How to grow Luo Han Guo

Luo Han Guo requires a rich, well-drained but moist loam. Sandy and clay soils should be avoided. It is not drought tolerate.

This plant has a limited climatic range, growing best at altitudes of between 150 to 800 metres above sea level. In its native habitat it grows on the cooler slopes of tropical and sub-tropical mountains. It requires an annual rainfall of 1500-2000 mm, humidity of 75% or higher, and does best in a temperature range of 15-30 deg C².

As a short-day plant Luo Han Guo requires 6-7 hours of sunlight. However, partial sun or dappled shade, mirroring the cloud forests from whence it comes, is recommended for very hot climates. An herbaceous perennial, the vine will die back in winter, and re-sprout in the spring. It is a dioceous plant, meaning that male and female flowers occur on different plants[ibid]. It is therefore necessary to grow both a male and female plant to produce fruit.

These estimates for how long Luo han guo takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

arhat fruit, monk's fruit, buddha fruit, luo han kuo

Momordica grosvenorii

¹ Siraitia grosvenorii

² Thesis by Lin Ji, Effects of Different Drying and Processing Methods on Vitamin C, Color, Phenolics, Antioxidant Activity, and Mogroside V of Luo Han Guo (Siriatia grosvenorii) Drink, p.2