Stevia Plant | Seeding and Propagation Made Easy

Stevia Plant | Seeding and Propagation Made Easy with Angeline Verdant

Hey Cultivator, it’s Angeline 🌸

Today we’re talking about one of the sweetest herbs you can grow the Stevia plant. Known for its naturally sugar-free sweetness, Stevia makes a wonderful addition to any indoor or outdoor herb garden. With the right start, this tender perennial can grow into a lush, productive plant that keeps on giving.

Whether you’re starting Stevia from seed or propagating it from a cutting, you’ll find it surprisingly easy to grow with just a little warmth, light, and care.

🌱 What is the Stevia Plant

The Stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana) is a tropical herb native to South America. Its leaves contain stevioside, a natural compound that is 30 to 300 times sweeter than sugar.

Stevia thrives in warm, sunny environments and loves well-drained soil. It’s perfect for USDA Zones 9–11 outdoors, or indoors near a sunny kitchen window for cooler regions.

To check your local growing zone, visit 👉🏾 USDA Hardiness Zones Guide.

🌿 Starting Stevia from Seed

Starting Stevia from seed takes patience — the seeds are tiny and have low germination rates, but with gentle care, you’ll see success.

1. Choose high-quality seeds.
Look for reputable seed sources and fresh packs from the current year.

2. Use a light seed-starting mix.
Fill trays or small pots with a sterile, airy mix. Stevia seeds need both moisture and airflow.

3. Sow lightly.
Sprinkle seeds on the surface and gently press them in — do not bury them. Stevia seeds need light to germinate.

4. Mist and cover.
Mist the soil to keep it moist and cover with a humidity dome or clear plastic wrap.

5. Provide warmth and light.
Keep at 75–80°F with bright, indirect light. Germination usually takes 1–2 weeks.

Once seedlings reach about two inches tall and develop several leaves, transplant them into small pots with rich, well-drained soil.

🌸 Propagating Stevia from Cuttings

Propagation is my favorite way to multiply the Stevia plant because it’s faster and more reliable than starting from seed.

1. Take a healthy cutting.
Choose a soft stem that’s four to six inches long with several leaf nodes.

2. Remove lower leaves.
Strip off the bottom two sets of leaves, leaving at least two at the top.

3. Dip and plant.
Dip the end in rooting powder (optional) and place it in moist potting mix or water.

4. Provide warmth.
Keep your cutting in a warm, bright area but out of direct sunlight.

5. Watch for roots.
Roots should appear within 10–14 days. Once rooted, transplant your new Stevia into a larger container.

You can grow several plants from a single mature Stevia this way — perfect for gifts or to keep your supply fresh year-round.

🌞 Growing Conditions

Stevia loves warmth and sunshine. Indoors, place it near a south-facing window or under a grow light for 12–14 hours daily. Outdoors, give it a sunny spot with light afternoon shade in hotter zones.

Keep soil consistently moist but never soggy. Overwatering causes yellow leaves and root rot.

Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season with a mild organic fertilizer or compost tea.

🌿 Harvesting Stevia Leaves

Once your Stevia plant is about 8–10 inches tall, you can start harvesting the leaves. Snip them regularly to encourage bushier growth.

Harvest before the plant begins to flower for the sweetest flavor. Dry the leaves in a warm, shaded area, then crush or blend them into a natural sweetener for teas and desserts.

🌸 Why Grow Stevia

Growing Stevia gives you a natural, calorie-free alternative to processed sugar. It’s satisfying to harvest your own sweet leaves, knowing exactly what’s in your kitchen garden.

Stevia also makes a charming companion plant in herb gardens. Its green leaves and upright stems blend beautifully with basil, mint, or lemon balm.

🌱 Keep Growing with Me

If you’d like to see my step-by-step Stevia propagation and seeding demo, join our Cultivators community on Patreon for exclusive videos, printable guides, and early garden updates.

👉🏾 Patreon.com/AngelineVerdant

You can also explore indoor growing systems and companion herbs at 👉🏾 AVGardening.com/Gardyn

🌿 Final Thoughts

The Stevia plant is one of the easiest and most rewarding herbs to grow. With just a few seeds or a small cutting, you can fill your kitchen garden with the natural sweetness of homegrown Stevia.

Once you start growing it, you’ll never want to be without it.

Stay Green Always
— Angeline Verdant 💚