How to Care and Propagate: Sadafuli / Sadabahar (Madagascar Periwinkle)

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Introduction:

  • Madagascar Periwinkle also known as bright eyes, Cape Periwinkle, Graveyard plant, Old Maid, Pink Periwinkle, Rose Periwinkle, and Catharanthus Roseus. It is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae.
  • It is native and endemic to Madagascar but grown elsewhere as an ornamental and medicinal plant. 
  • It is a source of the drugs vincristine and vinblastine, used to treat cancer. 
  • Mostly, the Periwinkle plant can be spotted on roadsides, in gardens, and on hillsides. Periwinkle is most often grown as groundcover and its different shades of colour and foliage make it attractive.
  • More than 30 varieties of Periwinkles exist in different shades and colours across the world.

Soil & Climate:

  • Periwinkle can grow in any type of soil but it should be well-drained. It grows well in acidic soil and can survive in the partially shaded area.
  • Ideal soil mixture: 70% Gardening Soil and 30% Compost.
  • However, it can also grow in direct sunlight areas.
  • This plant can grow up to 8 feet.
  • Commonly, Periwinkle is grown to control soil erosion as it covers the ground.
  • It is a lovely small plant that grows outside very well and also well at home in a window.
  • Watering Technique:
  • Water well once an upper layer of soil is dried. You can check by touching the soil.
  • Overwatering can cause yellowing and falling off leaves. If such a situation arises, move the plant to a warmer area where it can receive plenty of direct sunlight and also make extra drainage holes in the pot to let the water drain out.

Fertilizer:

  • In the tropical area, February is the month of composting after the winter season.
  • You can either use a diluted liquid fertilizer once a week, a slow-release fertilizer once a month, or you can add high potassium compost to the soil.

Propagation Technique:

  • Periwinkles are easy to grow from seed. Seeds you can collect from plants buds, once buds get mature they burst out the seeds.
  • Let the seed get dry for one or two days, then you can use it.
  • One can also use mature/healthy stem cuttings for propagation. 

Benefits:

  • Apart from functioning as a ground cover to areas where grass won’t grow or helping with soil erosion control, Periwinkle also serves as a source of alkaloids for medicinal use. With a total of 86 alkaloids, the Periwinkle plant extract covers a lot of benefits.
  • One of its products is vinpocetine, a synthetic derivative coming from the vincas alkaloid vincamine. This compound aids short-term memory and serves as an anti-aging agent.
  • Vincristine and vinblastine can treat various forms of cancer such as leukemia, child cancers, Hodgkin disease or Hodgkin lymphoma, and other types of lymphoma.

Vital Tips:

  • Re-pot the plant in a bigger well drainage pot if the plant is not bearing the flowers. 
  • Additionally, add organic fertilizer to it for better results.
Thanks and best of luck!
Happy Planting!
I would like to hear your thoughts, suggestions, and any questions in the comments below.

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