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Growing kava on the US mainland

K

kl.stevev

Kava Curious
So, I recently got access to a high end green house!(smiley: happy) It's 50' by 20' I think. I'm allowed to use a small unspecified space. I don't know what temp it goes down too at night, but it's always been 70-105 when I've been in it.
I know there are a lot easier, similar medicinal herbs to grow. I will grow those, but Kava takes years to be good.  So, I want to attempt as soon as possible!
What I've gathered is:
1. You start kava from cuttings and root clones. I have a little experience with clones.
2. Temp cannot go too low. I don't know the optimum temp.
3. Kava will take years of growth to be worth consuming.

I'm not too sure it's going to be a great success, but you learn by doing. With that said, does anyone have any propagation information? any comments? and any place to buy a good kava clone?
Thanks a ton!
I will definitely post pics if I so much as get a clone
 
Buddhacide

Buddhacide

Kava Enthusiast
I'm no expert, but I know the climate has to be pretty specific. Apparently they're not even able to grow it in other areas of oceana,like New Zealand or Australia, so it more than just temperature. I have no idea though if a Mainland greenhouse could replicate the right climate. Adil from pk could tell you I reckon.
 
Paradise Kava

Paradise Kava

Honolulu, HI
Kava Vendor
Aloha Steve!

It's possible to grow it there, sure!

We did a picture tutorial on how to grow kava in 2001.

We tried to document the more sensitive and delicate step, the very beginning when the plant is rooting.



Once it roots, it can manage just fine, you know what I mean?



But when kava is super tiny, it needs love.

I used to go out to the nursery and sing Hawaiian songs on my ukulele to them. Anything to make them feel welcome in the world :) And I am a big believer in talking to plants.

Think I'm crazy? You're probably right.



Our survival rate was around 96%-98%



Check out the pictures right here and if you are serious about growing, look at stuff carefully.



For example, notice the knuckles/nodes are angled at first (and minimal stem is left near the node to prevent water logging (i.e root rot), notice how deep we put them, notice that the nursery tarp we installed was 50% light (I like 50% light when they are babies.)



Finally notice how CLEAN the roots are when we removed the moss. Again, water logging is definitely your enemy so you want all that moss OFF. It encourages all sorts of root rot in stage 2, when they are potted.



See the pictures right here-

https://www.facebook.com/...3.173380879338967&type;=3



All the best!

Adil Ghiasi
 
Paradise Kava

Paradise Kava

Honolulu, HI
Kava Vendor
search google - LIVE KAVA PLANTS. I'm sure someone out here is shipping. I would if we had the time, but I prefer projects instead.



Recently did a 500 plant project for a partner farmer. Started, rooted, cleaned and uppotted to a gallon pot and they take it home.



In a few years, our contract says they call me first, and I'm happy :)



More people growing kava, the better it is for the industry!
 
K

kl.stevev

Kava Curious
Whoa! thanks Adil. That was great! You cleared up a lot. The pictures were great.

Your project, WOW. 500 plants, that's just inspiring.

The only place that has live kava plants is Kbotanicals. It's 28$ per plant o_0 I'm a little poor right now.

I would start this project right now. I'll have to do this when I have more attention. Right now I have siberian motherwort, lions tall, skullcap bascil?, Rieshi, oyster mushrooms, and school going.

Thanks again Adil!
 
Paradise Kava

Paradise Kava

Honolulu, HI
Kava Vendor
You're welcome, shoot me an email if you have any questions.

People at KT are awesome. Tyler, if I remember correctly.
 
Ed!

Ed!

Kava Enthusiast
Think they would grow indoors with good lighting? I've been looking for a house with a really high-ceiling open community area. Wouldn't mind having a kava plant or two :)
 
K

kl.new2kava

Kava Enthusiast
I wonder how good it would be to grow it hydroponically and under high intensity discharge lights. Possibly grow it in pure water culture or bubbler buckets to keep the roots from getting any particles on them. Use organic nutrients and flush properly before harvest and that would probably be some dank kava. Of coarse the logistics and cost effectiveness is laughable but still. Now that I think about it; Adil you shold totally try an outdoor hydro kava grow! I've seen outdoor hyroponic planters that use solar power. Hydro tends to grow most faster than soil from the few experiences I've had with it.
 
K

kl.new2kava

Kava Enthusiast
No way man. Back when I was growing hydro I just used 5 gallon buckets with a small mesh cup of clay pebbles that held the cutting at the top the roots grew out the sides of the cup and hung into the bucket which was half full of nutrient solution and a fish tank bubbler and air stone bubbling water on the roots. By the time my plants were done the whole bucket was one massive rootball. I wasn't growing kava, but still.
 
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