Brahmi is also called memory plant or bacopa. Many positive effects on our body are attributed to the South Asian plant, which is why it has found its way from Ayurvedic medicine to us as a superfood.
Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is a small but effective plant in your home. With its rather creeping growth, it looks good in hanging baskets, but is also ideal for aquariums. In this article you will learn everything you need to know about growing and caring for Bacopa monnieri. Starting with the right location for your brahmi plant, through cultivation and care to the effect of the Bacopa.
Brahmi: origin and characteristics
Brahmi originally comes from Southeast Asia, where it mainly grows in swamps and at the edges of water. The small plant belongs to the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) and is therefore also related to native species such as buckhorn (Plantago lanceolata). Brahmi is perennial and herbaceous, but needs high temperatures, which is why the plant cannot be overwintered outdoors in our area. With a growth height of around 15 cm, brahmi plants remain rather small throughout their lives. Brahmi owes its affectionate nickname Little Bacopa to its small, thick, almost fleshy leaves. Under good growing conditions, Bacopa monnieri shows its white to bluish flowers all year round, which exude a delicate and pleasant fragrance. In this country, however, the Bacopa usually only blooms from late spring to late summer.
Tip: There are several plants on the market that are traded under the name Brahmi. You should not confuse Bacopa monnieri, for example, with the Indian pennywort (Centella asiatica), also called Gotu Kula.
Cultivation: location and procedure
Brahmi plants are used to subtropical to tropical conditions, which should always be taken into account when choosing a location and caring for themshould keep in mind. To thrive, Bacopa monnieri needs a sunny, warm location up to 30 °C, high humidity and constantly moist soil. The substrate should be humus and nutritious. If the plant finds suitable conditions, the Bacopa can even be used in aquariums, where it also forms leaves under water. Brahmi can also thrive in a sunny spot outdoors between June and August, but care should be taken to ensure adequate watering.
You can buy either brahmi plants or seeds in stores. However, propagation via seeds is rather time-consuming.
How to grow Brahmi from seed:
- Best sowing time: end of March.
- Fill the seed tray with loose, nutrient-poor soil - such as our Plantura organic herb and seed soil.
- Brahmi is one of the light germinators. Therefore, only press the seeds lightly and do not cover them with soil.
- The optimal germination temperature is 25 - 28 °C. Heat from below is ideal, for example on a sunny window sill above a radiator. In addition, mini greenhouses are ideal for maintaining high temperatures and humidity.
- Keep the substrate constantly moist for the next few weeks, but not soaking wet. If the conditions are right, the seeds should germinate within 14 days.
- Prick out the young plants in 8 - 9 cm wide pots filled with high-quality, nutrient-rich potting soil. Our peat-free Plantura organic universal soil is ideal for this and at the same time represents a sustainable alternative to conventional soils.
- Continue to keep warm and hydrated for the foreseeable future.
Is Brahmi hardy? Since Bacopa monnieri does not tolerate temperatures below 15 °C at all, planting outdoors makes no sense. Plants that are outside during the summer months should move to a warmer place with high humidity for the winter. The bathroom is perfect for this.
Maintenance of Bacopa monnieri
Since the plant is used to damp locations, regular watering is particularly important when caring for Brahmi. Every day without water damages the brahmi plant noticeably and it is quite possible that Bacopa monnierican no longer be saved after a few days of drought. However, you should not drown your bacopa in water eitherand remove excess water from saucer after watering.
In the year of planting, you can usually refrain from fertilizing provided the plant has been placed in a nutrient-rich substrate. From the second year on, caring for your brahmi plant also includes regular fertilizing with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. In the growth phase from around March to September, this should be applied around the brahmi plant. Our Plantura organic flower and balcony fertilizer, for example, is well suited for this. It contains 5% nitrogen to 4% potassium and consists entirely of natural, vegetable raw materials.
Because Brahmi grows so small, the plant usually does not have to be pruned. However, over the winter it can happen that some shoots die off and turn brown. These can then be removed with a clear conscience. In addition, the plant can be stimulated to bushy growth by moderate pruning around February.
Brahmi care at a glance
- Water regularly and keep the soil constantly moist.
- From the second year of growth, fertilize with nitrogen during the growing season.
- Pruning back moderately in February as needed.
Use and Effect of Brahmi
The leaves of the buttercup are mainly harvested and used. They can be plucked all year round. In small amounts, they are added raw to salads, used for dips and herb butter, or brewed with hot water to make tea. Alternatively, you can also cut off short shoots, which usually leads to better branching of the plants. In winter, however, you should take care of your brahmi plant, as it is already affected by a lack of light, dry heating air and cooler temperatures.
Caution: If you use too much of the he althy herb, its bitter taste will quickly come to the fore. In addition, an overdose can have harmful side effects, such as the breakdown of red blood cells. If you want to take the herb safely over a longer period of time, you should be careful not to drink more than two to three cups of tea with brahmi leaves a day. You should also discuss taking it with your doctor if you are pregnant or have certain illnesses, such as thyroid or lung diseases.
The effects of Bacopa monnieri are manifold. Brahmi is said to help with depression, mild sleep disorders, high blood pressure or water retention, and Brahmi is also said to have a soothing effect on skin problems. Recently, however, the plant has become known mainly for its effect on our cognitive abilities, which is why Brahmi is also known as a memory plant. Meanwhile, Bacopa monnieri can also be found in some hair care products. Manufacturers advertise that the brahmi plant has a positive effect on the hair and, for example, prevents split ends and strengthens the hair roots. Not all of the effects of the small fat leaf have been proven with scientifically representative studies, but the improvement in memory performance after regular and long-term use of brahmi is considered to be more certain. Nevertheless, many other factors such as diet and lifestyle also play a role.
If you are looking for other unusual but easy-care houseplants, you will definitely find what you are looking for in our article.