Indian Curry tree
Murraya koenigii
Plant's characteristics
- Murraya koenigii : Indian Curry tree
- Family : Rutaceae
- Origin : India
- Height in its natural environment: 7 m
- Hardiness : 1°C
- Flower color : white
Hauteur : environ 5 à 20 cm (selon les saisons)
Croissance moyenne
Description of the plant
Not to be confused with curry powder, which is a mixture of spices: this is the curry leaf tree.
To your ovens: its small, thin, very graceful leaves are indeed extremely aromatic. Very used in Indian cuisine, they are sautéed in oil before adding the other ingredients of the dish to give it a unique flavor! And, in addition to exhaling a powerful perfume as soon as you touch its leaves, this curry tree will offer you a white flowering reminiscent of honey, as well as edible black berries, of which only the seeds are poisonous.
It is also the ally of our winter digestive disorders: its leaves in infusion stop vomiting and relieve diarrhea and fever. Enough to get you back on track for your next menu based on curry leaves!
But be careful, its leaves are to be used fresh, they only keep their flavors for a short time, hence the fact of adopting a curry tree as soon as possible; it can produce up to 100 kg of leaves per year!
Also known as : Bergera koenigii, Sweet neem, Curry Leaf Tree, Daun Kari, Curry Bush, Karapincha, Karwa Pale, Garupillai, Kerupulai,Sweet nim, Curryblätter, Kerriebladeren, Karriblader, Curry levelek, Hojas del Cury, foglia di cari, folhas do caril, kalupile, etc.
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Growing tips
Repotting
When you receive your plant, repot it in a pot slightly larger than the bucket, which must be well pierced. Avoid pot covers which prevent residual water from draining away and encourage fungal diseases. Choose a fine potting soil, ideally with added perlite or sand to lighten the substrate (do not use garden soil or acidic soil such as heather). Then plan two repottings per year (spring and autumn), gradually increasing the size of the pot and adapting it to the size of the root network (the roots must have room, but not too much as the plant must be able to dry out its substrate between waterings). This avoids having to add fertilizer, which always risks burning the fragile roots of the plants and making the plant wither as soon as the fertilizer is stopped.
Watering
Moderate watering: watering should be copious (the whole root ball should be wet), but wait until the substrate has dried deeply before watering again (you can stick your finger in the soil: as long as you feel moisture, do not water). Your plant will recover better from a lack of water than from an excess of water. Always water at the base of the plant, and do not mist it, because stagnant water in the armpit of the leaves favors cryptogamic diseases. If your atmosphere is too dry, put bowls of water nearby (above radiators for example), so that evaporation humidifies the air.
For an indoor planting
A true houseplant, place it in a warm and bright place, like a veranda or behind a window, direct sunlight suits them perfectly.
For an outdoor planting
This plant is not frost and/or cold resistant and should not be planted outside except in limited parts of Southern Europe.
Pruning
This plant is very easy to prune, which will make it branch out.
Fertilizer
Our plants are grown naturally, without chemical fertilizers, so we advise you to repot them regularly (twice a year) rather than adding fertilizer.
In case of pest attack
If your plants are under attack by aphids or other pests, the best way to control them is by hand. Change their soil, remove as many undesirables as possible by hand and then shower your plants with a strong stream of water to eliminate any eggs that may be present. Spray them (insist on the underside of the leaves) with liquid black soap diluted in water. Repeat the operation several times at a few days interval. Take them outside in good weather, rain, sun and wind will kill most of the aggressors!