By Tarina Hawkins
Recent research by The NPD group in the USA has found that more people than ever are turning to natural and organic methods to look after their skin and hair. They found that 68% of consumers want to purchase products with what they deem to be ‘clean’ ingredients. It doesn’t get much better than neem when it comes to organic beauty! However, what about cultivating other organic plants that can be used to assist your healthcare and beauty regimes? It’s time to look at growing your own henna (Mehndi) plants, too.
Beginning your Mehdhi journey
Cultivating your own henna (otherwise known as Mehdni or by its Latin name – Lawsonia Inermis) can be a very rewarding experience if you decide to do it. Not only will you be growing something that is becoming increasingly popular as more people turn toward natural hair and skin care, but it’s something that’s been cultivated for thousands of years across many different continents.
Here’s a quick guide to growing your own and how to achieve the best results.
Find a suitable pot: It’s best to select a pot that’s about 30cm deep and one that has plenty of drainage holes at the bottom. Opt for clay or terracotta – they’re ideal, as they’ve got the best drainage capabilities and they’ll allow your soil to breathe perfectly.
Choose your soil mixture carefully: Combine an equal mixture of potting soil, sand, and some peat-free organic compost in your pot. Mix well and aerate – this is the next combination to get the right nutrients to the henna and also to aid drainage and ensure you get longevity out of your plants.
Henna planting process
First, fill your pot with the soil mixture outlined above. Make sure to leave some space at the top—a few centimeters should be fine. Choose a good-quality henna plant or obtain henna seeds from a reputable supplier.
If you’re using a young plant, like the ones from Neem Tree Farms, then remove it from its container and place it in the pot. Make sure that the root ball is level with or just slightly above the surface of the soil. Fill in any remaining space with soil mixture and press gently to secure the plant into position.
If you’re using seeds from a supplier, then sow these about one-quarter of an inch deep into the pot and lightly cover them with soil.
Aftercare for your henna plant
Henna plants just love full sunlight so ensure the pot is in an area of the garden which will get up to six hours of direct light per day. They will require regular watering – and more so during hot and dry conditions. Water the plant so that water drains out of the drainage holes in the pot – then allow the top inch of soil to become dry before you water again. Though they do require a lot of water, overwatering will rot the roots, so be careful to maintain the right levels of moisture.
Henna plants like warm climates – anywhere between 60°F (15°C) and 85°F (29°C). They don’t mind humidity but they grow at their absolute best in dry arid conditions. To get the most from your plants prune them to encourage bushier growth. To do this, pinch off the tips of he young branches – this will also help you maintain the right size and shape of the plant.
It’s important to feed your henna plant with a natural, water-soluble fertilizer once a month – and most especially during the growing season in Spring and Summer. To keep them pest-free, treat them with some wonderful, natural neem oil – and always ensure there’s good air circulation around the plant to stop fungal diseases from creeping in.
Harvesting your henna for home use
It will take a little time to become established – up to two years, but after this time you can start to harvest the leaves to make your own hair color or tattoo paste. Wait for the leaves to turn dark green before they are picked – and always pick them in the morning, when the plant has its highest moisture content.
With a little care and some loving attention, a henna plant is a companion gift to your garden that will bring extra skin and hair care benefits to you, for very little cost.