The horseradish tree or Moringa is very easy to care for. However, if you don't cut it in time, the tree will grow uncontrollably.
Horseradish trees are attractive plants with a long history, as cruciferous plants were already cultivated in ancient Egypt. The plant, originally native to the Himalayas, thrives on our window sills and, planted in tubs, can also spend the summer outdoors. The Moringa will impress you as a fast-growing and very easy-care tree and will bring a bit of far-eastern charm into your home. If you observe the following care instructions, you will enjoy the miracle tree.Watering the horseradish tree properly
The plants originally grow in dry regions. However, that shouldn't stop you from reaching for the watering can. Regular watering is essential for potted plants. So water at least weekly. On hot and dry days, the plant can also tolerate a little water every day. However, waterlogging must be avoided at all costs. The roots must not stand under water for a long time and should always dry well. Waterlogging damages the roots and can lead to their death.
➔ Tip: If the plant is in a saucer, always drain off the excess water immediately!
The plants are used to longer periods of drought and are able to store up a certain amount of water. So it is better to keep the moringa dry than to soak it in. Too much moisture is difficult to tolerate, even for a short time. However, the horseradish tree loves high humidity and should therefore receive a shower from the plant sprayer more often.
The growth pattern of the Moringa can also be influenced to a certain extent by the watering behavior. If the plants are watered moderately, they will be more vigorous. If the plants receive a relatively large amount of irrigation water, they tend to hold back on their willingness to grow and then mainly grow in width.
Fertilize the horseradish tree properly
Here the plant is extremely undemanding. The horseradish tree is inable to obtain nitrogen not only from the ground, but directly from the air. This means that additional fertilizer is actually superfluous. To upgrade the substrate during planting, compost or horn shavings can be mixed in. Further fertilizers are not necessary.
➔ Tip: If you not only want to use the horseradish tree as an ornamental plant, but also want to harvest leaves and fruits, you can ensure a higher harvest by adding stable manure or compost .
Pruning the horseradish tree correctly
The horseradish tree can already reach impressive heights of five meters and more in the first year. Pruning measures will therefore not be missing, because as a container plant the Moringa should be shown its limits. You probably won't have the capacity to keep a ten-foot-tall tree indoors. If the tree grows naturally, it develops bizarre growth forms. Lack of space or being able to harvest the leaves will probably make you reach for the scissors in good time. This is not a problem because the plants tolerate pruning very well.
If you let the plants grow naturally, they will literally shoot up at first. The crown is quite high. The trunk remains bare and develops thickened roots over time. In order to achieve a rather compact and attractive growth habit, the cut should be regular and targeted.
If the horseradish tree soil is not cut for years, it tends to become bare. Regular pruning is necessary to encourage the plant to not only soar in height but also to grow in width. You can cut back shoots that are too long in early spring. The leaves are mainly formed at the tips of the branches. Note that the Moringa has increasingly shorter branches near the trunk.
➔ Tip: The horseradish tree can be cut like a fruit tree. Look for an airy crown.
Care for the horseradish tree at a glance
| Measure | Explanation |
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| Fertilize |
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Detect and correct maintenance errors
If you follow the care instructions, you will usually be able to look forward to he althy plants. If the plant begins to weaken or show abnormalities in growth and leaves, immediate action is required.
If the plant is growing poorly or developing yellow leaves, you have probably watered incorrectly. Yellow leaves can indicate that waterlogging has already occurred and the roots can no longer breathe adequately. The same can happen if the location is not right and the plant is too dark.
Check that your horseradish tree is placed in a light and warm place. If the soil feels damp, it should not be watered at first. Allow the plant to dry out until the leaves droop. Now it is watered moderately again and the soil is allowed to dry slightly between the individual waterings. If the plant is already completely under water, it should be removed from the planter immediately.
First aid for waterlogging:
- Take the plant out of the plant pot
- Wipe off substrate completely
- Check the roots and prune if necessary
- drying soaked root ball
- Place plants in fresh soil
- water sparingly
Horseradish tree won't grow
If your horseradish tree stops growing, it may also be because the planter is simply too small for it. Check whether there are already root sprouts on the bottom of the container. If this is the case, the Moringa must be transplanted and given new soil.
If the plant is too dark in its winter quarters, it can look sad and dead. Plant lights can also be used to provide adequate lighting during the winter. However, the plants are robust and will usually sprout again in spring, even if you didn't really like the winter location.
Overwintering the horseradish tree properly
Young plants should move to winter quarters as early as September. The roots are not yet sufficiently developed and are therefore particularly sensitive to cold. Older plants canbe assumed that they tolerate temperatures of up to ten degrees outdoors. Even light frosts should not cause lasting damage to adult Moringas. However, it is better not to take any risks.
Wintering of plants takes place in a bright room - at about 20 degrees. The plants will stop growing and shed their leaves during the winter months. This is nothing to worry about. Continue to water the horseradish tree moderately and avoid exposing the plant to temperature fluctuations during hibernation.
In May, when no more frosts are to be expected, the horseradish tree can go back outside and will quickly sprout again.
Diseases and pests in horseradish trees
The plants are quite robust and are rarely affected by diseases that are not directly related to care errors. The plant can usually defend itself well against pests. Spider mites are an exception. Here the intervention of the hobby gardener is necessary. Spider mites are easily recognized by the spidery web covering the leaves and shoots.
Spider mites on the horseradish tree - what to do?
If you notice the infestation, the affected plants should be isolated from the other plants so that the infestation does not spread to all balcony and terrace plants. Spider mites can be combated very well with natural means. For lighter infestations, it is usually sufficient to treat the leaves with water. A hard water jet is particularly effective here. For younger plants, you can also wipe the leaves with a rag or sponge. Most spider mites die when the humidity increases. You can do this by covering the plant with a plastic or foil bag. However, this measure can only be implemented with young plants.
Spider mites can be repelled quite effectively with garlic. You can do this by spreading a few cloves of garlic in the substrate around the horseradish tree. Natural predators are predatory mites, which you can purchase from specialist retailers. Neem products can also be used to effectively combat spider mites.
➔ Tip: Use either predatory mites or neem. Neem preparations are decimating the predatory mite population.
How can spider mites be prevented?
You can occasionally water the plants with nettle decoction. To make an extract, add 500 grams of nettles to five liters of water. Leave the whole thing for about two daysdraw and then dilute the extracted and filtered extract 1:20. You can use the brew for pouring or for spraying.