Moringa, being a tropical tree, thrives best in warm climates rather than cold ones. However, with some clever measures like insulating roots, creating microclimates, or even keeping them indoors, you can successfully grow Moringa in colder areas.
The art of growing Moringa becomes quite intriguing, especially considering its tropical origins. You can almost turn any place into a Moringa tree zone!
For more details on growing Moringa in colder climates, check out the information below.
Moringa Growing Zone
If you’re familiar with gardening, then you’ve likely heard about hardiness zones. No worries if you’re not familiar; you can find your zone on the USDA website if you’re in the US or here if you’re outside the US.
Moringa prefers Zones 9-11, resembling the climate of northwestern India, its place of origin. This hardy plant can endure scorching temperatures, droughts, and arid soil. However, its natural adaptations are more geared toward warmth, so precautions are necessary in colder climates.
Surprisingly, Moringa can indeed thrive in cold climates, enduring brief periods of freezing (or even below freezing) temperatures. Come winter, it goes into dormancy, with leaves wilting and falling once the thermometer dips below around 40°F.
With the arrival of spring, Moringa awakens with new shoots. If you’re in a region where temperatures seldom fall below 32°F, your Moringa will likely endure without much intervention.
However, in colder climates where freezing temperatures are common, a bit of effort is required to safeguard your Moringa’s growth.
Method One: Protect the Roots (Best for Climate Zones 7-10)
There are a few different ways you can keep your Moringa trees alive in colder climates, but consider the following method, which is widely discussed for its effectiveness.
The goal of this approach is to maintain a warm environment for your Moringa’s roots, ensuring their survival during the coldest time of the year. This not only eliminates the need to start anew but also promotes faster growth for your Moringa tree when spring comes!
- Harvest your leaves when daily temperatures consistently drop below 40°F. For instructions on how to do this, check out Morning Garden’s Guide to Processing Moringa and Making Moringa Powder.
- Trim the tree down to about three feet, promoting survival and facilitating future harvests. Remember, doing this will not kill your tree!
- Cut about 5-6 feet of chicken wire, ensuring it is at least 3-4 feet tall.
- Wrap the chicken wire around the tree, creating a perimeter fence for insulation.
- Secure the wire tightly with zip ties and anchors.
- Fill the enclosed space with insulating materials like wood mulch, fallen leaves, tightly packed hay, or old blankets (if necessary).
The idea is to snuggle up your tree trunk and roots with some cozy insulation. I’ve tried a few tricks in the past:
- Wood mulch
- Fallen tree leaves
- Packed hay (my go-to choice)
- Some old blankets (not the best idea, but you gotta do what you gotta do)
Method Two: Creating a Micro-Climate (Best for Climate Zones 8-10)
Ever wondered how your aunt in Pennsylvania keeps African plants thriving? Well, it’s all about creating a cozy little spot, known as a micro-climate.
A micro-climate is like a local weather bubble that’s slightly different from the surroundings. Mountains, valleys, and lakes can create them. With a bit of planning, you can engineer one for your Moringa tree.
Moringa trees love warmth, so your goal is to give them a few extra degrees. Here are some tricks:
- Surround your Moringa garden with windbreak trees—they’re like nature’s cozy blankets, shielding your trees from chilly winds.
- Plant your Moringa against your house or a wall, especially on the west- or south-facing side. Your house provides warmth, and the Moringa reflects it back.
- Find where the winter sun rises and plant your trees to soak up that precious sunlight.
- Use heat lamps or big Christmas lights for a touch of warmth. Just be careful not to turn your garden into a disco inferno.
- If your garden has slopes, plant your Moringa trees near the top. Cold air will flow away, keeping them a tad warmer.
Method Three: Keep it Safe Indoors (Best for Climate Zones 1-6)
For those of us stuck in places where winter means certain doom for Moringa trees, it’s time to bring them indoors and figure out the indoor tree tango.
The challenge? Moringa trees are like speedy skyscrapers, and we don’t want a jungle in our living room.
Here’s a cheat sheet for a thriving indoor Moringa:
- Begin with a spacious pot, around 40-60 liters, to give your tree room to stretch its roots.
- If your Moringa enjoys outdoor living, bring it inside when daytime temperatures dip below 65 degrees.
- Park it by the windows. Moringa craves sunlight, so pick a sunlit spot or provide some plant-friendly lights.
- Trim and prune regularly. This keeps your tree in check, preventing it from redecorating your living room in greenery.
Now, if you neglected the trimmings and your Moringa turned into a green giant, what’s the plan to save the day?
Method Four: Propagate With Cuttings (Any Zone)
This method is more about ensuring you can propagate your trees for the next year rather than keeping them alive. If your trees are too large to bring indoors, and you anticipate a significant drop in temperature that could threaten their survival, taking cuttings is a practical choice.
Identify branches suitable for cuttings, aiming for those at least 1.5 feet long and 1-2 inches in diameter. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cleanly cut the branch where it meets the trunk.
Fill a large pot about 2/3rds full with garden soil, and consider adding some compost. Moringa is hardy enough to grow in drier soil, but a bit of compost can be beneficial.
Carefully insert the Moringa branch at least 8-12 inches into the soil, ensuring that at least 1/3rd of the branch is submerged. Place the pot near a west- or south-facing window, and keep the soil consistently moist. Within a few weeks, you should observe green shoots emerging from the branch as it takes root and grows.
Can Moringa Tree Survive Winter?
Your Moringa tree can survive the winter; you just need to familiarize yourself with the various Moringa tree growing zones that we’ve listed above.
Use this map for reference:
Once you’ve identified your specific location’s zone, refer to the guide above for insights on caring for your Moringa plant during winter.
We genuinely hope this proves helpful!
Bonus: Tips for Keeping Your Moringa Warm and Growing in Cold Climates
The three methods mentioned above will effectively preserve your Moringa roots, but there are additional ways to provide extra warmth for your trees.
- Use a portable heat source, such as Christmas lights, heat lamps, or space heaters. Choose options that are practical for your setup.
- Place near-boiling water in slightly open Tupperware containers and position them close to your Moringa trunks. The containers will emit heat, keeping your Moringa a bit warmer.
- Mist your Moringa trees with warm water using a spray bottle. The evaporating water creates warmth and humidity for the tree.
Remember, during winter, your Moringa trees require less water than in summer. Dampen the soil once every other day or so; this should be adequate.
While Moringa thrives in warmer areas, you can successfully grow them in cold climates by establishing micro-climates, insulating the roots, and considering indoor care. With a little attention, your Moringa will continue to thrive!
Conclusion
In summary, Moringa, known as the drumstick tree, typically thrives in warm climates but can adapt to colder zones with proper care. Whether it’s protecting roots, creating micro-climates, or bringing trees indoors, there are ways to ensure Moringa’s survival in various climates. Tailoring your approach to your specific zone, from 7-10 to 1-6, allows you to enjoy the benefits of Moringa year-round.
Bonus tips, such as using heat sources and adjusting watering, enhance its resilience during winter. With these strategies, you can successfully cultivate Moringa even in colder climates. Happy growing!
For years now, Moringa has been a daily consumption in my life, incorporated in various forms such as capsules, food recipes, and soothing teas. Initially, my daughter and I embarked on this journey as an experiment, but as time went on, I delved deeper into its remarkable potential and unearthed the unlimited benefits it offers for our well-being and health. I got motivated by how much it positively impacted me and decided to share my insights about Moringa’s profound impact on health and overall living through my blog posts.