How to Grow Henna
Obtain seeds from a nursery or reputable supplier., Find a suitable storage container for your seeds., Gather several paper towels and a plastic Ziploc bag., Purchase small seedling pots., Prepare the growing surface., Add water., Add seeds., Chill...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Obtain seeds from a nursery or reputable supplier.
Don’t expect to find henna seeds at your local big-box garden center.
Henna seeds are specialty items.
You may have the best luck finding them online. -
Step 2: Find a suitable storage container for your seeds.
Store seeds in an airtight, opaque container until you’re ready to sow them.
Keep the container in a cool, dark place.
If seeds are exposed to moisture or sunlight, they might sprout prematurely and rot., Use high-quality paper towels so they don’t disintegrate when they become wet. , Start new plants in small pots even if you plan to eventually plant them outside.
Make sure pots have drain holes in the bottom. , Layer several flat paper towels on top of each other.
The goal is to create a thick, sturdy cushion that will serve as the seeds’ incubator., Sprinkle cold water onto the paper towels without saturating them.
Paper towels should be moist, but solid enough that you can pick them up., Sprinkle a pinch of seeds down the middle of the moist paper towels.
Add a generous number of seeds, but don’t overdo it! You should be able to see plenty of white space between the seeds and the paper towels.
Fold the paper towels in half down the middle with the seeds inside. , Place the folded paper towels into the Ziploc bag.
If you need to fold the paper towels additional times to make them fit, that is fine.
Seal the bag and place it in a refrigerator.
The refrigerator replicates winter temperatures and prepares the seeds for “spring” and germination., After three or four days, remove the Ziploc from the refrigerator and place it in a warm spot like a sunny windowsill or porch.
The heat and light should create condensation that triggers germination.Leave the Ziploc bag slightly open once you remove it from the refrigerator.
This allows air circulation and reduces the odds that the seeds will become moldy.
The goal is to encourage a warm, slightly moist environment inside the bag. , After about a week, check on the seeds.
Continue checking on the seeds until you discover they’ve become seedlings.
If you see them turning white, you'll know you're making progress! The warmer the environment, the more quickly seeds will sprout.
When seedlings reach about half an inch long, it’s time to plant them!, Henna thrives in soils with pH ranging from
4.3 to
8.
Add organic matter, such as garden manure, to the soil to promote growth., You can plant multiple seedlings in one pot (the exact number will depend on the size of your pots.) Make sure to leave plenty of space between the seedlings so you’ll be able to dig them up and transfer them later.Even if you plan to plant your henna seedlings in the ground eventually, start them in pots.
You can safely transfer plants into the ground, if desired, after about 5 months.
Keeping immature seedlings in a pot allows you to safeguard them from the elements.
You'll be able to bring the pots inside as needed until they’re strong enough to withstand strong wind, rain, etc. , Henna plants won’t survive outdoors if temperatures drop below 50ºF (11ºC).
When your henna plant is inside, keep it in a sunny, warm spot such as a windowsill.Even if your plant is a potted houseplant, you can leave it outside in the sun in warm temperatures.
To protect your plant against an unexpected early-season cold front, bring it indoors in early fall.
Keep your plant indoors until spring, after the threat of cold fronts has subsided. , If you take care of them, expect outdoor plants to reach about 8 feet (2.4 m) tall within 5 years.
Find out what garden zone you’re in by consulting the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map.,, Passersby could be pricked by the spines.
A mature henna plant can serve as a natural security barrier to discourage intruders. , Henna plants thrive in the heat and are very drought-tolerant once established.
Allow your henna plant’s soil to dry completely, then saturate it with water all at once., Henna plants prefer dry conditions.
When the plant’s soil is constantly moist, root rot or scale can develop., After watering, excess water should drain from the pot.
Place a saucer under the plant to collect extra water, and empty the saucer when after watering. , Exposure to cold can damage or kill your plant., If your henna plant develops aphids, spray it with a water-soap solution to kill the insects.
If your plant develops scale, visit a reputable garden center that can recommend a suitable insecticide that will kill the scale without damaging your henna plant.If your plant develops aphids or scale, trim the affected stems and leaves and discard them in right away., To maximize flower and leaf growth, fertilize your plant.
Always use fertilizers at the recommended dilution strength or less.
Never apply more fertilizer than is recommended, especially to seedlings and young plants.
Look for a fertilizer with a 1-2-1 nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium (NPK) rating to encouraged balanced growth.Ideally, fertilize established perennials once, in spring, when you notice new growth beginning to emerge.Overfertilizing can burn or kill plants. -
Step 3: Gather several paper towels and a plastic Ziploc bag.
-
Step 4: Purchase small seedling pots.
-
Step 5: Prepare the growing surface.
-
Step 6: Add water.
-
Step 7: Add seeds.
-
Step 8: Chill seeds.
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Step 9: Transfer seeds to a warm
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Step 10: sunny spot.
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Step 11: Wait for seeds to become seedlings.
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Step 12: Plant henna plants in a commercially available soil mixtures suitable for cacti and succulents.
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Step 13: Plant seedlings in small pots.
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Step 14: Plan to grow your henna as a houseplant if you live in a cooler climate.
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Step 15: Consider planting your henna plant in the ground if you live in gardening zones 9b-11.In these zones
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Step 16: henna plants thrive outdoors.
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Step 17: Keep in mind that henna’s growth habit is shrub- or tree-like.If you plant henna outside
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Step 18: make sure it has plenty of room to grow tall and wide as it matures.
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Step 19: Remember that mature henna is spiny.Don’t plant a henna plant in the ground in a spot that has heavy foot traffic.
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Step 20: Water henna plants when soil becomes dry.
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Step 21: Avoid watering henna plants a little at a time daily or every other day.
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Step 22: Make sure your indoor henna plant’s pot is draining properly.
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Step 23: Transfer your potted henna plant indoors in winter if you don’t live in garden zones 9b-11.
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Step 24: Treat pests.
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Step 25: Fertilize your plant.
Detailed Guide
Don’t expect to find henna seeds at your local big-box garden center.
Henna seeds are specialty items.
You may have the best luck finding them online.
Store seeds in an airtight, opaque container until you’re ready to sow them.
Keep the container in a cool, dark place.
If seeds are exposed to moisture or sunlight, they might sprout prematurely and rot., Use high-quality paper towels so they don’t disintegrate when they become wet. , Start new plants in small pots even if you plan to eventually plant them outside.
Make sure pots have drain holes in the bottom. , Layer several flat paper towels on top of each other.
The goal is to create a thick, sturdy cushion that will serve as the seeds’ incubator., Sprinkle cold water onto the paper towels without saturating them.
Paper towels should be moist, but solid enough that you can pick them up., Sprinkle a pinch of seeds down the middle of the moist paper towels.
Add a generous number of seeds, but don’t overdo it! You should be able to see plenty of white space between the seeds and the paper towels.
Fold the paper towels in half down the middle with the seeds inside. , Place the folded paper towels into the Ziploc bag.
If you need to fold the paper towels additional times to make them fit, that is fine.
Seal the bag and place it in a refrigerator.
The refrigerator replicates winter temperatures and prepares the seeds for “spring” and germination., After three or four days, remove the Ziploc from the refrigerator and place it in a warm spot like a sunny windowsill or porch.
The heat and light should create condensation that triggers germination.Leave the Ziploc bag slightly open once you remove it from the refrigerator.
This allows air circulation and reduces the odds that the seeds will become moldy.
The goal is to encourage a warm, slightly moist environment inside the bag. , After about a week, check on the seeds.
Continue checking on the seeds until you discover they’ve become seedlings.
If you see them turning white, you'll know you're making progress! The warmer the environment, the more quickly seeds will sprout.
When seedlings reach about half an inch long, it’s time to plant them!, Henna thrives in soils with pH ranging from
4.3 to
8.
Add organic matter, such as garden manure, to the soil to promote growth., You can plant multiple seedlings in one pot (the exact number will depend on the size of your pots.) Make sure to leave plenty of space between the seedlings so you’ll be able to dig them up and transfer them later.Even if you plan to plant your henna seedlings in the ground eventually, start them in pots.
You can safely transfer plants into the ground, if desired, after about 5 months.
Keeping immature seedlings in a pot allows you to safeguard them from the elements.
You'll be able to bring the pots inside as needed until they’re strong enough to withstand strong wind, rain, etc. , Henna plants won’t survive outdoors if temperatures drop below 50ºF (11ºC).
When your henna plant is inside, keep it in a sunny, warm spot such as a windowsill.Even if your plant is a potted houseplant, you can leave it outside in the sun in warm temperatures.
To protect your plant against an unexpected early-season cold front, bring it indoors in early fall.
Keep your plant indoors until spring, after the threat of cold fronts has subsided. , If you take care of them, expect outdoor plants to reach about 8 feet (2.4 m) tall within 5 years.
Find out what garden zone you’re in by consulting the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map.,, Passersby could be pricked by the spines.
A mature henna plant can serve as a natural security barrier to discourage intruders. , Henna plants thrive in the heat and are very drought-tolerant once established.
Allow your henna plant’s soil to dry completely, then saturate it with water all at once., Henna plants prefer dry conditions.
When the plant’s soil is constantly moist, root rot or scale can develop., After watering, excess water should drain from the pot.
Place a saucer under the plant to collect extra water, and empty the saucer when after watering. , Exposure to cold can damage or kill your plant., If your henna plant develops aphids, spray it with a water-soap solution to kill the insects.
If your plant develops scale, visit a reputable garden center that can recommend a suitable insecticide that will kill the scale without damaging your henna plant.If your plant develops aphids or scale, trim the affected stems and leaves and discard them in right away., To maximize flower and leaf growth, fertilize your plant.
Always use fertilizers at the recommended dilution strength or less.
Never apply more fertilizer than is recommended, especially to seedlings and young plants.
Look for a fertilizer with a 1-2-1 nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium (NPK) rating to encouraged balanced growth.Ideally, fertilize established perennials once, in spring, when you notice new growth beginning to emerge.Overfertilizing can burn or kill plants.
About the Author
Grace Harris
Creates helpful guides on practical skills to inspire and educate readers.
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