🌳 Chandan Plant – Growing & Care Guide
Chandan, commonly known as Sandalwood, is a highly valuable aromatic tree grown for its fragrant heartwood and essential oil. It is widely cultivated in India for commercial and agroforestry purposes.
Botanical name (Indian Sandalwood): Santalum album
🌱 Growing Instructions
Climate: Thrives in tropical and subtropical climates.
Temperature: Ideal range 12°C–35°C.
Soil: Well-drained red loamy or sandy soil. Tolerates slightly alkaline soil. Avoid waterlogging.
Sunlight: Requires full sunlight for proper growth.
Host Plant Requirement: Semi-parasitic plant – requires suitable host plants (like pigeon pea, neem, etc.) nearby for nutrients.
Planting Distance: 3–4 meters apart.
Watering: Moderate watering during early growth. Mature trees are drought tolerant.
Best Planting Time: July–September (monsoon).
Harvest Time: Heartwood develops in 10–15 years.
🌿 Care Instructions
Fertilizer: Apply organic compost during early years.
Weeding: Keep base clean for better root development.
Protection: Protect young plants from grazing animals.
Pest Control: Monitor for spike disease and borers.
Legal Note: Cultivation and harvesting regulations vary by state in India—check local government rules before planting commercially.
🌿 Uses of Chandan
Heartwood used for carving and handicrafts
Sandalwood oil used in perfumes and cosmetics
Important in religious rituals and Ayurveda
High commercial and export value
Long-term investment plantation crop
