Growing Stevia
Stevia is an unusual plant whose properties allow it to be used as a natural sugar substitute. To sweeten a cup of tea, just add a couple of stevia leaves. This plant can be grown both in the garden and at home.
Contents
Planting stevia
The homeland of this plant is countries with a tropical climate. Therefore, when growing on a personal plot for the winter, stevia must be transferred indoors, otherwise it will simply die. Plant the plant in a place where it will be protected from drafts. The ideal condition for growing this plant will be a temperature of at least +22 degrees. Do not choose a low-lying place for this plant where water will accumulate.
Seeds Stevia is sold in flower shops. The beginning of their planting for seedlings is April. The seeds are immediately planted in disposable cups, and after 1.5 months they are transferred to a permanent place.
- Fill each cup with soil.
- Make small holes in the soil and place 2 stevia seeds in each.
- Cover the holes with a layer of soil no more than 3 cm thick.
- Sprinkle the soil with water from a spray bottle and cover the containers with glass or film.
- Place the container with the seeds under a UV lamp and do not turn it off even at night in the first days.
- The room where stevia is germinated must be at least +25 degrees.
- After the first sprouts appear, and this will happen in about two weeks, remove the lid from the container.
- Three weeks after planting, keep the seedlings under a UV lamp for 15 hours a day.
- After strong leaves appear, thin out the seedlings, removing weak plants.
Much easier grow sweet grass from cuttings. They are obtained from an adult plant. To do this, cut off the top of the shoot about 10 cm long. The best time for cuttings is May or June. Before planting, remove the lower leaves from the cutting and deepen it into the soil to a length of 6 cm. Cover the cutting with a jar, after spraying it with water. Repeat spraying several times a day for 10 days. A month and a half after planting, stevia should be transferred to open ground or to larger containers if you decide to grow it at home.
Stevia care
It is better to place stevia on the south side of the apartment. So, under the influence of sunlight, a sweet substance will accumulate in the leaves. In summer, the temperature for stevia should be at least +23 degrees. During the winter dormancy period, the air should be cooler, just +16 degrees is enough. But at the same time, the plant must be reliably protected from drafts.
Water stevia often, but little by little, so that the soil is constantly moist. Feeding carry out twice a month in the summer. Fertilizers used for indoor plants are well suited for this.
Be sure to take care of the formation of the bush. To do this, pinch the tops of the shoots when they reach a length of 25 cm. At home, replant the plant every 2 years, replacing the pot with a larger container.
Uses of Stevia
Stevia leaves can be used as a natural sugar substitute. An extract is prepared from them, used as part of herbal preparations, or herbal tea is prepared.
Fresh leaves are added to any drink to sweeten it. The dried leaves are ground to a powder. Stevia leaf powder is many times sweeter than regular sugar. Just 2 large spoons of this powder replace 1 glass of crystalline sugar.
Stevia also has healing properties. For example, by brewing a tablespoon of dry leaves with a glass of boiling water, you can get not only a tasty drink, but also a very healthy one. It can be drunk for obesity and both types of diabetes, and is useful for relieving the symptoms of hypertension. This decoction can lighten pigment spots on the skin or rub into the scalp to get rid of dandruff.
Stevia decoction can be added to dishes where sugar is needed. It must first be strained. You can store the prepared broth in the refrigerator for two days.
You can make syrup or extract from stevia decoction. To prepare the syrup, evaporate the broth over low heat. Continue evaporation until a drop of syrup retains its shape. This syrup is very sweet; just a few drops are enough to sweeten a drink or other dish.
Stevia extract is much easier to prepare. To do this, simply pour 20 g of dry stevia leaves with a glass of alcohol and leave to brew for a day at room temperature. After this, strain and use instead of sugar.
