Growing A Clove Tree Indoors Requires Commitment, But Can Be Worth The Effort - Tasting Table

"Clove trees are evergreen, with attractive glossy leaves and a marvelous scent that make them one of the best mosquito-repellent plants to grow on patios or inside the home, but they require the right conditions to thrive. If you can meet their growing requirements, you might even be able to harvest the spice for use in cooking or to keep bugs away from the kitchen."

"You need to start with a healthy seedling from a reputable nursery; store-bought cloves are flowers, not seeds, so they won't germinate. Plant your seedling in a wide container that's around 15 to 18 inches deep, with good-quality and well-draining potting soil mixed with an equal part of organic compost."

"Cloves are native to the hot and humid rainforests of Indonesia, so you must recreate those climatic conditions as closely as possible if your aim is to harvest this warming spice. Your clove tree will need six to eight hours of sunlight a day, and will do well with indirect light when grown outdoors."

Clove trees are evergreen houseplants with glossy leaves and fragrant scents that repel mosquitoes. They require specific tropical growing conditions to thrive, including six to eight hours of daily sunlight and high humidity similar to Indonesian rainforests. Starting with healthy seedlings from nurseries or cuttings is essential, as store-bought cloves won't germinate. Plant in wide containers with well-draining potting soil mixed with organic compost. Clove trees produce both male and female flowers on the same plant, eliminating pollination concerns. However, patience is crucial as trees require six to ten years to blossom and another four to six months before harvesting flower buds for culinary use.

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