How To Grow Moringa Plant

The scientific name of Moringa plant is Moringa oleifera and the plant is a fast-growing, deciduous tree that is native to Bangladesh and India. This plant known as Moringa plants are also called the drumstick tree, horseradish tree, or Ben oil tree. The Moringa plants actually grow best in tropical conditions and the plant require 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight, slightly acidic to neutral soil, and temperatures between seventy-seven degree and ninety-five degree Fahrenheit.

Most of the indigenous people have used the Moringa plants for their nutritious and medicinal qualities and they also called the Moringa plant the "miracle tree." Actually all parts of the Moringa tree are edible, from the seeds to the foliage to the plant roots, and the plant is also a source of nutrients and antioxidants, like to spinach. The following are the basic information about Moringa plant;

The common name: The common names are horseradish tree, moringa plant, drumstick tree, moringa tree, miracle tree, Ben oil tree.

The botanical name: The botanical name is   Moringa oleifera.

The family: Moringa plant belongs to Moringaceae family.

The plant type: Moringa is plant tree.

The mature size: The mature size is about 25-35 feet tall, 15-25 feet wide.

The sun exposure: Moringa plant prefers full sun.

The soil type: Moringa plant does well in loamy, sandy, well-drained soil.

The soil pH: Neutral, acidic

The blooming time: The blooming time is spring.

The flower color: The flower color is white.

USDA hardiness zones: Ten to eleven.

The native area: Moringa plants are native to Asia.

Different types of Moringa

There are different types of Moringa plant. Actually there are thirteen species in the Moringa genus and many varieties which include the dwarf varieties. A lot of the Moringa varieties are fast-growing, with a growth rate of about twelve to fifteen feet annually. The following are the different types of Moringa plants;

-         The Moringa oleifera: The Moringa oleifera is the most common species. The Moringa oleifera is native to India and Bangladesh.

-         The Moringa peregrine: The Moringa peregrine is native to Red Sea, Arabia, northeast Africa; the Moringa peregrine is being cultivated.

-         The Moringa concanensis: The Moringa concanensis is native to India; the Moringa concanensis only exists in wild.

-         The Moringa stenopetala: The Moringa stenopetala is native to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia; the Moringa stenopetala is being cultivated.

-         The Moringa drouhardii: The Moringa drouhardii is native to Madagascar; the Moringa drouhardii only exists in wild.

-         The Moringa ovalifolia: The Moringa ovalifolia is native to Namibia and Angola; the Moringa ovalifolia only exists in wild.

-         The Moringa hildebrandtii: The Moringa hildebrandtii is native to Madagascar; the Moringa hildebrandtii only exists in wild.

How to grow Moringa

The following are the major care requirements for growing a Moringa plant:

- You can plant the Moringa tree in the spring to take full advantage of the entire growing season.

- The Moringa plant tree prefers slightly acidic, loamy, well-drained soil.

- Give the Moringa plant tree full sun and moist but not soggy soil; the plant is heat and drought-resistant.

- The Moringa plant tree can grow in containers as long as the container is at least thirty inches in diameter.

- You need to move the Moringa trees indoors during cold weather.

Light requirement

The Moringa plant trees actually prefer a bright, sunny location that receives direct sunlight for most of the day. The growth of the Moringa plant tree may be stunted if the plants do not receive enough light. 

Soil requirement

The Moringa plant trees are adaptable to a wide range of soils and the plant can survive in poor soils if needed. On the other hand, the Moringa plant trees thrive when grown in well-draining, sandy soils. The Moringa plant trees are sensitive to root rot, so the plants will not flourish in overly compacted soil or soil that has too much moisture. 

Water requirement

Make sure you keep the soil of the Moringa plant trees consistently moist but not wet. The Moringa plant trees do not tolerate "wet feet" and the plants are sensitive to overwatering. The established Moringa plant trees are drought-tolerant, but the young Moringa plant trees actually need more consistent moisture to encourage vigorous growth. Actually, infrequent deep watering is better than frequent light watering when watering the Moringa plant trees.

Temperature and humidity requirement

The Moringa plant trees grows best in temperatures between seventy-seven and ninety-five degrees Fahrenheit, although the plant can tolerate extreme temperatures as high as one hundred and eighteen  degrees Fahrenheit as long as the plants are in afternoon shade. The Moringa plant trees do not tolerate cold temperatures well, although the plant can withstand a light frost. The Moringa plant trees will grow outdoors year-round in USDA Hardiness Zones ten and eleven and the plant can also be grown outdoors for part of the year in any region that actually experiences warm summers.  

Fertilizer requirement

You can easily add compost to the soil when planting the Moringa to provide the needed nutrients. The Moringa plant trees will actually benefit from a light application of a general, all-purpose fertilizer to help support the growth of the plant. Once the plant is established, the plants don’t require regular fertilization. However the Moringa plant trees will benefit from having their topsoil regularly amended with good compost or manure.

Pruning Moringa plant

The regular pruning of the Moringa plants will help to keep the plants healthy and also promote the leaf growth, preventing the Moringa plant tree from becoming too tall. If the Moringa plant is left unpruned, the Moringa plants will become tall with few leaves and the plant will only flower near the top of the branches, which will make harvesting the plant seeds difficult. The regular pruning and also the encouraging of branching will increase the harvest yield of edible leaves, flowers, pods, and seeds. Here is how to prune Moringa plants:

The tools: you can use pruning shears, loppers, and a ladder. Make sure you disinfect all the tools in an alcohol or bleach solution.

The timing: You can easily prune the Moringa plant in late winter or early spring.

Pruning the seedling: You can cut the main stem once it reaches four to six  inches; this will actually encourage branching; pinch off new branches of the plant to encourage more foliage; once the plant reaches 2 to 3 feet, prune by seventy-five percent.

The mature tree pruning: You can remove all the dying or dead branches and leaves on the plant; prune all the branches of the Moringa plant at four feet from the base to encourage more vigorous growth; also remove the shoots that is growing straight up; this makes the Moringa plant tree tall and also reduces the foliage potential.

How to propagate Moringa

Actually the Moringa plant trees can be propagated indoors or outdoors using cuttings, although the indoor pot propagation really has a higher success rate. Propagating Moringa plants with cuttings rather than seeds ensures you will get an exact duplicate of the mother plant tree with all the same traits. Propagating Moringa plants with cuttings also shortens the plant growing time, with the Moringa plants going from cuttings to flowering in as little as 8 months.

Growing Moringa plant from seed

Actually the Moringa plant trees grow from seeds readily. The Moringa plant seeds have no dormancy period and the Moringa seeds are best planted as soon as the Moringa seeds are harvested from the tree. The fresh Moringa seeds retain excellent germination rates for up to 1 year. The Moringa plant seeds are best directly sowed into the garden, as it is really a big challenge to transplant them due to the plant's long taproot.

How to plant the Moringa seeds outdoors:

- Start by digging a hole about a foot deep and wide to loosen the soil well, then backfill the hole with compost and soil.

- Plant 3 to 5 Moringa seeds in each of the hole, two inches apart, about ½ inches deep. Then cover with soil and then water. Make sure you keep the soil moist but not soggy.

- When the Moringa seedlings are about four to six inches tall you can thin the seedlings, this will keep the plants healthy.

Starting the Moringa seeds indoors will protect the Moringa seedling from harsh wind, temperatures, or wildlife while growing. This is how to plant the Moringa seeds indoors:

- Start by soaking the Moringa seeds overnight in water in other to speed up the germination.

- Then fill a deep pot with seed-starting soil, and then plant the Moringa seeds one inch deep. Cover with mix and then water the seeds very well.

- The bottom heat will help to speed up the seed germination, which should occur in 3 to fourteen days.

How to transplant the Moringa seedlings outdoors:

- You need to harden off the Moringa plant before transplanting outside.

- You need to choose a location with plenty of sun and also dig a hole slightly larger than the Moringa seedling's root ball.

- You need to place the Moringa seedling in the hole with the top of the root ball flush with the soil line and then backfill the hole very well with a mixture of soil, sand, and compost.

- After planting the seedlings, lightly water the freshly planted Moringa seedlings very well, be very careful not to overwater the Moringa seedlings.

Pest and disease on Moringa

The good news is that Moringa plants resist many pests and diseases; though, termites can actually be an issue with the established Moringa plant trees. If you notice any termites around the Moringa plant you can easily mulch around the plant base with castor oil plant leaves, tephrosia leaves, mahogany chips, or Persian lilac leaves. Some pest like aphids, armyworms, stem borers, cutworms, caterpillars, and fruit flies are also attracted to the Moringa plant trees.

Furthermore, twig rot, root rot, fruit and canker are the most common diseases that affect the Moringa plant trees. Root rot is by far the most common issue with the Moringa plant trees. The Moringa plant trees needs to be sited in soil that actually drains at the rate of one inch per hour; or else, heavy rains will soak the soil, killing the Moringa plant tree in a few days. Once root rot is discovered, it is likely too late to save the Moringa plant tree.

Another disease is fruit or twig rot which is actually caused by a fungus. If this fungal disease is suspected on the plant you can treat the Moring plant tree with a copper-based fungicide, make sure is according to the package instructions.

The canker disease is very rare on the plant but it can appear on the Moringa trunks and branches. This particular disease looks like a wound on the Moringa plant tree. You can easily prune off the damaged limbs or branches when it's not expected to rain. Pruning the damaged limbs or branches during rainy periods can spread the canker fungus or bacteria to other parts of the Moringa plant tree.