogulan indoors to have foliage as a sugar substitute. Others mix the leaflets with salads. Hence, eating and liking it is a matter of preference. Once ingested, it delivers a flavor close to cucumber. But it grants a peculiar sweetness and bitterness. There are hints of grassy tastes here and there too. Yet it provides a mild pleasant smell while raw or when brewed. In various forms, it pleases the senses. For that reason, it comes other Jiaogulan health benefits surface. Having the leaves may make people feel soothed. It explains why folks brew Jiaogulan tea and add leaflets to their meals.
All Things Considered
Adding a Jiaogulan houseplant inside is a wise decision. It has delicate and serrated green leaflets and is native to Asian countries. With it, you have an exotic ornamental piece. Because of its healthy chemical compounds, getting Jiaogulan health benefits is possible. The herb is convenient to plant as it grows fast and doesn’t demand frequent attention. Its edible parts are easy to take advantage of, given that it’s possible to consume them raw or cooked. So it proves why gardeners encourage people to grow Jiaogulan indoors.
We hope this post gave a few crucial details on the nature of the Gynostemma Pentaphyllum. To get the Jiaogulan health benefits, remember that this plant requires proper care. So, even if it’s hardy, never neglect it. Please share your thoughts and experiences about this plant with us.
