Exoticflora Stevia/Natural Sweetener – Herbs & Kitchen Plants Medicinal Plants

Stevia is Botanically known as Stevia rebaudiana, It is a natural sweetener and sugar substitute (steviol glycosides) derived from the leaves of the plant. It is approximately 30 to 150 times sweeter than sugar. The human body does not metabolize the glycosides in stevia, so it contains zero calories, like artificial sweeteners. Stevia’s taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar.

The legal status of stevia as a food additive or dietary supplement varies from country to country. The leaves have been used traditionally for hundreds of years in both Brazil and Paraguay to sweeten local teas and medicines, and as a “sweet treat”. Consequently, the use of stevia as an alternative began in Japan, with the aqueous extract of the leaves yielding purified steviosides developed as sweeteners. The Japanese have been using stevia in food products and soft drinks, (including Coca-Cola), and for table use. In the mid-1980s, stevia became popular in U.S. natural foods & health food industries, as a noncaloric natural sweetener for teas and weight-loss blends.

Growing Tips

• Stevia likes to grow from Partial Sunlight(but not fully shade) areas to Full Sunlight areas.
• You can grow it in the growing pot, hanging basket, or directly in the ground.
• Stevia plant loves, moisture so it is always recommended to keep moisture in the pot, but do not overwater it may kill the plant.
• In case if you are growing in a pot then make sure that pot should have a drainage hole.
• Grow it in well-fertilized and organic-rich soil media. 

INSIDE THE BOX

S.No.	PRODUCT NAME	DIMENSION
1.	Stevia Plant	<1 Feet Height
2.	Growing Pot (Black color)	6 Inch

**above specifications are for indicative purpose only, actual dimensions may slightly vary.

INITIAL CARE FOR 10-15 DAYS JUST AFTER RECEIVING YOUR PLANT 

1. Remove the Packaging Materials carefully.
2. Press the soil in the pot & add additional soil(garden mix) if necessary.
3. Maintain moisture in the pot, Do not overwater it may kill your plant, so make sure that the soil should be dry between watering.
4. Make sure that plants get enough morning direct bright light(2-3hrs) for 10-15 days & do not go for immediate transplanting (minimum 1 month)
5. After 1 month you can transplant it into a slightly bigger pot than the present pot or directly in the ground.
6. Just prune if any branch of the plant is get damaged in transits. New leaves will come definitely.