How I grow gotu kola from seed in my tropical organic garden

As you will remember from my experience with germinating kang kong seeds, I tried 2 different methods. For the gotu kola seeds, I did something similar since gotu kola also likes very wet conditions. 

However, I did not soak the seeds overnight and did not put either of them in direct sunlight.

See details below.

NAMES:

Gotu kola; longevity herb; pennywort; centella asitica

HEALTH BENEFITS OF GOTU KOLA INCLUDE:

Anti-inflammatory; antiviral; antibacterial, a mild adaptogen (ie gotu kola is a regulator that may enhance the body's ability to better avert harm by appropriately adapting to variable environmental factors); a cerebral / brain tonic; a circulatory stimulant & may help to better control anxiety and hypertension.

This is what I am hoping to achieve - healthy looking gotu kola leaves.

 

 

HOW I GROW GOTU KOLA

Date I sowed gotu kola seeds: 31 March 2012. I took this photo on 1 April 2012.

Germination container for my gotu kola seeds: This container does not have drainage holes at the bottom. I chose to do this since gotu kola plants like very wet conditions and its soil should never be allowed to dry out.

Date I sowed gotu kola seeds: 31 March 2012

Germination container for my gotu kola seeds: Unlike the photo above, this container has drainage holes at the bottom. However, it is sitting on the ever moist soil of my kang kong planter. (The kang kong planter has a saucer that always has water. That water can be wicked up whenever the plant needs water. Both kang kong and gotu kola like very wet, swamp conditions.) This planter is really a recycled food container that I might have tossed.

Why I grow gotu kola in my tropical organic garden

 One day, when I was searching for a solution to one of my gardening questions about tomatoes, I ended up on a page about gotu kola. Don't ask how I got to gotu kola! When I read about it, I realized that promising research findings regarding the health benefits of the gotu kola herb had been emerging for some time.

I am including the link to a Youtuber's video regarding the health benefits of gotu kola because he essentially repeats much of what various gotu kola proponents and health food stores were saying.

As time progressed, I also learnt that gotu kola has more recently been discovered by the Western world in such a big way that, in some places, consumers are prepared to pay top dollar for gotu kola products.

I thought that gotu kola would be worth my time, money, care ... and consumption. See photos of how I started my first set of gotu kola plants from seed and questions regarding gotu kola and vitamin B12.

Here is a quick summary of the gotu kola herb.

NAMES:

Gotu kola; longevity herb; pennywort; centella asitica

HEALTH BENEFITS OF GOTU KOLA INCLUDE:

Anti-inflammatory; antiviral; antibacterial, a mild adaptogen (ie gotu kola is a regulator that may enhance the body's ability to better avert harm by appropriately adapting to variable environmental factors); a cerebral / brain tonic; a circulatory stimulant & may help to better control anxiety and hypertension.



My question about gotu kola

In his Youtube video, InNaturesClassroom suggests that gotu kola provides vitamin B12. I immediately thought of the vegans who are concerned with vitamin B12 deficiencies. I wonder the extent to which gotu kola can contribute to fulfilling one's requirement based on the suggested daily intake of 2 to 3 leaves.