Seed – Andrographis Paniculata

Description

Planting/Growing Andrographis Discussion:

This is an herb mentioned in many of Dr. Stephen Buhner’s books, as it is a part of his Lyme protocol. I believe this may be why andrographis is highly sought. Its nickname is “King of Bitters” and it is native to East Asia, China, India, Central America, and the Caribbean. Andrographis grows in most any zone, as it is a tropical annual.

Andrographis is an interesting looking plant that has squared stems and it requires very little attention. It is an annual that takes about 4 months to mature. It seeds in early fall. It may be a plant best started indoors and transplanted in the late Spring. It prefers full sun and will do well in any type of soil, including poor. We grow it in traditional garden soil and it does well. We are told to add a bit of sand to the very top area of the soil, only to help scratch the seed coat off as it grows.

While it is a full sun plant, if you live in a very hot, dry climate, you may want to provide a bit of shade in the hottest parts of the day. Additionally, while it likes frequent watering, it will not make it if the soil becomes water-logged or even too wet in general. As a matter of fact, they say to not water them once they are transplanted outside, until they become established. After which, as long as it rains frequently, they will not need to be watered. A tell-tale sign of inadequate water is that the leaves begin to yellow and fall off.

Soaking seeds for 5 minutes may assist in germination. Do not use water that is boiling hot. It is recommended to use water that is 50°C (122°F), and yo not leave them for more than 5 minutes, as it may affect germination. Place the seeds on the surface of the soil and lightly patting them in. Germination takes approximately 7 days. It may grow up to 4 ft. tall and wide. They should be planted 2 ft. apart and if more space is needed, you can thin them out later.

Every branch produces but with so many branches, there are always many flowers. Once it is done flowering, it is replaced by a long, thin pod, containing many yellow to brown seeds. They say that a lot of moisture stimulates leaf growth, while dry spells stimulate seed production.

If you want to take cuttings, they should be 3 nodes long and taken from the top of the plants.

I must share personal experience with growing my own andrographis. It seems to be sometimes susceptible to a parasitic plant called “Dodder”. Most would think that dodder is a harmful fungus, as it is yellow and grows like a long string, entangling itself and wrapping around andrographis plants. It is actually another medicinal plant! If left alone it will strangle the andrographis and kill your plants. You can break off, just below the attachment point of the host plant to rid of it. 

It can be trained to grow bushier by first giving it just a bit of shade and by clipping off the tips, 6 weeks after planting them. This may cause them to gain more mass and to spread out wider. 

Lastly, the main medicinal compound, andrographolide is said to be found in the whole plant at the time it begins to flower. However, if you are interested in harvesting it specifically for the andrographolide, is said to be at its most potent in the present leaves when the inflorescence axis starts to grow. If you are seeking to harvest it at its maximum potential, look up these terms and get to know more about this method.

We carry Andrographis tinctures, colloidal tinctures, glycerites, herbal tea, loose powder, and capsules, elsewhere on this site. To purchase one, or to read about the possible benefits of Andrographis, Click Here.