How To Grow A Moringa Tree Indoors? (A Simple Guide)

Morning Gardens is based in Southwest Texas, where the affordable cost of living has allowed us to cultivate a substantial amount of land. Our property is dedicated to vibrant vegetable and fruit gardens, alongside flourishing Moringa trees.

Yet, recognizing that not everyone has the luxury of yard space as more and more people are moving to the cities and living in apartments where outdoor space is often limited or non-existent. This shift has ignited the popularity of succulents, providing a charming solution that’s both space-efficient and beautiful for indoor decoration.

However, for those who want to grow Moringa trees for its health benefits, an important question arises: Can the naturally tall Moringa tree be grown indoors and how do you do it?

Can You Grow Moringa Indoors?

Growing Moringa indoors is entirely possible. To ensure success, regular pruning is key to maintaining a manageable size. You need to be considerate in choosing a spacious pot that accommodates the roots comfortably, and have the right placement near a south- or west-facing window is important for the tree’s sunlight needs. With thoughtful planning and attentive care, your Moringa tree can undoubtedly flourish within the confines of your indoor space!

For further insights on cultivating Moringa indoors, detailed information is provided below.

More information on Moringa powder, Moringa Olieferia and its overall health and nutritional benefits can be found here:

• Moringa Olieferia 101

Differences Between Outdoor and Indoor Moringa Trees

The main distinction between an outdoor-grown tree and an indoor one lies in size.

Moringa trees exhibit rapid growth, reaching an impressive 1-2 feet per month. Without pruning, they can easily soar to towering heights of 30-40 feet. Therefore regular pruning becomes instrumental, maintaining a more manageable height of 4-6 feet.

Pruning not only controls height but also stimulates fresh growth. Unchecked, a Moringa tree tends to grow its leaves, flowers, and drumsticks at the top, making harvesting challenging. Consistent pruning ensures a bushy and easily harvestable Moringa plant.

Indoor cultivation means you’ll have more control over the tree’s overall health. While pests remain a concern, the controlled indoor environment diminishes the likelihood of nibbling. In addition, temperature regulation enables year-round growth, even during winter.

Windows and light exposure play crucial roles. To prevent bending, especially in limited light conditions, monitor your Moringa saplings closely. If leaning occurs, place a yardstick or straight stick, securely tied to the tree, to maintain a straight growth.

How to Prepare Your Indoor Space for a Moringa Tree

Let’s start with an important step: assessing your windows.

Moringa trees are adaptable in diverse conditions, thriving in both dry and wet environments, responding well to pruning, and flourishing in low-nutrient soils. However, there’s one indispensable factor they can’t do without – proper sunlight.

For indoor Moringa cultivation, where you place your tree is key. The best locations include windows facing west or south, ensuring maximum exposure to sunlight. Given the sun’s varying position due to the Earth’s rotation, southern and western windows receive the most sunlight during the day.

Pay attention to the light patterns in the afternoon and select a window with ample sunlight for your Moringa’s new home.

Clear a space next to the chosen window, ideally measuring at least 5×5 feet. This generous area allows your Moringa tree to thrive and provides enough room for easy leaf cleanup.

If space constraints limit you to less than a 5×5 area, rest assured that your Moringa can still flourish. However, diligent pruning may be necessary in such cases.

A Checklist Before You Plant Your Moringa Seeds

Congratulations on choosing the perfect bright spot by the window for your new indoor companion, and for clearing a dedicated space. To ensure your Moringa tree thrives indoors, there are a few essential steps we need to cover!

First and foremost, select a large enough pot for growing Moringa in pots. We recommend choosing a pot ranging from 40 to 60 liters. Choosing a pot within this range ensures enough room for your Moringa’s roots to flourish while maintaining an indoor-friendly size.

Avoiding a pot that’s too small is important, as it could result in a stunted tree, even if you plan to transplant it later into a larger container. The 40-60 liter range will give your Moringa roots enough room to grow, while keeping the tree indoor-sized.

Next, maintain an indoor temperature of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit (around 21 degrees celsius). While you don’t need to turn your home into a sauna, it’s worth noting that Moringa trees thrive in warmer temperatures, given their origin in northern India. Aim for a temperature range of 70-75 degrees (21 to 24 degrees in celsius)– warm enough to keep your tree happy without turning your living space uncomfortably hot.

Next, let’s talk about soil. Soil type is not as important in this scenario. Ideally, sandy loam soil with good drainage is fantastic, but if not easily available, don’t worry. Moringa trees are resilient to various soils, and your pot’s built-in drainage will compensate. Standard potting soil is more than sufficient for a thriving indoor Moringa.

With your space set up, let’s embark on the journey of growing your Moringa indoors!

Key Tips To Grow Your Moringa Tree Indoors

Moringa trees are quite self-sufficient, and once they’ve started sprouting, they tend to grow on their own for the most part.

Moringa Seeds

Moringa seeds mark the initial step in your exciting journey of growing Moringa trees indoors.

Witnessing the growth of a Moringa tree within the confines of your home is not only enjoyable but also one of nature’s splendid gifts! To ensure the cultivation of healthy Moringa plants evolving into beautiful indoor trees, there are some tips and tricks concerning Moringa seeds.

While every Moringa Oleifera gardener may share different methods for seed germination, we find that soaking the seeds in rainwater for a few days before planting gives us the best results. 

This practice fosters leaf growth and ensures the growth of robust Moringa plants, providing us with an advantage when we decide to grow Moringa trees indoors.

Soak your seeds in rainwater for a couple of days, allowing them to plump up, and then plant them in the soil of your pot for further growth. Although Moringa is a relatively drought-tolerant plant, this initial soaking, a little unconventional, has significantly helped our success with germination, resulting in the cultivation of the most nutrient-enriched Moringa!

Watering

First: avoid overwatering. While it’s challenging to harm a mature Moringa tree indoors, excessive watering can lead to rot. The appropriate water quantity depends mainly with age, following a general guideline:

• Seeds to 2 months: Water small amounts daily, with one cup of water typically sufficient. Ensure the soil is moistened but not saturated.
• 2-4 months: Reduce watering to every other day, slightly increasing the water volume to 1.5 to 2 cups. Dampen the soil without allowing water to accumulate.
• 4-6 months: Decrease watering frequency to twice a week, maintaining a similar approach: enough to moisten, not to flood.
• 6 months and older: Water similarly once a week, ensuring the soil is adequately dampened without excess.

Pruning

Next, to successfully grow your Moringa indoors, semi-regular pruning is important.

Moringa trees thrive on pruning, resulting in bushier and fuller branches with each session. While pruning every week isn’t necessary, especially in the initial months, it becomes importance once your Moringa tree reaches approximately 75% of your desired height. For instance, if aiming for a five-foot-tall tree, initiate pruning when it reaches about 44 inches. This strategic approach ensures the right growth and shape for your indoor Moringa.

Now, let’s dive into the pruning process for your indoor Moringa.

Pruning not only keeps your Moringa tree at a perfect height but also stimulates new growth. In just a few months, you’ll witness your tree reaching its ultimate height with lush and bushy branches.

What You Will Need To Grow Your Moringa Tree Indoors

To grow Moringa indoors, it’s important to set up an environment that promotes the thriving growth of your Moringa Tree.

Moringa Plant Care

How to Grow Moringa Indoors (Basic Moringa plant care):

• Locate a window with good sunlight.
• Plant your Moringa tree in a pot sized around 40 and 60 liters.
• Place your Moringa tree near the window with lots of sunlight.
• Regularly prune your Moringa to maintain the height and to increase width.
• Water your Moringa Tree periodically.

Conclusion

Embracing various gardening styles is perfectly acceptable, as there’s no wrong way to nurture your plants. Whether you aspire to cultivate a thriving Moringa forest outdoors or prefer the simplicity of growing Moringa indoors, both approaches are fine!

For indoor Moringa trees, making sure they receive ample sunlight, sufficient room for growth, and a modest water supply, combined with patience and regular pruning, will not only beautify your living space but also contribute to your long-term health and well-being.