Kratom is like any other plant in the respect that it grows from seeds. However, kratom seedlings must be very fresh to have the best chance at success. There are some things you need to know about kratom plants before jumping in and trying to grow your own tree. This guide will tell you all the ins and outs of planting seedlings and how to grow kratom successfully.
What Are Kratom Seedlings?
Kratom, also known as Mitragyna Speciosa, is native to Southeast Asia. This plant can grow up to 100 feet. Kratom thrives in a tropical climate and grows in the wilds of Asia. However, the best kratom is grown by skilled farmers in a controlled environment. This allows them to control the quality and consistency of their crops.
Kratom is not an easy plant to grow. For it to thrive, you have to mimic the climate and soil that is found in its native country. Also, kratom seeds must be fresh when they are planted. This means that seedlings need to be planted within a few days of leaving the host tree.
Kratom seedlings are just the seeds that will be planted to grow a tree. There is nothing complicated about that. However, growing kratom is very complicated and is a very involved process that takes time and patience.
What Do Kratom Seeds Look Like?
In general, all seeds vary in appearance. No two plants will have the same type of seeds. They are distinct from the plant you are trying to grow. Kratom seeds are different in the fact that they are stored within a pod.
The seedlings will need to be taken out of the pod before they are planted for germination to occur. Each pod will house around 50 seeds. These seeds have a very low germination rate. Meaning it is extremely hard to plant and grow kratom successfully.
The seed pod protects the seedlings from weather elements. It can prove to be difficult when trying to extract the seeds from the pod. You have to be extremely careful when trying to get your kratom seeds out because you may mistake part of the seeds for the pod. If you are buying seedlings from a vendor, they should come ready to plant. You will not have to worry about extracting them from a pod.
Kratom seeds are wispy. They are not large and do not look very hardy at first glance. You can see the picture below for reference.
Where To Get Kratom Seedlings?
The success rate of planting and successfully growing kratom is going to be very low. So, you will need to plant several seeds to get the best success. You need to keep this in mind when buying seeds, as you will have to buy more than what you need.
You will not be able to go to any local shops and find kratom seedlings or cuttings for sale. Because of this, you will need to turn to online vendors to buy your seeds. Below we have listed a few kratom vendors who offer seedlings.
#1 Shamanic-Extracts
Shamanic-Extracts have been around since 1999. They offer several herbs and extracts that you cannot find elsewhere. They work with other businesses as well as customers. Their kratom seeds will cost $27.50. Overall, this vendor has received positive reviews from happy customers. They do not have any documentation of being GMP certified though and we typically only recommend that you work with vendors who have this certification. They do run deals from time to time, so you will want to keep an eye out for some discounts.
#2 Mitrascience
Mitrascience offers premium kratom seeds, as well as live cuttings. Many people will opt for live cuttings because they have a better success rate. Their seeds come directly from South East Asia and they run out of stock often. This will give you an indication that their seeds are fresh. Because the seeds are so delicate, they offer their seeds by the pod. You get about 50 seeds in a pod.
Their live cuttings will range between 4 to 6 inches tall and will cost $88. However, they do run 50% off sales which allows you to buy these cuttings for $44. You want to be extremely careful when unpacking your live tree not to cut into the actual plant.
Mitrascience is GMP certified. They follow all standards and rules of ethical sourcing. This ensures you are getting the best that the market has to offer. They also conduct lab testing on their products ensuring their customers that they get safe kratom products.
#3 Texas Herbs And Botanicals
Texas Herbs and Botanicals is a great place to buy fresh and viable kratom seedlings. You will need to germinate the seeds as soon as you get your package. If there are any delays this could cause your seedlings to have a low chance at success. Seedlings are offered in three different packages which range between $15 to $25. You can choose 10, 20, or 30 seed packages. They do have GMP certification which indicates that they comply with industry standards.
#4 Shamansgarden
Shamansgarden offers several exotic botanicals that cannot be found anywhere else. They are well known for their prices. They offer live plants versus seedlings. They have great reviews. You can get a 4 to 6 inch cutting for $89.99 or a 12 to 16 inch cutting for $159.99. They use to offer seeds but because of customs restrictions they now only offer live cuttings. They are GMP certified and offer lab testing on their products.
Kratom Seeds Versus Cuttings
Naturally, kratom trees will be produced by seeds in the wild. This would make you think that seedlings are the way to go. However, with this delicate plant, this may not be the case. Kratom seedlings only have about a 20% success rate. This is only if the seeds are planted when they are fresh. Un-fresh seeds have about a 10% chance of survival.
Fresh seeds are those that have only been away from the host tree for a few days. You would need to get these seeds planted right away to have the best success. You only have about a 5% chance of the seeds germinating. So, seeds may not always be the best option.
Cuttings are pieces of the kratom tree that already have some growth on them. They do not have to go through the same process as a seed does. So, it may be much easier for you to buy a cutting and plant it. A lot of people have better success rates with cuttings. These cuttings will not need to go through germination which gives the plant a much higher rate of success.
However, for a cutting to thrive, you will have to give it the proper care as well. Below we will talk about how to plant kratom seeds and how to properly care for them. These steps can also be applied to caring for a kratom cutting.
Growing Kratom From Seeds
As soon as you receive your package of seeds you will want to plant them as soon as possible. You will need to place 5 to 10 seeds in each pot to give the best chance at success. Cover the seeds with a layer of fertile soil. Germination typically occurs within a day or two. For a kratom seed to thrive, it will need to be viable. This is the main reason why dry seeds will not successfully grow a kratom plant.
Creating The Right Environment For Kratom Seedlings
As you know, kratom grows best in a tropical climate. Because of this, you will have to mimic the Asian climate to get the best success rate for your plant. This means the plants need to have high humidity and warm airflow.
Soil
Kratom will require nutrients, so you want to use soil that is rich and fertilized. Buy high-quality soil that is nutrient-rich. This will give your kratom seeds the best chance at sprouting.
Water
You never want to overwater your kratom plant as this could cause fungus to grow. You want to keep it moist but not too moist. Just use a moderate amount of water.
Sunlight
Sun is a vital part of kratom sprouting and growing. So be sure that your plant will get adequate amounts of sunlight. Keep in mind your seedlings and sprouts will need some shade. You do not want to overdo it with the sun. Just be certain it gets a good rotation of sun and shade.
Warm Air
Kratom plants will need warm air around them. This will help improve the alkaloids within the plant. You can use a small fan to mimic the airflow that is offered in Southeast Asia.
Checklist
Here we will do a quick review of the things you will need to efficiently grow kratom seedlings.
- Seeds – Be sure to buy enough seeds to offer each pot 5 to 10 seeds. Not all seeds will sprout so you want to plant more to give you the best chance.
- Sunlight – Sunlight is vital as it will help improve the alkaloids within the kratom plant. Give it the amount of sun it needs but also realize that shade is required too.
- Temperature – Your seedlings will need warm temperatures. Optimal growing weather for kratom is between 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Soil – The soil needs to be rich in nutrients, humus, and nitrogen. Be sure that your soil has good drainage. You never want it to get too wet or too dry. Being too wet can cause fungus to grow. However, the right amount of water is very important.
- Food – You will need to provide plant food to your kratom seeds. They are hungry plants. However, this will pass once they sprout.
Can You Grow Kratom In The United States?
Kratom is not an easy plant to grow. The success rate is very low and this is because kratom is not native to this part of the world. The temperature will play a major role in the fact of rather or not you can successfully grow kratom.
Since the temperatures are varied in all parts of the United States you will only really be able to grow kratom in a warm area. Places along the Gulf Coast will be suitable for growing kratom. However, even with this climate, you will have to give your plant all the special care that it requires.
Even with everything in place, growing kratom can prove to be a very difficult task. You will need to have patience and be willing to cater to your plant’s needs. It will require constant supervision to ensure your plant gets to a stage where it can thrive.
Oasis Kratom
If you do not want to try your hand at growing your own kratom seedlings you can buy your kratom from us. We offer the highest quality kratom powders and capsules as we follow GMP regulations. Let us know if you have any questions. Read more about getting live kratom plants now!
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