Growing a mini-Ayurvedic pharmacy at home isn’t as hard as you might think—and the benefits are huge. Imagine you are in need of an Ayurvedic herb (mostly not available in stores) and you have it right in a corner of your balcony or garden! There is nothing more natural; and it can be a fulfilling way to add to your household’s health. Here is a list of some Ayurvedic plants you can easily grow at home:
BRAHMI
Brahmi grows well in pots provided it receives a small amount of sun. All you need to do is, soak the seeds in water overnight to and sow it in soil. You may also directly sow it in moist soil. Make sure you water it daily. It is a flowering aquatic / herb that typically grows as a perennial, which is defined as a plant that matures and completes its lifecycle over the course of three years or more. Brahmi is normally fairly low maintenance and quite easy to grow, as long as a level of basic care is provided throughout the year. Being aware of the basic soil, sun and water preferences will result in a happier and healthier plant.
GINGER
Ginger is the perfect herb to grow indoors. It’s very low-maintenance, loves partial sunlight, and you can use parts of it at a time, leaving the rest in the soil to continue growing. To start with, soak the ginger root overnight in warm water to get it ready for planting. Fill your pot with very rich but well-draining potting soil. Stick the ginger root with the eye bud pointing up in the soil and cover it with 1-2 inches of soil and water it well. Place the ginger in a spot that stays reasonably warm and doesn’t get too much bright sunlight. Ginger is a slow grower, after a few weeks you should see some shoots popping up out of the soil.
TULSI
Tulsi plants are highly frost-sensitive. They can be grown outdoors as annuals in warm Mediterranean climates, similar to other types of basil, but you can also grow a Tulsi plant from seed indoors. Pour potting mix into a seed flat or other shallow container. Pour room-temperature water over the potting mix to moisten the soil. Sow the Tulsi seeds 1/4-inch deep. Transplant the seedlings into separate small containers after they develop two or three sets of true leaves. Continue to keep the soil moist but not muddy. Expose the plants to brief periods of direct morning sunlight.
HENNA
Obtain seeds or small plant from nursery or reputable supplier. Sow the seeds in well tilled soil. Alternatively, plant in a soil mixture suitable for cacti/succulents. Water only when the soil becomes dry. Henna prefers a hot climate with long droughts. Let your henna plant’s soil get dry, then give it plenty of water all at once. If it is indoors, keep it in the sunniest place possible, and plan on it getting about 8 feet (2.4 m) tall in five years.