Dipto luchi, a herbaceous plant, is prized for its medicinal qualities, and for this reason it can be grown in pots on the rooftop, on a balcony or in the yard. It is very easy to grow. Here is how.

The plant's leaves and flowers look rather like luchi, the puffed flatbread. The leaves are broad and smooth, and when sunlight falls on the plant it gives off a kind of glow, which is why it is called dipto luchi ("shining luchi").

Its scientific name is Peperomia pellucida, a flowering herb of the Piperaceae family. It grows 15 to 45 centimetres tall and usually grows in damp places with little light.

Its branches spread widely and are strong, bearing attractive leaves and flowers. The leaves are broad and rounded. In summer the plant produces small white or light pink flowers that spread a gentle fragrance.

Dipto luchi can be grown in pots and grows very quickly. It needs no special soil, although it grows well in fertile soil, so seeds or seedlings can be planted in any soil. It grows easily in moist, shaded places.

It grows best in fertile, loose, crumbly soil, with moderate sun and regular watering. In a pot or a damp corner of the garden it can grow naturally.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.