Ahhh Kava Kava, Any growers?

Recently got a Kava plant from a botanist, and am kinda excited to give it a try soon.
For those who don't know much about Kava, It is a propagation plant, much like elephant ears are.

AKA one plant will grow multiple shoots from the roots, all you have to do is tear the new shoot out with some roots attached to it and replant.
Kava grows a root ball along with lateral roots growing out from the main root ball.

AFAIK there have been some liver toxicity claims from Kava, the truth seems to be if the extracts are made from the plant ABOVE the roots, along with the roots there is a danger of liver toxicity; However, if the extract is made from pure root mass, there is very little danger if any.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kava

Any of this information may or may not be debatable, but feel free to post any knowledge, and give that link a read if you would like.

I have a Mother Kava plant, along with four babies that were recently replanted. Kava likes swamp-like conditions, so to replicate I dug a trench, lined the very bottom with plastic so it would retain the moisture and the plants are doing great. The smaller plants are in a home made planter, built up off of the ground with a few pallets, then a plant box attached to the pallets and lined with plastic. Soil is a mixture of potting soil along with compost.

When I do decide to give it a try, I will post the experience here in this thread. If anyone has any questions, I will answer them to the best of my knowledge, If I don't know, I'll ask the botanist :)

Enjoy
 

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Jersey'sFinest

Active Member
Can't help you as far as growing it, but had some BOMB Kava on both Big Island and Maui. Chewing on the root numbs your mouth like yay, and either chewed or made into tea it's extremely relaxing. I once took so much of it that I laid down on a sidewalk outside my buddy's house and it felt like a bed. Kava = A+++. Best of luck growing it.
 

ParkourMarkus

New Member
I knew someone who grew this in their greenhouse, but they had a serious love of plants..I don't think you can grow kava kava unless you're in a tropical environment. But then again, what do I know.
 

rory420420

Well-Known Member
Id love to try it,seen some cooking show where they were drinking it...its like natures vaalium from what I hear...
 

adgas

Well-Known Member
Love Kava, we have Kava bars where i am in South Australia.

how did this turn out? and where you from? USA?
 
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