Growing Moringa

Scientific Name: Moringa Oleifera

Perennial

Heat and drought tolerant

Zones: 11+ Outdoors, 1-9 Indoors during winter

Sun Requirements: Full

Pests: Spider Mites, Aphids

Caring For Moringa

Moringa is a tropical tree that thrives in heat and humidity. To successfully grow moringa in any other climate, it’s best to grow it as a shrub. If planting to keep as an annual, a small moringa plant can be planted directly in the ground. However, for most regions in the US, even in Zone 10, the tree will not survive the Winter. To keep moringa as a perennial, it’s best to grow it in a container for the first year.

Moringa is extremely drought tolerant. Allow the soil to completely dry out in between waterings. When watering, give it a big soak until water drains from the bottom holes. Because it benefits from dry soil, do not transplant your new plant into too big of a pot. If receiving a small plant from us, only plant in a 1 gallon container. In mid-summer you can trasfer to a 5 gallon pot if the plant has become rootbound. Any larger of a pot and the soil will not be able to completely dry out in between waterings.

Soil should be well-draining. Potting soil with added perlite is ideal.

Moringa thrives in high heat and full sun. Place your plant in a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.

Winter Months

The leaves may completely drop off during the Fall or Winter. At this time, to keep the plant as a perennial, and to begin forming the tree as a shrub, give the plant a hard prune about 2 inches above the soil line. Bring the pot inside and leave it near a sunny window. Do not water in the Winter. As Spring approaches, new buds will form at the base of the cut and form new branches. In the Spring transplant the plant into a 5 gallon container or directly into the ground.