Nilavirai/Nelavarika/Senai/Sonamukhi/Swarnapatri Herbal Live Plant

Senai / Swarnapatrika plant, which usually refers to Senna alata, also known as the Candle Bush, Ringworm Cassia, or Golden Candle Plant.

It’s a beautiful ornamental shrub with striking yellow candle-like flowers and is also valued in traditional (especially for skin conditions like ringworm).

🌼 Basic Profile

• Botanical name: Senna alata (formerly Cassia alata)
• Common names: Senai, Swarnapatrika, Candle Bush, Ringworm Bush, Golden Candle Plant
• Type: Perennial shrub
• Height: 1.5 – 3 m (5 – 10 ft) outdoors
• Native: Tropical regions (South America, widely grown in India, SE Asia, Africa)

🌞 Light Requirements

• Loves full sunlight — at least 6–8 hours per day.
• Outdoors: Best in full sun spots.
• Indoors: Keep near a bright south- or west-facing window. If light is low, supplement with a grow light.

⚠️ Without enough sun, the plant becomes leggy and won’t flower well.

💧 Watering

• Keep soil moist but not waterlogged.
• Water 2–3 times per week during hot months or when topsoil feels dry.
• Reduce watering in winter or rainy seasons — let the top inch of soil dry before watering again.

💡 Tip: Overwatering can cause root rot; underwatering makes leaves wilt quickly.

🌡️ Temperature & Humidity

• Prefers warm, tropical conditions:
  • Ideal temperature: 25–35°C (77–95°F)
  • Minimum tolerance: 15°C (59°F)
• It loves humidity but can tolerate normal indoor humidity. Mist occasionally if air is very dry.

🌱 Soil

• Use well-draining, fertile soil.
• Ideal mix for pots:
  • 2 parts garden soil
  • 1 part compost or cow manure
  • 1 part sand or cocopeat
• pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0–7.0)

🍽️ Fertilizing

• Feed every 3–4 weeks during growing season (spring to monsoon) with:
  • Organic compost, or
  • Liquid NPK (10-10-10 or 20-20-20) at half strength.
• Avoid overfertilizing in winter.

✂️ Pruning

• Prune after flowering to control size and encourage bushy growth.
• Remove old, yellowing leaves or seed pods regularly.
• Deadheading (removing spent blooms) promotes continuous flowering.

🌸 Flowering & Fruiting

• Blooms mainly in late summer to winter.
• Tall yellow spikes (candle-like) appear — very attractive to butterflies and bees.
• Produces long seed pods after flowering — you can collect seeds for propagation.

🌿 Propagation

• From seeds:
  1. Soak seeds in warm water for 12–24 hours.
  2. Sow in moist soil, keep warm (25–30°C).
  3. Germination takes 1–2 weeks.
• From cuttings:
  • Take semi-hardwood cuttings, dip in rooting hormone, and plant in moist soil.