Piper Species, Kava Kava

Nice plant to grow. Very tender leaves. Needs high humidity. Don't let the top of the soil dry out for more than 48 hours. Gets spider mi...Read Moretes, it's safe to use insecticidal soap. Doesn't care for neem oil much. Use a rich potting mix, add a lot of perlite.

This is one of the "canoe plants" that Polynesian people took with them throughout the Pacific, where it is still cultivated (and occasio...Read Morenally naturalized) and used as a soothing drink. Many varieties are grown, typically by replanting sections of branch after the root is harvested. My experience is in Hawai`i, where it thrives. Tried growing some in pots when I moved to Virginia, but it just isn't happy here. Upright, leggy stalks have heart-shaped leaves, and vary from green to spotted, to purple and black.