Biophytum : used as medicinal plant
Biophytum is a captivating houseplant from the wood sorrel family. It can be grown at home for medicinal use, but it needs some attention. While there are around 70 biophytum species, most are for science. A few are grown indoors because of their unique look and pretty flowers.
Biophytum looks like a tiny palm tree. It grows to be 20 to 30 cm tall. Leaves only grow at the top, like a miniature tree.
The flowers are small, less than 1 cm, but bright. They bloom in orange, white, or pink. The flowers grow in an umbrella shape during July-September.
This houseplant needs the right conditions to thrive. Use a rich, loose mix of turf soil, leaf soil, and sand. You can use ready-made soil for foliage plants mixed with perlite. Good drainage is important. The soil should be a little acidic.
Avoid direct sunlight, so place the plant near east or west windows. It likes light that is spread out.
Water the plant a lot, except in the fall and winter. Feed it every two weeks with half-strength fertilizer for indoor plants. Use organomineral fertilizer.
Young biophytum plants need repotting every year. Older ones need it every 2-3 years. It is easy to grow new plants from seeds.
Most problems come from too much water or not enough light. Watch out for fungus gnats, scale insects, spider mites, and aphids.
Biophytum is used as medicine because it has active chemicals.