| I grow tons of kava, but in hawaii, so it is going to be a little difficult to express the proper environment for optimal kava growing. You are correct in assuming that as a tropical Piper it requires sufficient water without waterlogging and most hawaiian varieties prefer shade. Some varieties do very well in full sun and a great deal of kava farms in hawaii plant their crop in rows in full sun similar to corn (with large spacing). There is great diversity in the growing habit of kava. Some plants sprawl low to the ground never getting higher than a few feet and some form huge masses 12-15 feet tall and across. High heat isn't really required, but warmth is. I know plently of places in hawaii that kava grows where a jacket is needed for 6 months out of the year. Again this depends on variety. Where are you getting your plant from? Kava doesn't go to seed. It is only grown from cuttings. As far as taking cuttings, if using a sterile rooting medium and some sort of rooting hormone (organic or nonorganic) you can expect 75% to 90% to take. Some varieties are much more difficult to grow than others. Mahakea is by far the easiest variety to grow here in hawaii. Isa is a very easy variety to grow, but it is a Tudei kava, which makes people not really want it. Tudei kavas are kavas that have a very peculiar kavalactone (chemical that gives you the effect) ratio. Tudei kavas make you feel drugged, and the feeling sometimes last for "two days", hence the pidgin name. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Kava Kafe
