Andrographis PANICULATA

Andrographis PANICULATA - Panicled andrographis, Andrographis paniculata, Kalmegh, Fa thaloi jhon, Kalmegh, King of Bitters, Creat, Green Chiretta.

Included in the 'Golden Row' of Ayurvedic plants!

Andrographis is a genus of annual and perennial herbaceous plants and subshrubs in the Acanthaceae family, naturally distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia, particularly in India and Sri Lanka. Representatives of the genus usually have quadrangular stems, opposite simple leaves, and small bilabiate flowers gathered in terminal or axillary racemes and panicles.

Many species of the genus are characterized by a pronounced bitter taste of all aboveground plant parts, which is why andrographises have long attracted attention in traditional healing systems of South and Southeast Asia.

In cultivation, andrographis is grown primarily as a medicinal, ethnobotanical, and collection plant requiring warm conditions, bright light, and a moderately moist, well-drained substrate.

Panicled andrographis is an erect branching herbaceous plant usually 30 to 100 cm (12 to 39 in) in height, with slender quadrangular shoots and lanceolate dark green leaves. Native to India and Sri Lanka, the species has widely naturalized and is grown in many countries across South and Southeast Asia.

The flowers are small, whitish or pinkish-lilac with purple spots and streaks on the lower lip, gathered in loose axillary and terminal panicles. The fruits are narrow erect capsules in which numerous tiny yellowish-brown seeds mature.

Andrographis seeds are small, yellowish-brown, and mature in narrow dry capsules. Under normal conditions, average germination can be around 80%.

Before sowing, the seeds are kept for 1-2 hours in a 1% potassium permanganate solution, then soaked for 12-24 hours in warm water with the addition of a growth stimulant: SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon. Sowing is carried out on the surface or with very light covering using a sterile loose substrate with the addition of sand or perlite. The sowing is moistened from a spray bottle and placed in a mini-greenhouse. Germination is carried out under bright diffused lighting and a temperature of about 22-28 °C (72-82 °F). The substrate is kept slightly moist, but not wet, and sowings are ventilated daily.

Under favorable sowing conditions, the first sprouts may appear in about 7-14 days; the main germination often takes 2-4 weeks, while individual seeds can take longer. Pricking out is carried out after the formation of several true leaves and noticeable strengthening of the seedlings. Young plants are transplanted into small pots with loose drained substrate and gradually accustomed to brighter light.

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For andrographis, a very bright location with direct morning or evening sun and protection from cold drafts is chosen. Indoors, the plant is placed by the brightest window; in summer, after gradual acclimation, it can be kept outdoors in a warm sheltered spot.

During active growth, warm temperatures, regular watering, and good air circulation are comfortable. The plant is tropical and does not tolerate frost, so in cool climates it is grown as a seasonal crop or kept indoors. When temperatures drop, growth slows down, and overwatering becomes especially dangerous.

Watering is carried out after the upper part of the substrate has dried out. In spring and summer, the plant is watered regularly, but without water stagnation. In cool conditions, watering is reduced so that roots do not sit in a wet substrate.

For planting, a light, nutritious, and well-drained substrate is used. Coarse sand, perlite, or zeolite is added to the substrate. Drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot, and the pot itself is selected with drainage holes for water runoff.

Fertilization is carried out moderately during the period of active growth using a fertilizer for ornamental foliage or aromatic container plants. Excess nitrogen is not needed: with overly lush growth, shoots stretch out and the plant holds its shape poorly.

For more compact growth, the tips of young shoots are pinched back. Repotting is carried out as the pot is filled, maintaining a loose substrate and good drainage.