Patchouli in a Pickle Jar

 The other week, I went to our local garden center to see what they had on clearance and also to look at their house plants.  I finally found some Russian Sage and I found a few other things too that are beneficial for pollinators.  I had been wanting some Russian Sage for quite some time, but every time I went by or called they were sold out or just didn't have any in stock. 

While there, I saw some fruit trees that I would have liked to have purchased but the price point was a bit out of my range.  Ever since the persimmon tree at the farm was taken out by weather (it was really old and not producing hardly anything.  So scraggly that I was surprised it lasted as long) I have been wanting to get another one.  Persimmons were a big part of my child hood, so losing that tree was like losing a small part of myself with it.

On the clearance table, there were several things but I decided on picking up some culinary sage, some anise and patchouli. 

I had tried my hand at patchouli once before and was not successful in keeping it alive.  I figured for $1.00 if I wasn't successful this go round, I wouldn't be loosing too much.

Patchouli is a zone 10 plant.  It can do well in zone 7 (where I'm at) in the summer but needs to be brought indoors and treated like a house plant of sorts over winter.  Patchouli loves high humidity as well, so for most people that aren't in zone 10, it can be a difficult plant to keep.

Patchouli is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, commonly called the mint or deadnettle family that is native to Southeast Asia.  Patchouli prefers humidity in the 60-75% range.

Scientific name: Pogostemon cablin Benth

So what's this about Patchouli in a pickle jar?

Well since I've been exploring growing plants in terrariums or under glass domes to achieve humidity, I thought, "hey, I've got a 1 gallon pickle jar that's not being used, why not use it to see what the Patchouli plant can develop into with it."  This poor Patchouli plant was quite pitiful.  Some of the ends of the stems were black, it looked like it had been cold shocked, it didn't have a lot of leaves on, most of them were yellow, it but it did have some green still on it.  When I got home, I got the pickle jar, washed it really well and drilled a hole into the lid for ventillation.  I put some aquarium rocks on the bottom of the jar, then a layer of charcoal and then some potting soil and then added the plant and then backfilled around the plant with more soil and then topped with some spaghnum moss.  Since its been in its new home, I've had several new leaves developed and it seems to be happy.

I do realize that based on Patchouli's growth habits, that it will certainly outgrow my 1 gallon pickle jar.  Once it gets a bit bigger and in a more healthier state, I will re-pot it into something bigger and when I do, I'll need to work a bit harder to achieve the humidity that it needs so that it can continue to thrive.  We are going into winter/colder temperature season here where I'm at and we tend to supplement our heat with the wood stove in the basement so the house is more dry than probably most houses.  

So here's to a new adventure with a not so common plant and here's to thinking outside the jar... I mean box... to make things work.

Some history about Patchouli:

The term "patchouli" translates to "green leaf," originating from a herbaceous plant that belongs to the mint family. This plant produces delicate pink flowers in the fall, which eventually develop seeds that contribute to the distinctive patchouli fragrance we recognize today.

Although patchouli is indigenous to Southeast Asia, it was the Tamil people of South India who first harnessed its potential and named the plant. They utilized it for various medicinal applications, as an insect repellent, and even incorporated it into their culinary practices and herbal teas. Thriving in a humid, tropical environment away from direct sunlight, the patchouli plant can grow up to three feet tall when nurtured properly.

Over the centuries, this aromatic herb traveled along trade routes through the Middle East, where adventurers exchanged silk, spices, and oils derived from patchouli leaves.

Napoleon Bonaparte, the French conqueror, is credited with introducing patchouli to Europe after bringing cashmere and silks from Egypt that were safeguarded from moths by patchouli leaves. Its captivating and unique scent quickly won over the hearts of many, transforming patchouli from a mere insect repellent into a luxurious fragrance.

By 1837, patchouli had established itself as a recognizable scent, spreading rapidly throughout the Western world.

During the 1960s and 70s, the counterculture movement in America fully embraced the essence of patchouli. It became a popular choice in essential oil form, often burned as incense, and featured prominently in numerous well-known fragrances. The essential oil is extracted through steam distillation of the leaves, resulting in a pure oil that gained immense popularity during this time.

With its rich, earthy aroma complemented by a hint of mint, patchouli became synonymous with the "hippie" lifestyle. Individuals with long hair, a free-spirited attitude, and a relaxed sense of style were often associated with this iconic scent.