Q&A for How to Grow a Moringa Tree

This plant requires full sun and is better grown outdoors in the proper climate or inside a greenhouse with full sun. If it's grown indoors, it will need to be in a sunny place and may need supplemental lighting.

Yes, moringa leaves can be fed to chickens if they will eat them. They can also be fed to a worm composting system or to fish in an aquaponic system.

Yes. The leaves of the Moringa tree have been used medicinally for centuries.

Yes! Just stick the cut branch right into the ground and in about 2 weeks you will have a new growth and a new tree!

The moringa's leaves or bark are not poisonous to any animal. However, as many farmers plant onions and garlic around their crops to discourage foraging animals from entering the fields and consuming random plants, the moringa can have a peppery taste. Horses and other livestock may try to eat the plant but will probably remember the burning in the back of their throats the next time and leave it alone.

More branches means more leaves. Branches help the tree to become bushy and balanced instead of lean, spindly and weak. The branches can be cut and used to propagate more trees. Be careful that the rooting cuttings are not shaken or disturbed either by pets or pests, etc., till they have taken root properly and have given several new leaves.

Yes, some trees do attract woolly caterpillars. If the plant is in a good sunny area, usually the pests don't come. If you see tiny caterpillars, remove them, so that they don't multiply.

Moringa seeds can be purchased from many different sources online, worldwide. They can be found in several different countries, including the Unites States.

Slide the leaves off a branch and put them in a smoothie. This way they are very fresh and in their raw state, retaining many nutrients.

I put four moringa olifera seeds in between 2 wet paper towels and into a zip lock baggie and left a little corner open. Three days later they sprouted.

Yes, you can. Whether it originated in the United statues is usually a different story, though. Sprouts is the main shop that I know of. Some farmer's markets also carry saplings and other products.

Moringa requires a warm and sunny situation with good drainage. You could keep the height of the plant low and grow it in a greenhouse environment if it gets too cold or frosty.

As it sends down a large tap root (like a carrot), the pot would have to be very deep for a small tree. In the ground is the best recommendation.

No, it does not.

Yellow leaves can mean that they need magnesium. You can add some Epsom salts dissolved in a little water but don't over water, or the roots will rot.

Normally plants are planted with the roots inside the soil and the stem and leaves above it. However, if you are thinking of soaking and sprouting the seeds before planting, dig a hole about 2-3 inches into the soil and gently place the sprouted seed into the hole. Cover the sprout loosely with soil and water thoroughly all around. The shoot will find its way out in a few days.

Yes, so long as it is well drained. Watch out for woolly caterpillars which sometimes infest these trees. Destroy them when they are small using some sea salt or insecticide.

Yes. You could leave your Moringa out during the summer and bring it indoors whenever a chance of frost exists. If kept indoors, you may need to provide some additional light. I would also recommend pinching the top growth so it grows more like a bush instead of a tall, lanky tree with only growth at the top.

None if grown in the ground, depending upon annual rainfall. Moringa trees feed from a deep taproot, not from a surface root system like an oak tree. Excessive surface waterings can kill the tree.

With or without works. Try it with shell, cut "wings", soak them 24 hours in water, then use a wet towel until they sprout.

Moringa trees grow super fast. In fact, they're one of the fastest-growing living things on the planet if they have enough food and water. They can easily grow 10 feet (3 meters) a year if they have the proper conditions. That's why you have to prune them so often. Once the trees reach 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3.0 m), cut them back to where you want them to keep them healthy.

Moringas can be grown indoors if they have adequate lighting. Fill a 10 US gal (38 L) pot with 85% soil, 10% sand, and 5% compost so there's good drainage and the roots won't dry rot. Morningas need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day, so find a sunny location near a large window or on a porch or balcony. Once the trees start to grow, you can trim them as you need to so they'll fit indoors.

Moringas need soil with good drainage so fill a 10 US gal (38 L) pot with 85% soil, 10% sand, and 5% compost. If you have access to a mature tree, take a cutting from it about 3 feet (0.91 m) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter with pruning shears. Plant the cutting into the pot and pack the dirt tightly around it so it can stand on its own. Then, water it until the soil is damp.