Worth knowing about the kratom tree

November 20, 2022

Kratom Baum Header

The term Mitragyna speciosa is used synonymously for the kratom tree. You can also find the plant under the name Red sentol tree. The plant from Southeast Asia belongs to the plant genus Mitragyna and belongs to the Rubiaceae (red plant family). This includes more than 13,000 plant species.

In this context, the question often arises: "What is kratom?" Kratom is made by drying and processing the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa. This substance is a psychoactive substance. The main components are 7-Hydroxymitragynine and Mitragynine.

The effect, the characteristics and distribution of the plant can be found here in the article. It also gives you an insight into the legality and cultivation of the substance. You will also learn how the kratom plant is processed.

Characteristics of the kratom tree

The evergreen tree grows primarily in Southeast Asia. It reaches an average height of 10 to 25 meters. In rare cases the tree grows over 30 meters high. It is characterized by its strong leaf growth. The plant has light to medium green foliage and brown to gray bark. With age, the bark becomes thick and has deep indentations.

The foliage has a distinctive leaf blade and petiole. As a rule, the stems are between two and five centimeters in length. The leaf blade is pointed and fully edged. It has a maximum length of 14 centimeters. Due to its width of up to ten centimeters, it has an elliptical to ovate appearance. The mitragyna leaves have curved side veins. These are particularly pronounced and easily visible on the underside of the leaf.

In summary, a Mitragyna plant has these characteristics:

  • Dense leaf growth
  • High growth height
  • Strong bark
  • Pointed, edged leaves in egg or ellipse shape
  • Strong and curved lateral veins

Kratom tree leaves

Distribution of the kratom tree

The kratom tree is native to Southeast Asia. You can usually find the plant in the Philippines or New Guinea. In the meantime, the plant has spread to other tropical areas. For this reason you can also find the trees in:

  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
  • Thailand
  • brunei
  • Vietnam
  • Cambodia
  • Borneo
  • Balinese
  • Laos

cultivation

Growing kratom plants is difficult. There are two different ways to grow the plants. Use either seeds or cuttings to grow Mitragyna speciosa. It is best to use multiple cuttings or seeds. This is because the chance of success for sprouting is rather low.

To increase the chance of a successful grow, you should use fresh kratom seeds. If the seeds are too old, they rarely or no longer sprout. It is therefore advisable to spend more money on high-quality seeds, because only these are able to germinate.

A good alternative to plant seeds are cuttings. In order for these to grow and thrive, they need optimal climatic conditions. This can be difficult in regions outside of the tropics. Ideally, you should plant several cuttings for this reason. The root formation of the small parts of the tree is problematic. Another stumbling block can be the infestation of fungi. Kratom trees are prone to fungal infestation, which can be fatal in the early stages.

If you want to plant a cutting, it is best to follow these steps:

  • Place moistened peat moss in a plant pot
  • Insert the cutting into the substrate
  • Protect the potted plant with a plastic bag. It should not be exposed to direct sunlight at the beginning. Direct sunlight only makes sense when the roots of the cuttings are growing.
  • Open the plastic bag regularly to accustom the plant to changing climatic changes. This makes them more resistant and robust.
  • Once your cutting has rooted well, take it out of the bag and find a sunny spot for it.

Tip: Mitragyna speciosa needs a rich soil. It should contain a lot of nitrogen. This way the plants get the energy they need to fuel the growth process.

Is Kratom Growing Legal?

In Germany it is legal to grow kratom trees. It is also permitted to consume or sell the plant leaves or the crushed kratom . However, there are also exceptions here. Consumption of concentrates is illegal. In addition, it is forbidden to sell products with the stimulating agent to the following target groups:

  • minors
  • pregnant women

active ingredients and further processing

The leaves of kratom plants contain two active compounds. These are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Due to the different ratios of the two substances, the effects of Mitragyna products can differ greatly. Likewise, the effects vary depending on physical conditions and tolerances. The type of kratom supplement can also affect its effectiveness.

You can usually find kratom in the following variants:

  • leaves
  • powder
  • extracts

The use of leaves is the most versatile. Among other things, they are suitable for chewing. By chewing, you release the active ingredients from the plant parts and take them orally. The plant components are also suitable for teas.

If you prefer kratom powder or extracts, consume with a meal or drink. Pure enjoyment is also possible. The products have a strong taste of their own and can therefore take a lot of getting used to.

In order to benefit from an effective supplement, you should pay attention to the further processing of kratom. In general, it is possible to process the leaves manually or by machine after they have dried. Manual production is so gentle that the valuable ingredients in the preparation are preserved. On the other hand, manual processing is complex and expensive. It is cheaper to buy machine-made powder and extract.

Conclusion

Mitragyna speciosa is a tropical tree characterized by its height and dense foliage. The leaves of the plant are known for their stimulating effects.

Cultivating kratom plants is difficult and in our latitudes is occasionally possible with cuttings or seeds. The reason for this is that the plants rarely form roots and tend to fungal attack if the humidity is too high. It is therefore often cheaper to buy processed kratom leaves in a shop. At Worldpowder you can buy yellow, red and green variants in different finishes and sizes. Further information on the legality of Mitragyna products can be found in the database of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices .