2 Live Stevia Plants – Sweetleaf Herb, 4-7 inches Tall in 4 inch Pot, Indoor/Outdoor

Overview

Discover the joy of growing your own natural sweetener with our premium live stevia plant duo. Each order includes two well-rooted Stevia rebaudiana plants, commonly known as Sweetleaf, ready to thrive in your garden or home. Stevia has gained immense popularity as a healthy, calorie-free sugar substitute, making these plants a must-have for anyone looking to reduce sugar intake naturally. These vibrant, green herbs are not only functional but also add a touch of natural beauty to any space. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, our live stevia plant offers an accessible way to harvest fresh, sweet leaves directly from your own plants. Enjoy the satisfaction of cultivating your own natural sweetener from seed to harvest.

These particular sweetleaf herb plant specimens are carefully nurtured to ensure they arrive healthy and strong, prepared for successful transplanting. With their robust root systems, they are designed for immediate planting, providing a head start on your journey to growing stevia. The versatility of the live stevia plant allows for cultivation in various environments, from sunny garden beds to bright indoor windowsills, making it a perfect addition to any plant collection. Experience the unique taste and health benefits of fresh stevia leaves, far superior to processed alternatives.

Key Benefits

Adding a live stevia plant to your home or garden offers numerous advantages beyond simply providing a natural sweetener. These plants are incredibly rewarding to grow and utilize.

• Natural Sweetener: Harvest fresh leaves to naturally sweeten teas, coffees, smoothies, and baked goods without adding calories or artificial ingredients. This makes the live stevia plant an excellent alternative to sugar.
• Health-Conscious Choice: Stevia is known for its zero-calorie, zero-carbohydrate, and zero-glycemic index properties, making it suitable for diets focused on blood sugar management.
• Easy to Grow: These resilient herbs are relatively low-maintenance, adapting well to various growing conditions with proper care, making them ideal for both novice and experienced gardeners.
• Versatile Cultivation: Thrives both indoors in a sunny spot and outdoors in garden beds or containers, offering flexibility in where you choose to grow your sweetleaf herb plant.
• Compact Size: Reaching a manageable height, these plants are perfect for small spaces, urban gardens, or kitchen windowsills.
• Freshness Guaranteed: Enjoy the freshest stevia leaves possible, harvested directly from your plant, ensuring maximum flavor and potency compared to dried or processed forms.
• Educational Value: A fantastic plant for teaching children about where food comes from and the benefits of natural products. You can even learn how to grow stevia indoors with ease.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your live stevia plant is straightforward, ensuring a bountiful supply of sweet leaves. These plants prefer a bright location, whether indoors or out. For outdoor planting, choose a spot that receives partial shade, especially during the hottest parts of the day, as intense afternoon sun can sometimes scorch the leaves. If growing indoors, place your stevia plant near a south-facing window or under grow lights to ensure it gets at least 4-6 hours of bright, indirect light daily. Adequate light is crucial for the intensity of the sweet compounds in the leaves.

Stevia plants thrive in well-draining, sandy soil with a pH between 6.7 and 7.0. Avoid heavy, waterlogged soils, which can lead to root rot. When watering, allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings, then water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom of the pot. Consistent moisture is important, but overwatering is a common pitfall. The USDA Hardiness Zones for stevia are typically 8-11, where it can be grown as a perennial. In colder zones (like 3 and 5), it is best grown as an annual or brought indoors before the first frost to overwinter. Fertilize lightly every 2-4 weeks during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer to encourage lush growth. Pinch back the plant regularly to promote bushier growth and prevent it from becoming leggy. Learning how to successfully grow stevia indoors involves mimicking these optimal outdoor conditions.

Common problems to watch out for include aphids or whiteflies, which can be treated with insecticidal soap. Ensure good air circulation around your live stevia plant to prevent fungal issues. With proper care, your natural sweetener plant will provide you with fresh leaves for months, allowing you to enjoy the unique taste of homegrown stevia. Regularly harvesting the leaves will also encourage new growth, ensuring a continuous supply. For those looking to grow stevia indoors year-round, maintaining consistent light and temperature is key.

Size & Details

This offering includes two robust live stevia plant specimens, each carefully cultivated and shipped in a 4-inch nursery pot. Upon arrival, these plants typically stand between 4 to 7 inches tall from the soil line, providing a substantial start for your garden. Stevia plants are known for their relatively fast growth rate, especially during warm weather, and can reach mature heights of 1-3 feet when grown outdoors in ideal conditions. When grown indoors, their size can be managed through regular pruning. The plants arrive well-rooted, ensuring a smooth transition to their new home, whether that’s a larger pot or directly into your garden bed. Our sweetleaf herb plant is ready to begin producing its famously sweet leaves shortly after planting.

These plants are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 and 5 when grown as annuals or brought indoors for winter. In warmer climates (Zone 8 and above), they can be grown as perennials. Stevia prefers moderate watering and sandy soil, making it adaptable to various growing environments. Expect your live stevia plant to produce a continuous harvest of leaves throughout the growing season, providing a steady supply of natural sweetness for your culinary needs. The compact size of these young plants makes them perfect for starting in windowsill gardens or small patios before transplanting.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big will my live stevia plant get? A: When shipped, the plants are typically 4-7 inches tall. With proper care, they can grow up to 1-3 feet tall outdoors. Indoor growth may be slightly more compact, especially with regular pruning.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The live stevia plant is versatile and can be grown both indoors and outdoors. In colder climates (USDA Zones 3-7), it’s often grown as an annual or brought indoors for winter. In warmer zones (8+), it can be a perennial.
• Q: How much sunlight does my sweetleaf herb plant need? A: Stevia thrives in partial shade, especially during hot afternoons. If growing indoors, place it in a bright location, such as a south-facing window, ensuring it receives at least 4-6 hours of indirect sunlight daily.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the live stevia plant is considered relatively easy to care for. It requires consistent moisture, well-draining soil, and adequate sunlight. Regular pinching helps maintain a bushy shape.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your order includes two well-rooted live stevia plant specimens, each in a 4-inch nursery pot. They are carefully packaged to ensure they arrive healthy and ready for planting.
• Q: Can I use the leaves directly from the plant? A: Absolutely! The fresh leaves from your sweetleaf herb plant are ready for immediate use. You can add them to teas, coffees, smoothies, or dry them for later use as a natural sweetener.
• Q: When is the best time to plant stevia? A: If planting outdoors, the best time is after the last frost in spring. For indoor cultivation, you can plant your live stevia plant any time of year, ensuring it receives enough light.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature this plant can tolerate? A: Stevia is sensitive to frost. While it can tolerate cool temperatures, it will not survive a hard freeze. If temperatures consistently drop below 40-50°F (4-10°C), it’s best to bring your live stevia plant indoors.
• Q: How do I harvest the stevia leaves? A: Pinch off individual leaves or snip off small branches as needed. Regular harvesting encourages new growth and helps maintain the plant’s shape and vigor. This is part of how you grow stevia indoors effectively.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for growing stevia? A: Stevia prefers well-drained, sandy soil. A good quality potting mix amended with some sand or perlite will work well for potted plants to ensure proper drainage. This helps prevent root issues in your natural sweetener plant.