Betel leaf (Piper betel) is a creeper grown in India. It belongs to the pepper family. Its waxy green, heart-shaped leaves are used for medicinal and culinary purposes. When crushed, it exudes a cool peppery scent. It’s used in making a famous dessert called ‘Paan’ which is chewed with betel nut as a mouth freshener.

It’s a perennial herb, which can also be grown in containers and hanging baskets. You can grow it from cuttings and root division. It thrives well in a subtropical and tropical climate but growing betel leaf plant in a cold climate (as an annual, mostly) is also possible with extra care, in containers.

Growing - 1st primary stem grow up to 1 m. long, with heart-shaped leaves, after that, it can be either trained as a climber or grown as a ground cover.

Requirement - It prefers slightly acidic, sandy-loamy, and lightly damp soil but not waterlogged. Use the well-drained potting mix to plant it in a way that water will drain out from it quickly. Pick a less windy spot with partial shade for planting. *Choose a medium-sized deep planter, if you’re growing it in the container.

Betel Leaf Care

• It thrives well in a hot and humid environment in partial shade. The betel plant needs regular watering.
• Prune regularly, regular pruning and plucking of leaves encourage new growth and sweet and tender leaves.
• Occasional feeding every couple of months in the growing season of the plant with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer is recommended. 
• Keep the plant indoors in winters when the temperature starts to fall below (5C) in a warm and cozy room under grow light.

Pests and Diseases

• It’s not pest-free of course, and attacked by red mites occasionally, which can be treated with insecticidal soap. 
• It also suffers from fungal diseases, especially in the rainy season or when overwatering is done. To save the plant, watering should be reduced.
• Leaf blight is another problem that affects the betel plants in which brown and black oily patches cover the leaf. Leaf blight can be treated by simply pulling off the infected leaf or stem.

Harvesting - Within four to six months after planting, it’ll be ready for harvest. You can pick off the fresh aromatic leaves for various uses.

INSIDE THE BOX

*above specifications are for indicative purposess only, actual dimensions may slightly vary.

PLANT CARE  

LIGHT CONDITION - Partial Sunlight area or under the Green Shade net. 

WATERING SCHEDULE - Water when the topsoil(2-3 inches) feels dry to touch.

SOIL TYPE - The soil should be well-drained, fertile, and rich in organic content.

TEMPERATURE - The average temperature should be 18-30 Degree Celsius.

FERTILIZER APPLICATION - Apply any organic fertilizer once a month. Do not forget to water your plant immediately after the application of fertilizer.

INITIAL CARE FOR 10-15 DAYS JUST AFTER RECEIVING YOUR PLANT 

1. Remove the Packaging Materials carefully.
2. Press the soil in the pot & add additional soil(garden mix) if necessary.
3. Maintain moisture in the pot, Do not overwater it may kill your plant, so make sure that the soil should be dry between watering.
4. Make sure that plants get enough morning direct bright light(2-3hrs) for 10-15 days & do not go for immediate transplanting (minimum 1 month)
5. You can remain the plant in the same pot for 6-7 months, later you can transplant it in a slightly bigger pot than the present.
6. Just prune if any branch of the plant is get damaged in transits. New leaves will come definitely.