Gimli Posted December 16, 2014 Hi, Someone has offered me a Catha Edulis (narrow leaf var) in a 15cm pot, for $20. Worth buying? Can get red leaf var in jan/feb too, no doubt the same price... is there much of a difference? Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alice Posted December 16, 2014 Sure, why not. You can probably find cheaper, you can probably find more expensive. If the plant is nice and healthy, then you should buy it. Yes there is a difference. Get both, and the other types as well. Narrow is nicer to chew. I think red is preferred traditionally. They are really nice looking plants, and very tough. Worth growing even if you have no plans to taste it. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gimli Posted December 21, 2014 (edited) Edited December 21, 2014 by Gimli 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alice Posted December 21, 2014 (edited) Very nice, that's a really good size for $20. Edited December 21, 2014 by Alice 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theuserformallyknownasd00d Posted December 21, 2014 Get on it mate! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alice Posted December 21, 2014 I've heard that they respond very well to pruning... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gimli Posted December 22, 2014 I'd like to take some cuttings... Wonder what the best way to do it is? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alice Posted December 22, 2014 Planthelper is the man when it comes to catha cuttings. Search for his old posts. I've found that the narrows root really easily with the usual rooting hormone gel method. But it can take a while. Or just wait until it gets a bit bigger and layer the lower branches, that works really well too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slocombe Posted December 22, 2014 Have a look around the base of the plant. If you see shoots coming up you can isolate a rooted section from the mother plant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coja Posted December 31, 2014 (edited) Yes there is a difference. Get both, and the other types as well. Narrow is nicer to chew. I think red is preferred traditionally. They are really nice looking plants, and very tough. Worth growing even if you have no plans to taste it. I'm wondering how people chew these, is it just new foliage as older foliage of the red leaf was not very palatable when I'd tried it? Anyone ever tried chewing with lepita (a traditional South American flavored basic addative to coca leaf for chewing)? Edited December 31, 2014 by Coja Share this post Link to post Share on other sites