Stevia

Family. Asteraceae.

Origin. America.

Description. Stevia is a perennial low herbaceous plant with erect, branched, thin stems. Young shoots are pubescent. The leaves are green, oblong-oval, arranged oppositely. Leaf blades with small teeth along the edge and sparse pubescence. Inflorescences are apical umbrellas and bear a mass of small white flowers. The leaves have a sweet taste and are said to be 30 times sweeter than sugar.

Height. About 50 cm.

Care at home

Reproduction

Stevia seeds are sown in the spring, covered with a layer of soil about 6 - 8 mm thick. The first shoots appear within 2 - 3 weeks. The germination rate of seeds is low. Vegetative propagation by stem cuttings in spring and summer is much easier. 

Care 

To maintain a compact shape, long shoots of the bush are pruned after flowering. The tops of young shoots are regularly pinched to help the plant branch better.

Soil

Stevia at home, on the windowsill, adapts well to most types of soil, but prefers loose soil with sufficient nutrients and well-drained. The soil should have an acidic pH. 

Pests and diseases

If there is insufficient drainage, plants rot.  The flower is very resistant to invasions of harmful insects.

Transplant

Replanting is carried out in the spring if it is necessary to change the soil or the size of the pot.

Flowering time

Summer. 

Containment temperature

During the growth period when grown as a houseplant, the optimal temperature for stevia is 18 - 24 °C. In the fall, it is advisable to put the bush into a dormant state and keep it in the winter months at a temperature of 7 - 10 °C. When exposed to temperatures below 5 °C, the above-ground part dies.

Lighting

A well-lit place with direct sunlight in the morning and evening hours. When grown in partial shade, plants look elongated and pale. When there is a lack of natural light, artificial illumination with fluorescent lamps is successfully used. 

Fertilizer

In spring and summer, feed with water-soluble fertilizers high in nitrogen every 2 weeks. In the fall, feeding is stopped, encouraging the plant to enter a dormant period, and it is resumed in the spring, with the beginning of new growth. 

Spraying 

When the summer heat comes, place a humidifier near the stevia or use a tray with wet pebbles. In autumn and winter, the air should be dry while maintaining coolness.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist when the plant is actively growing. Water regularly and generously, preferably with bottom watering. Reduce watering frequency in autumn according to ambient temperature and water moderately in winter months.

Purpose

Stevia is an ornamental foliage plant. Its appearance is not particularly attractive, but this species still brings great benefits.

Note

With age, the plant can expose the lower part of the shoots - replace it with a new, young seedling grown from cuttings. In some countries, the bush is grown on an industrial scale, its leaves are used as a sweetener in drinks and confectionery.