Kava (Piper methysticum) Cutting | Live Plant | Clone

Kava (Piper methysticum) Cutting | Live Plant | Clone is one live kava plant cutting, a clone of Piper methysticum that has been carefully prepared for transplanting so you can start your own living collection of the kava plant. Kava does not grow from seed in any practical sense; every kava plant in the Pacific is a cutting of a cutting, which is why a clone is the only honest way to sell it. It is sold as a live plant for botanical, ornamental and educational purposes.

At a glance

• One live Piper methysticum cutting, a clone prepared for transplanting
• Grown from cuttings, never seed, the only honest way to sell kava
• Ships ready to pot on
• Offered as 1 Plant, 2 Plants or 3 Plants
• Sold for botanical, ornamental and educational purposes, not for consumption

The herb. Piper methysticum, literally the intoxicating pepper, is a broad-leaved shrub in the pepper family native to the islands of the South Pacific, with Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga at the center of its cultivation. Islanders have propagated it by stem cuttings for over three thousand years, selecting the noble cultivars that make a smooth, pleasant daily drink and passing them down by name. In a garden or greenhouse it grows as a handsome, heart-leaved plant with jointed, bamboo-like stems, and in the tropics a mature specimen can stand taller than a person. The root, not the leaf, is the traditional part, and the plant takes years of growth before its root system carries much of anything.

What's in it. A living kava plant slowly builds kavalactones in its roots and stump as it matures. Every cultivar has its own ratio, its chemotype. A young cutting has none of this to speak of, and we make no claim about the eventual content of a plant you grow; our Kava Whole Intact Dry Roots come from 5-year-old plants, which tells you how patient the crop is. The six kavalactones it builds:

• Kavain: gives the heady, bright side of the plant
• Dihydrokavain and dihydromethysticin: the dihydro compounds that give the heavy, body-focused side
• Methysticin, yangonin and desmethoxyyangonin: complete the six

Transplanting and soil. For best results, plant your kava cutting in a regular, well-draining soil mix rather than a heavy or water-holding one. Good drainage is the single most important factor, because it helps prevent root rot, the most common way a kava cutting is lost. Choose a pot with drainage holes, settle the cutting at the same depth it arrived, firm the soil gently and water it in.

Watering and light. Water thoroughly, then allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. This wet-then-dry cycle keeps the soil balance right and the roots breathing. Kava prefers full light exposure, but in very hot conditions the leaves scorch, so give it bright light with some afternoon shade when the temperature climbs. It is a tropical plant, so keep it warm year-round and bring it indoors well before any frost.

What to expect. Expect a slow-growing, glossy-leaved shrub that rewards consistent warmth, humidity and patience. Users grow it as a conversation piece, a teaching plant or the start of a personal kava garden, and the pleasure is in watching new joints and leaves form over the seasons. It is not a quick harvest and not a substitute for prepared kava. If you want to drink kava while your plant grows, our Instant Kava Gold is a simple place to start.

Interactions and cautions.

• This is a live plant sold for botanical, ornamental and educational purposes, not for consumption; do not eat any part of a young cutting
• If you ever prepare kava from a mature plant you have grown, the usual cautions apply: no alcohol, no sedative or benzodiazepine medications
• Consult a professional with any liver condition, take it away from meals, not if pregnant or nursing, and adults 21+ only
• Keep the plant out of reach of pets and children

What's included and storage. One rooted live cutting of Piper methysticum, prepared for transplanting. Unpack it the day it arrives, give it water if the medium is dry and keep it in warm, bright, indirect light for a few days before moving it to its final spot. Do not store a live plant in a box.

Common questions

• How do I keep a kava cutting from getting root rot? Use a regular, fast-draining soil mix and let the soil dry out fully between thorough waterings.
• Can a live kava plant clone grow indoors? Yes, in a bright window or under grow lights with steady warmth, though it will grow more slowly than in a greenhouse.
• How long before a kava plant cutting has usable roots? Several years; the plant is a long-term project, not a season-long one.

Pairs well with. A deep pot, a saucer that you empty rather than leave full, and a warm, humid corner of the house.

Disclaimer. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Kava is a traditional botanical, and traditional use does not establish that it will produce any particular result. Consult your healthcare provider before use if you take any medication or have a medical condition. Use at your own risk and keep out of reach of children. Formulated by Healing Herbals, run by a practicing herbalist of 13+ years.