If you like plants and want to grow Iboga, a sacred bush from Central Africa, at home, we offer you fresh fruits with seeds to grow. Even in Europe or other regions, it seems, it is possible to grow saplings under certain conditions. However, it will not be easy.

The iboga fruits were personally brought by Chrisantem, the owner of Ladírna, from his trip to Cameroon, Africa in January 2024.

Tabernanthe Iboga Seed Germination Procedure

First, carefully cut the top skin with a knife, it is about 2 mm thick and peel it. Inside there are dark seeds covered in white pulp.

Seed germination requires placement at a depth of at least 5 cm in a substrate or pot filled with at least 5 cm deep coarse sand. The sand must remain constantly moist and must be maintained at an air temperature between 30-35 °C.

For seed germination, prepare a tray, pot or tray with coarse, sharp sand. The container must have a perfectly free drain, which can be achieved by placing a plastic screen on the bottom to prevent the escape of sand.

The sand must be at least 5 cm deep. Place the seed in coarse sharp sand about 10mm deep and water well. Never let the sand dry out, because when the seedling is about to emerge at this point, it will dry out and die. Also, if the medium dries out, it can dry out the seed coat and prolong germination. Keep the seed at an air temperature of at least 25 °C. However, to achieve good and fast germination, the air temperature should be about 30-35 °C. Lower temperatures will delay germination and increase the likelihood of fungal attack. Germination can occur within a few days, but can take up to several months, so be prepared to care for the seeds throughout their full germination phase.

Never expose seedlings to dry air until they have at least 3 sets of leaves. This is also the best age for the first transplant. Their first new growing medium should be mostly sand (90% coarse sand + 10% good garden mix) and contain NO manure or other heavy fertilizer. Once the plants reach 5 pairs of leaves, they are ready for strong growth and normal fertilization and should be planted in a sand mix.

Although the plant can survive in lower humidity, it will only survive temporarily, not long term. But what will probably kill her even faster is the cold. If sufficient moisture is present, the iboga plant will tolerate occasional direct sunlight. However, this period of direct sunlight should only be temporary. If it has been planted in a suitable environment, it will continue to grow. The more it grows, the stronger it is and the more likely it is to reach adulthood. In the Gabonese rainforests, iboga grows in sandy clay soil that drains and dries out very quickly. Again, it is important that the planting site mimics these conditions, especially for younger plants. Remember that as the plant grows, the root system expands, which means that the plant will require a lot of space. At this point the plant will probably respond well to fertilizer, composted horse manure is best.
Light and temperature requirements of Tabernanthe Iboga bushes

Tabernanthe iboga is native to the rainforests of West Africa. Temperatures here are always above 20 °C and often above 30 °C. Dry seasons and rainy seasons alternate there.

If you grow in Europe, you have to keep the right conditions, otherwise the plant will wither and not grow.

Iboga stops growing at about 15°C and loses its leaves at about 10°C. The tips begin to die if exposed to a temperature of 5°C. Repeated exposure to 4°C will cause severe dieback from which the plant may not recover. A single frost or a few nights at 1 or 2°C will surely kill most plants.

The rainforest provides a very humid environment. The Iboga plant adapts to dry air, but first it sheds its leaves. The new leaves will be smaller and stiffer, but will withstand very dry conditions if the plant is watered frequently. Iboga plants can also be grown under artificial lighting. Being rainforest plants, they prefer light levels below 70%. Iboga ideally likes about 50% until she is a few years old and then she can tolerate more. Such a low minimum light requirement means that this strain can easily be grown under artificial lighting where other plants will not be happy. It is also suitable as a houseplant, but in winter it should be placed outside the windowsills.

Soil, water and nutrient requirements

Rainforests produce water by causing moist air to condense in the lower layers of the forest. This keeps the bottom of the rainforest constantly moist. Constant flushing of condensed water means constant washing away of nutrients. Most rainforest plants are well adapted to efficiently capture these nutrients in the upper layers of the forest soil. When growing plants, we should try to mimic this soil by using a light mix of leaf litter or composted bark chips. Rainforest soils have excellent drainage and this can be a problem with commercial flower mixes. To avoid waterlogging, it is wise to add at least 1/3 coarse sand to the mixture. Iboga takes root quickly and needs plenty of space. An efficient root system is also very strong and needs space to spread.

Package contains

1 pc Tabernanthe Iboga fruit, each contains about 10-20 seeds.

Country of origin: Cameroon

Iboga and ibogaine products available at PachamamaHerbs.com:

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