Pandan
Pandanus amaryllifolius
Also known asScrewpine · Pandanus · Daun pandan · Bai toey · Rampe
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 10–12 (winter low around -1°C)
- Frost
- frost sensitive (dies at first frost)
- Season
- year-round tropical
Growing systems
Root mass: heavy. Thin-channel systems can't hold this crop.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.4 |
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible
Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth. Supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
A tropical, houseplant-style crop for warm conditions. Grow in a container (10 L) of well-drained media. EC 1.2-1.8 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.0. Temperature: 18–35°C (tropical; growth stops below 15°C and frost kills the plant). Moderate to high light (DLI 14-22 mol/m2/day; it tolerates lower light than most edible crops and grows acceptably in bright indirect light). The plant is slow, adding a few new leaves a month, and reaches 60–100 cm in containers. Harvest individual lower leaves as needed while the plant keeps producing new leaves from the centre. To cook with it, tie a leaf in a knot and simmer in rice or coconut milk; for extract, blend the leaves with a little water, strain and use the bright green liquid. Fresh leaves freeze well and can be used straight from frozen. Propagate by separating basal shoots (pups) from the mother plant. The plant is sterile and sets no seed, so all cultivated pandan is clonal. For Southeast Asian cooking, one plant gives a continuous supply of a leaf that transforms rice and desserts.