Names | |||||
Family |
|||||
Botanical Name |
Psychotria viridis | ||||
Synonym(s) |
Palicourea viridis (Ruiz & Pav.) Roem. & Schult., Uragoga viridis (Ruiz & Pav.) Kuntze | ||||
English Name(s) |
Chacruna | ||||
Chinese Name(s) |
|||||
Description | |||||
Size & Growth Habit |
|||||
Leaves |
|||||
Flowers |
|||||
Cultivars & Hybrids |
|||||
Cultivation | |||||
By Seed |
seeds can be difficult to grow as they take a long time and rot is common. Fresh seeds should be cleaned from the berry and sowed in a sandy potting soil without much woody bits, to prevent fungal growth. Allow 1-6 months to germinate. | ||||
By Cutting |
Most plants seen for sale are cuttings. This species takes very well from leaf cuttings. Stem cuttings are also very easy. Simple water is the most common method, and no special requirements are needed. Keep above 15C, medium light and change water once or more a week. Leaf cuttings should be broken in a couple places along the main spine of the leaf, where roots and eventually stems will begin to grow. Stem cuttings grow faster, as they already have an apical meristem and/or nodes. Leaf cuts may take 1-3 months before little stems appear. | ||||
Soil |
Potting soils are generally fine, not very picky whenit comes to soil. Avoid clay. Sandy soils are ok if you can keep moisture levels up and nutrients available. They grow fine in hydroponic systems. | ||||
Water |
Keep moist at all times. Psychotira viridis can handle some overwatering, and brief dryness. | ||||
Feeding |
Psychotria viridis is not a super heavy feeder. In active growing season, a liquid fertilizer (10-10-10) is ok monthly or bi-monthly. We prefer goodsoil and compost, which requires no added fertilizers. | ||||
Light |
Medium to strong light is acceptable. Liek many plants, young tender seedlings and cuttigns hsould be protected from full sun. Larger plants can be grown in full sun where sunshine is not incredibly strong. In very intense sun, some shade is needed. Psychotria viridis can also be grown indoors. | ||||
Pruning |
They grow naturally as a shrub, prune as you see fit. They can handle fairly heavy pruning, just be sure under a heavy prune that temps are good and there are no other stresses on the plants. | ||||
Climate |
Thisis a tropcial species, and is not as hardy as other Psychotria. Try to keep temps consistent throughout the year for best results. | ||||
Other |
|||||
Other | |||||
Human Uses |
Psychotria viridis,orchacruna, has been traditionally used as an ayahuasca admixture which contributes DMT, teh main hallucinogenic compound in most brews. It is still used today for such ceremonies. | ||||
Chemicals/Activities |
|||||
Links |
Kada's Garden, Ethno Culture, Photo Gallery, Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases | ||||
Pictures | |||||
| |||||
