Cultivation - Growing Psychotria Viridis indoors

[Ngalyod]

Hi,

I live in a small apartment and was wondering if it is at all possible to cultive a Psychotria Viridis completely indoors. Is it possible?

And if so, are there any pitfalls I should keep an eye out for.

Any stories / opinions / info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Nagognog2]

First off: Read the Rules. Self-Incrimination is not allowed. Rules are here:

http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/ann...t.php?f=43&a=1

[Ngalyod]

Ho ho ho, did I say I? Often confuse myself with other people. Happens all the time.

I meant SWIM.

I do get confused sometimes. So sorry.

[Marsofold]

Indeed it IS possible. SWIM has a healthy dozen plants thriving next to a large window. Viridis has a DMT content of around 0.1% in the top leaves. They don't need much light (not nearly as much as MJ). Using multiple compact flourescent bulbs on a timer allows gradually building growth stock inexpensively. They do need a twice-daily spraying to keep them wet or the leaves will all curl up unhealthily. Or alternatively use some method of keeping the humidity in the room above 70%. The ideal temp is 25C (77F). Too much higher than that and you'll have problems with leaf rust which the species is prone to get. They can be propagated by burying a leaf so that half of it sticks up out of the dirt. This keeps it alive and it eventually (after several months) puts out roots and forms a sprout. The gradual harvesting of leaves allows for the making of ayahuasca or extraction to crystal DMT...

Reputation Comments on this post:

because all your info is always so helpfull

[Ngalyod]

Thanks mate! Some great info there that I'll be sure to pass on to SWIM.

Thanks for taking the time

[0utrider]

http://www.plot55.com/growing/p.viridis.html

 

[top]Natural Growing Conditions

Psychotria viridis is native to the Amazonian lowlands, but is also cultivated throughout northern South America and much of Central America. It is an evergreen tropical tree or large shrub growing in full sun to half shade. It has large (up to 24cm) leaves, which are oval with pointed tips. Its small brown seeds are shed from red berries. It usually grows in very rich and fertile soils.

[top]Growing from Seed

Everybody seems to agree that it is very difficult to germinate Psychotria viridis seeds. I've heared of so many failures, I have never tried. I ended up buying a rooted cutting to save myself the hastle. If you really must grow from seed, I would recommend using a variation of this technique:

• Soak the seeds for 15 minutes in a mild bleach solution.
• Rinse off the bleach with sterile water.
• Soak the seeds in sterile water for 24 hours.
• Plant the seeds 8mm deep in vermiculite or a mixture of vermiculite and potting compost.
• Water from below until the growing medium is moist throughout.
• Place in a heated propagator away from direct sunlight and wait.

[top]Growing from Cuttings

Cuttings, on the other hand are easy. Psychotria viridis clones well using a standard leaf cutting technique, so all you need is a fresh leaf to get you started.
Remove a large leaf from the plant complete with a full petiole (leaf stem). Take hold of the leaf by its peliole, bend it away from the stem and gently pull in the same direction until it breaks. The petiole should have a short tail which has pulled away from the stem. This will ensure that there is a large amount of cambium layer present, which is essential for root development.
Lay the leaf on a flat surface and cut it in half horizontally with a sharp sterile blade. Removing the top half of the leaf will cut down on evaporation from the leaf and retain moisture before roots form.
Prepare a free draining growing medium. Something like equal parts vermiculite, sand and potting compost would be about right. You may wish to 100% inorganic components to prevent moulds forming. Fill pots or seed trays with your growing medium, making small holes every 5-7cm with a matchstich or similar pointy thing. Place the leaves in the holes, petiole down, cut edge up. The leaves should be planted deep enough so that the petiole and about 0.5cm of the lower part of the leaf are covered.
Water, leave to drain, and place inside a heated propagator. If you have no propagator, place inside sandwich bags and leave somewhere warm. The cuttings should receive bright light, but not direct sunlight. Mist daily with a pump spray or similar. Water regularly, but ensure the growing medium never becomes waterlogged. If mould appears, treat with Cheshunt Compound, or any fungucide. Also remember to feed with fertailser as per instructions on the pack.
The cuttings should be slowly acclimatised to drier, brighter conditions as soon as possible. When they are well established or overcrowded, they can be potted up individually.

[top]Once Established

Unfortunately, I cannot give any advice on growing Psychotria viridis to maturity. The only plant I have grown dropped all its leaves and quickly died. The whole process took about a fortnight. I believe it was due to overwatering and large day/night temperature fluctuations. Que Sera Sera.
Since the above was written, there have been further developments with my dead Psychotria viridis plant. It was left on a cold bedroom windowsill throughout Winter. The soil got a bit mouldy and eventually dried out. The growing tip was brown and dead. I gave up hope, but somehow or another, I never got round to throwing it in the compost bin. At the beginning of Spring, I noticed that the stem was still green. Just for the sake of it really, I decided to water it one more time, with the addition of some Cheshunt compound to stop the mould coming back. Within a week or two, new shoots had appeared on four nodes. It came back from the dead. It is currently sitting on a warm bathroom windowsill, being nursed back to health.

[nought]

swim is trying to get reports of some first hand experiences with this plant. swim would like to grow his indoors, and has experience with growing plants. swim wonders if california conditions would permit this. swim really would just like it as a house plant/friend, and wants to make sure it will live.

nought added 114 Minutes and 31 Seconds later...

Originally Posted by Marsofold

Indeed it IS possible. SWIM has a healthy dozen plants thriving next to a large window. Viridis has a DMT content of around 0.1% in the top leaves. They don't need much light (not nearly as much as MJ). Using multiple compact flourescent bulbs on a timer allows gradually building growth stock inexpensively. They do need a twice-daily spraying to keep them wet or the leaves will all curl up unhealthily. Or alternatively use some method of keeping the humidity in the room above 70%. The ideal temp is 25C (77F). Too much higher than that and you'll have problems with leaf rust which the species is prone to get. They can be propagated by burying a leaf so that half of it sticks up out of the dirt. This keeps it alive and it eventually (after several months) puts out roots and forms a sprout. The gradual harvesting of leaves allows for the making of ayahuasca or extraction to crystal DMT...

^^^^^

[gardentoad]

A friend of a friend has grown it successfully in the SF Bay area for several years. It seems to survive in the hot inland valleys, with enough watering. He brings it indoors in the coldest months. He says it looks like a little coffee tree.

[Lysergic-Sponge]

I have some Psychotria viridis trees growing for a few years. It gets extremely hot and humid during the summer here in Istanbul, and I keep them indoors during the winter. I suspect the weather is similar, but warmer allround where you live, you should have no troubles as this plant is very resillient, very tough and can survive nearly everything nature throws at it.

[DarkDead]

I found the following quote on a vendor's website. (I believe I can't post a link to the website as it would be considered a source.) It contains good info about which soil mixture to use, light, humidity and pest control.

P. viridis is a tropical under story plant native to S. America’s rainforests. It prefers shade/filtered light and a high humidity environment. I grow mine in 55 to 75% shade. Contrary to commonly available reports it is quite easy to grow in culture. P. viridis prefers constant moisture, but don’t allow them to become waterlogged. Plant in a well drained mix with high organic content. I use a mix consisting of 1/3 peat, 1/3 compost/worm castings, and 1/3 coarse sand/perlite amended with ¼ cup of crushed limestone per gallon of mix. I never sterilize the mix, but do inoculate with beneficial fungi, i.e. mycorrhizae. The compost/worm castings provide many beneficial micro-organisms and are suitable with out addition beneficial fungi. These plants will grow well even in small containers. My mother plants are quite large and none are in more than a 3 gallon pot. I prefer the squat (shallow) containers as the roots tend to spread rather than run deeply. Feed the plants every 7-14 days with a balanced fertilizer when in active growth, less in winter. I use a mix of bat guano and fish emulsions and they love it. Very few pests will bother P. viridis, but mealy bugs will occasionally attack. I use ladybugs on outbreaks and they rapidly bring it under control. Young plants can be cut to induce branching otherwise they tend to grow a tall single stem until they get older. If growing indoors mist the plants once or twice daily. There is usually no need to construct a humidity tent if misting is applied. Humidity tents promote the growth of disease organisms and I don’t recommend them for any but the smallest and tenderest of plants grown indoors.

[Shadow !]

Hey guys this dude i met has a few questions about this tek he found. .

100 gram Psychotria viridis

1. Cover the leafs in 1 liter of water, add 1000 mg of citric acid, and boil for 15 minutes. Pour off the water and save it.

2. Cover the leafs in 1 liter of water and boil for 15 minutes. Pour off the water and save it.

3. Cover the leafs in 1 liter of water and boil for 15 minutes. Pour off the water and save it.

4. Filter the combined water and boil it down to about 300 ml.

5. Defat 5 times with 100 ml of naphtha in a separatory funnel. If the last defat is not clear, defat again until it is clear.

6. Adjust the pH to 9.5 with sodium carbonate (or sodium hydroxide, or ammonia).

7. Extract 3 times with 100 ml of naphtha in a separatory funnel.

8. Evaporate the naphtha completely at room temperature to give DMT.

1: chop the leaves up or use whole ?
2: with boiling is that a simmer or is it ok to med boil for 20mins
3: would swim add acidic water to all 3 cooks or just the first ?

And if Swim were to not have any ph tester would he just follow the rule or 15/100/15 ( think that's what it is ) or 5mls acid to every Liter ?
But what would be the common mixture of sodium hydroxide for 3L water + 100g mix + ph 10.

Any help would be much appreciated guys !

Reputation Comments on this post:

This topic is about cultivation, post extraction doubts in the chemistry sub-forum.

[emoduckie]

SWIM just bought 20 seeds.
Will keep posted.

[emoduckie]

SWIM got rooted leaves in the mail!
SWIM is debating on what to plant them in...

[DarkDead]

SWIM used a mixture of 70% potting soil and 30% perlite by volume for his rooted leaves. Perlite can be substituted by vermiculite or something else that can absorb a good amount of water.
Swiy should bury 3/4 of the leaves and build a humidity tent around the vase to keep the environment humid. It should only receive indirect sunlight.

[emoduckie]

SWIM buried about 1/4 of the leaf, used about 10% perlite and 90% potting soil.
SWIM used a plastic bag placed upside down over the pot as a humidity tent.
SWIM is spraying twice a day, about 15-20 sprays each time.
SWIM is using a 40W light bulb (one of those energy efficient ones) about 2 1/2 feet away from plants.

Are there any immediate changes SWIM should make?