Frankincese 101: How to Grow Your Own

Getting Started
Eslamieh’s eBay store, The Miniatree Garden (miniatree.com), is the most convenient place to order any of the Boswellia species. He recommends buying a seedling (a newly sprouted seed) or a cutting (a branch of a mature tree) and planting it in April or May; the best conditions are temperatures above 75 degrees with humidity higher than 35 percent.

Soil, Soil, Soil
These are Eslamieh’s three rules for succulents like Boswellia. Soil must be drainable, in that as soon as you water it you can see water coming out – if not, it will rot. The best option is sandy-loam soil. Water it every two to three days during the warm months; during cold-month dormancy, water less frequently.

Watch for Winter
Planting the tree near a south-facing wall will protect from freezing temperatures. Cover them when temperature drops below 20 degrees.

Frankincense, Finally
After two or three years, when the plant is about three feet tall, you can begin frankincense cultivation twice a year by cutting a couple inches off the tips of the branches. Within days, each tip will produce two to six drops of hardened resin, or frankincense. The drops can be burned as incense, swallowed like a pill or dissolved in tea.