How to Grow an African Moringa Tree Indoors

Take seeds out of the pods, if necessary, and soak them overnight. Fill the container with growing medium. Look for a light, fertile mix that offers good drainage and a container at least 18 inches deep. Moringas do best in sandy soils outdoors, so consider mixing the potting soil with one part sand to better emulate Moringa's natural growing conditions. The Asian Vegetable Research & Development Center's website recommends using a mix containing 67 percent peat moss and 33 percent vermiculite.

Use the hand trowel or spoon to scoop out three planting holes 1.5 inches deep and 2 inches apart, close to the center of the container. The seeds do not need light to germinate. Cover the seeds with growing medium and keep the growing medium moist, not wet, during the short germination period. Plant seedlings in a hole deep enough for the taproot to remain straight. The top of the roots should be no lower than the top of the growing mix in the container.

Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer at planting time to help the seeds and seedlings grow. Add soluble fertilizer when you water the plant after sowing the seeds. Follow label directions for feeding houseplants. Moringa trees need little fertilizer in their native habitats, but trees quickly use up nutrients in the confined space of a pot. If the tree outgrows its original pot, transplant it to a pot at least 2 inches larger, use fresh growing medium, and fertilize at planting time to reduce transplant shock.

Water the container regularly to keep the growing medium moist while the seeds are germinating or the seedling is establishing itself in the container. If you planted seeds directly into the container, remove all but the healthiest seedling.

Place the container in a warm, bright spot in the house, but out of direct drafts like heating vents and fans. Move the container to a sunnier site if the tree does not appear to be growing well. Moringas can grow 15 feet per year, so slow growth is a sign of trouble.

Prune the Moringa tree as needed to control height. Left unchecked, Moringa trees can grow 20 to 50 feet tall. Cut the tree back to a height of 3 or 4 feet annually, or prune less for a taller tree. Hard pruning encourages the Moringa to adopt a shrubbier form, but the side growth is easily trimmed to maintain the tree shape, if desired.