I just bought a Hoja Santa that I intend to keep in a pot and need some advice. I have read that it has quite high water requirements. Does anyone have any experience with growing one in a pot? Can it take poor drainage or boggy conditions? I was thinking about keeping it in a pot with no drainage hole, but don't know if that would kill it.
Also, I know that it can take shade, but does anyone know exactly how deep of shade it can tolerate?
Thanks!
Dennis
Hoja Santa
Well, for some reason the picture function is not working for me. Attempted to show you my "grove" of hoja santa. Purchased it two years ago put directly in the bed. It gets 4 feet tall or more, leaves 12" each way or more, The stalks get so big it takes a saw to take them down. They spread like wild from underground roots and every little root puts out another plant. When the yard crew was here late last summer they went nuts. Said they sell the leaves for $17 a pound at the Mexican market. The wrap everything in them including tamales. I was told when we bought it that it is used frequently to wrap fish for boiling, broiling, grilling...you name it. The aroma is great. Much like rootbeer. It dies completely to the ground in cold weather and comes back bigger than ever in the spring. I love it. Have rearranged everything under it in order to let it go. Mine is in part shade early in the day and full sun later. Nothing phases it. Haven't had any bugs. I would get a huge, huge container if I wanted to grow it that way. If it comes up before the RU's I intend to bring starts.
Christi
The Jan/Feb issue of Texas Gardener has an article on Mexican herbs including this one. It says Hoja santa grows well in dappled shade and moist soil. Also, that it may need supplemental watering during the heat of TX summers. I suspect when this plant is potted it will require even more moisture. Will you have it in a large pot?
It is currently only about 2 feet tall, so I have it in a 12 inch pot with no holes in it. Hopefully the lack of holes will help it stay moist, rather than causing root rot or something like that. It certainly sounds like I will need to repot it into something larger at a later point in time!
Based on all the positive comments, I'm quite excited about this plant. I first saw it mentioned as an ingredient, but once I looked it up I thought it sounded like something I would like to try. :)
I've been collecting a few plants to keep in a fairly shady, south facing covered porch area. This is the big one, and I also have a swamp lily, lizard's tail, and horsetail. I have all of these in pots with no drainage, hoping that a good watering will help them last for a few days without water if I go on a trip during the summer...
Dennis
I understand. I planted horseradish this year and in order to keep it contained I planted it in an oak barrel half. I also set the barrel up on bricks to keep it from exiting thru the drain holes and to keep the barrel from rotting out.
Good luck with your collection of potted plants.
I've never heard of growing a plant in a pot without holes. I would assume the roots would eventually rot. Anyone done this?
I grow about 3 species of Crinums and a couple of Hymenocallis in pots with no holes--but they like it really wet and can handle flooding in their native habitats. I have run out of "holeless" pots --so that will be the extent of growing anything that prefers no drainage.
Debbie
I know that the swamp lily (crinum americanum), lizard's tail, and horsetail can all grow in pots sunken up to 6 inches of water, so I am assuming that they are great in pots without holes since it should require less regular watering. I'm not too sure about the hoja santa, though. Anyone want to hazard any guesses about it?
Dennis
see your 'Herbs' forum post
=)
Dennis, I couldn't find any info that refers Hoja Santa as a bog plant. One site that listed bogs as well said it was a "Mesic" plant, meaning it had high moisture needs, but needed good drainage.hth
I have mine in really deep shade, doesn't get as big or spread as it normally would, but doesn't look unhealthy either. It's been there for a few years. I have to water the hydrangeas more then I do the HS. It can get pouty during heat waves, but as LouC said, it's a tougher plant then it looks.