Description
Piper betle, also known as Betel Leaf, is an evergreen vine, native to India, that climbs to a height of 3m. The stem is slender, twining and rounded with oval-acuminate, green and smooth leaves. The flowers are green, occurring in spikes and the fruit are fleshy, red berries.
The leaves of this species are commonly chewed with the nut of Areca catechu, commonly known as Betel Nut. Generally the the betel-quid is a small morsel consisting of a crushed quarter betel seed, a pinch of lime, spices like cardamom or nutmeg for flavour, all wrapped in a Piper betle leaf.
In Ayurveda medicine, Piper betle is used as a remedy for stomach ailments and infections. Malaysians use the leaves for headaches, arthritis and joint pain. In Thailand and China the roots are crushed and blended with salt to relieve toothaches.
It can be eaten raw, generally used to wrap other foods, or you can make a tea with seven mature leaves in two cups of water, simmered until only one cup of water remains.
- Specifications.
50mm Pot Size
Cutting Grown Plant
Ideal Growing Conditions.
Prefers partial shade (4-6 hours of indirect sunlight). Avoid direct, harsh sunlight, which can scorch leaves. It thrives in warm, humid climates (24-35°C).Cannot tolerate frost; keep indoors or in a greenhouse in cold climates. Keep soil moist but not soggy, reduce in winter.
Pests and Diseases: Monitor your plant for scale but not generally an issue. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap, Eco Oil or Neem Oil
Soil: You need a high quality potting mix, not a pre-bagged product such as you find at Bunnings etc, try a landscaping place. However, as I am not local to you I still can’t say if they have good quality or not. You are looking for well composted pine bark and large particles. This ensures air flow to the roots and good drainage. We recommend Yates Nutricote Standard Black 270 Day for a fertiliser, which can be found in our store, however any good quality slow release fertiliser will do. When time to re-pot, select a pot one size up ONLY and ensure it has many holes for good drainage.
Fertiliser:
Yates Nutricote Standard Black 270 Day Controlled Release Fertiliser
The Plant Runner Indoor Plant Food
We cannot send plants to Western Australia & Tasmania due to restrictions.
We strongly recommended to select Express Post shipping for all plant orders to minimise the transit time.
Interested in Betel Leaf? Have a look at these products
Piper betle (Betel Leaf) Dried Whole Leaves 10g
Lime Paste ‘Red’ (Calcium hydroxide) 30g
Areca catechu (Betel Nut) Cracked & Sweetened “Kesari Tukda” 35g
Reviews
There are no reviews yet