Patchouli ( Pogostemon cablin ) is an herbaceous plant in the mint family , but its fragrance is very different from Mentha spicata or peppermint . It is used primarily as an essential oil colour and in essence and incense . This tender perennial plant life is native to Southeast Asia and is cultivated in India and other tropic areas . It can grow to 3 feet marvellous and it does well in ordinary garden soil with full Dominicus . Patchouli has been used to repel moths , so if you put a sachet of dried patchouly leave-taking in your sweater drawer , you’re able to store your garment from the wrong these insects can cause .
Step 1
Grow your patchouli plant as an annual in the garden if you live in an area that receives winter frosts . If you grow it in a pot , it can comport as a perennial if you move it indoors during fall before your first frost .
Step 2
Pinch off the leave-taking at the top of your pachouli ’s branch to encourage the industrial plant to become bushy . you may pinch the plant back as before long as one month after you plant it and dry out the tips .
Step 3
Wait until your plant forms flowers , normally in late summertime , before you harvest it for drying . If your orbit receive winter hoarfrost and your patchouli is in the reason , you may pull the entire plant life – then snip off the roots . If you live in a tropical climate or if your patchouli plant is in a pot , snip off the flowering peak , including some leaves , but be certain to leave at least two - thirds of each branch if you require your plant to live on the winter and give you more to harvest the following year .
Step 4
Dry your harvested leaves , efflorescence and whole plants for seven to 10 days in a warm , dark , teetotal , well - ventilated area such as your garage .
Step 5
link whole industrial plant and enceinte offset into bundles about 1 inch across at the stalk end . String them upside down from a clothesline in a lovesome , sour , dry , well - ventilate expanse . prove them after about one workweek : when the leave start to fall asunder when you fret them , and feel crunchy , they are ready to stack away .
Step 6
Dry loose leaf , flower summit and little ramification on a screen propped up on wooden engine block or brick in a warm , dark , dry , well - give vent area . Check for dryness after five or six days if the area is fairly warm . Otherwise , they should dry within 10 days .
Tip
If you harvest your patchouli in the early daybreak , the plant ’s essential oils will be at their strongest , giving you a more fragrant dry production .
