Description
Henna is a natural dye made from the leaves of the Lawsonia Inermis plant with its recorded use dating back to the ancient Egyptians. Henna dye is primarily used to color hair, skin and fabrics. Henna is widespread in many cultures as a means of temporary tattooing. It is often featured in highly ornate body art patterns. The dye is activated when lawsone molecules are released from the crushed leaves, and so henna is commonly sold as powdered leaf, which is then mixed with mildly acidic liquid when it is prepared for use. The dye originally stains the skin orange, darkening to a reddish brown over the course of three days. The dye will ultimately fade once the dyed skin cells are shed. Henna booths are popular at public events such as fairs and festivals, particularly those with a hippy or Bohemian influence. Henna is also popular in Indian and various Muslim cultures. Henna can be seen as a beard dye, and its use is associated in various ways with marriage rituals. Henna is a fragrant flowering shrub that is suited for outdoor growth in zones 9b to 11. Elsewhere it can be grown indoors wherever bright light and warm temperatures can be provided. Henna is also known as Hina, Mignonetee Tree and Egyptian Privet. World Seed Supply is proud to offer these seeds direct from India.
Growing Information: Henna is a tropical plant that requires warm temperatures for growth. Plants should never be allowed to dip below 70 degrees at any point in the year. The seeds are known to be slow to sprout, often taking several months. This is especially true if the seeds are not kept warm enough. Cold stratification can help aid germination. To do this, place the seeds on a moist paper towel. Fold that up and put it in an airtight container or bag. Place that in the fridge for several days. Next remove the bag from the fridge. Then sow the seeds in a well-draining fertile soil barely covering them. A commercial cactus soil mix is suitable for henna seeds. Keep your sown seeds constantly warm until germination begins. Provide bright light. Seedlings can be moved outdoors to the ground at about 5 months of age. Be sure to fertilize the ground well with plenty of organic matter. Establish henna plants can withstand drought well.
