How to Grow Indigo Plants & Process It into Blue Dye

[@Blxz]

This is the best video on the topic I've found. You didn't waffle, your steps were clear, and you explained the reasoning behind everything. Just a fantastic video.

[@Lovelygreens]

Thank you so much 💙

[@lauralanchantin8359]

I agree! This was the most helpful video I have found and i'm going to try it this way. thank you!

[@brandyjean7015]

Nice to know there is an Indigo suited to cooler climes.

[@sujathapankaj7647]

Yes. absolutely That is great information

[@jodigirl11]

I have an entirely new appreciation for indigo products. Great presentation!!

[@vermontmike9800]

The KZbin algorithm brought me to this video. I’m not sure why, but I’m glad it did. Fascinating.

[@Mrshoot84]

I love that video, i don't know whats indigo is, i learned with this video, thank you so much, greetings from Santiago, Chile..

[@jenlarsen5005]

This video was great! It would be fascinating to see other videos of the additional dye plants you're growing. Thanks!

[@Lovelygreens]

Thank you, and I'll keep it as an idea, especially when the madder is ready for harvesting 🙂

[@ouisie99]

I would be interested to see you process other plants, as well. I'll be growing indigo, woad and a couple of others this coming year and, honestly, haven't thought much beyond the planting. @@Lovelygreens

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

This was so fascinating! I teach biology and I think I may incorporate this in the lab. Thank you for the lovely education, Tanya!

[@Lovelygreens]

My pleasure - your kids would be fascinated! A good friend teaches hot process soapmaking in her chemistry class and hers love it! Practical science at its best 👌

[@lissyadams6497]

That's-amazing-I-would-have-loved-this-at-schoolx

[@SilentHistoryTx]

I’m showing this in my US History class because it was part of the southern colonies cash crops.

[@SherrickDuncan]

​@@Lovelygreens could this indigo dye be used as an organic alternative to pond dye? And if so would I be able to swim in it without turning Myself blue?

[@hansakhan8203]

Result of Hardwork and patience. ❤️❤️👍 for this

[@BlessingsfromNorthIdaho]

I loved this video. I didn’t realize there were so many indigo cultivars. It’s good to know there is one for my colder climate. The one you grew was quite a handsome plant. I am planning a herbal dye garden because I spin fiber and I am very interested in dying fiber/yarn. Have a great week Miss Tanya! TeresaSue.

[@vrindashergill6]

Must appreciate how patient and hardworking person you are

[@mapuanakupuna3471]

Wow, the process of growing & extracting the Indigo is so fascinating!! U ROCK!!

[@nuniabusines4328]

All that work for such a small amount of dye... I'm very impressed

[@melissapeterson4202]

WOW! What a process! And your indigo came out so blue 💙 thank you for the video!

[@Lovelygreens]

SO blue! It's incredible 😍 💙

[@irishcottagerenovation9900]

What a wonderful interesting video. You have a lot of patience and it paid off. Thank you for sharing this experience it really does inspire.

[@Lovelygreens]

You're most welcome! A lot of the process was just waiting, but it was exciting seeing the colour develop and the pigment settle out each time.

[@philtaylor9038]

Great video Tanya. On a different topic find the music very relaxing in this one, After building my birdie planters and filling with soil now I know how Josh must of felt. Next job is to plant them up once I know what is being planted.

[@Lovelygreens]

Haha! Poor Josh. He's such a good sport with helping me in the garden :) Congratulations on your Birdies Beds! I'm sure they'll fill up before you know it 🙌

[@mrs.jonnaholgate860]

This was amazingly informational. I am researching teaching natural fabric dyes with my elementary art students. Your video made it look achievable! Thank you so much!

[@Lovelygreens]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dahlia8870]

Such a great video! I grew some indigo in pots (but I haven’t done anything with it yet). Though I love the video and the process I am tired already. I was hoping to dye a skein of yarn but, as I said, I don’t think I have the energy. It was lovely to see all the very detailed steps.

[@roxannem.wallrn3873]

They look a lot like basil! Thanks for the video…love it as usual

[@Lovelygreens]

You're most welcome, Roxanne 💙

[@juliamolina3874]

Love it, I worked for Cone Denim, centuries ago and loved the smell of all the denim. The indigo was magical to watch. TY! Might have to try to grow it.

[@hep223]

Is the benefit of doing multiple rinses mostly to make sure it's just the indigo/no leftover soda ash?

[@Lovelygreens]

Yes, as well as other impurities, as I understand it. If the indigo is going to be used for soapmaking, it's a good idea. I know that some people who extract indigo for textile dyeing don't bother, though.

[@AfzaVlogschannel]

Hard work paid off. Well done. Keep sharing🎉

[@daysicalderon2954]

Wao! What a wonderful video to watch. I was mesmerized with your demonstration. Thank you Tanya for your teaching.

[@Lovelygreens]

It's my pleasure 🙏

[@student_remo]

I love this slow process, it looks so peaceful. It's also my first time seeing that siphoning technique. Thank you! I'll try to learn the biochemistry of this too so I could better understand the dye and improve the filtration process.

[@Lovelygreens]

I've not seen the siphoning technique, either, but it makes more sense to me doing it that way and not disturbing the indigo sediment.

[@altheab.8907]

Very interesting, Tanya. I look forward to seeing the blue soap.

[@petervandermolen9835]

Absolutely 💯 crystal clear and enthusiastic! Very instructive and inspiring. Thank you

[@pravaliacreativa2314]

Oh.. My gosh.. Amazing experience.. Congratulations for your dedication and thanks sharing with us ♥️ good luck with your soap making. 😇

[@TheJessRamone]

I am growing Indigo for the first year and it isn't really hitting of.... So I thought, let's seek for tips and tricks. Only to find one of my most favourite YT-ers has already made this super clear video and I missed it....!! Thank you so much! 💙

[@Lovelygreens]

You are most welcome! 💙😊

[@RED-cy7ig]

What a great process.

[@janetkemper9177]

This was so fantastic! Thanks so much for all the steps. So cool.

[@joanie3960]

Thank you for making this video. I am wanting to make some natural dyes in every color and this will help with the blue color.

[@killmimes]

Would you get a greater yield if you macerated the leaves before fermentation?

[@Lovelygreens]

I'm not sure, but I'd guess probably not. Fermentation breaks the leaf material down without the need for laceration.

[@allisonjoel1]

Excellent video, thank you tor sharing the process and stages of how to make the dye. It was interesting to watch from start to finish. Regards.

[@pang-ngiavang1956]

I love learning from your channel! Thank you for sharing💜

[@Lovelygreens]

My pleasure 💚

[@michaelburak1484]

I have so many questions....! But definitely a very informative and interesting video.

[@luluvelasco1527]

Thank uou Tanya for sharing this info about indigo plants❤

[@Lovelygreens]

My pleasure 😊

[@Maryrose-fs6ue]

Beautiful 🌿💙 Thank you for sharing!

[@Lovelygreens]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@kimkanney994]

Thank you! If I wanted to dye fiber with it, would I use it in the first bucket once passed back and forth 20 times? Also, as a soapmaker I can’t wait to try this in my soap!

[@Lovelygreens]

I don't think so, but I could be wrong. This process is for isolating the indigo extract as a solid. For dyeing, there's a technique where you can use fresh leaves, or you can create an indigo vat using pigment, fructose, and calcium hydroxide.

[@sujathapankaj7647]

Very beautifully explained and demonstrated.thanknyoubsooo much

[@duncanrobinson3200]

I seem to remember the ancient Britons used to use something called 'woad' to make a blue dye to paint themselves with. I must say that your flowers look very nice!

[@Lovelygreens]

Woad has the same blue pigment as indigo but just a smaller amount! It grows easily in temperate climates, though, even becoming invasive in some non-native areas.

[@helenlawson3203]

Really makes me wonder just how this was ever discovered!

[@sfm4774]

Nice demonstration of the process--your Kojyoko is beautiful! (Big fan of George @ Bailiwick Blue--she is wonderful! I'm growing some of her plants myself!) One very important clarification, though: at 6:57 you are using *calcium hydroxide aka lime to alkalinize, not soda ash aka sodium carbonate* as stated. Soda ash is an alkali but *not a flocculant* - which is absolutely critical if you are trying to collect pigment! These two chemicals are visibly different (soda is crystalline, lime is a powder), which is how I can tell even from that step in the video, though it is clear from the resulting foam (bubbles of CO2) and how well your pigment settled 💙

[@alpinereid5265]

Thank you Tanya! This is perfect -- l loved seeing your process. Would the same steps be involved in extracting dye from Dyer's Woad? and is it as blue as the Japanese Indigo?

[@Lovelygreens]

Yes, absolutely, but as I understand it, woad doesn't contain as much indican as indigo. So you'll get less dye and less vibrant blues from it. That's how the introduction of indigo to the European market destroyed woad as a crop in the 16th and 17th centuries.

[@alpinereid5265]

@@Lovelygreens Thank you!

[@ZarpeParadise]

Incredible process! Thanks for sharing.

[@letsdoitgull2478]

Thanks for the video 💝💔💝

[@Lovelygreens]

You're most welcome 💙

[@TaLeng2023]

Which yield more dye, Persicaria or Indigofera?

[@scottvancampen1329]

Very informative and inspirational, Thanks

[@lissyadams6497]

What-a-great-video-to-watch.Also-enjoying-your-dying-ideas-in-your-book-toox

[@Lovelygreens]

Thank you, Lissy 💙

[@aldas3831]

Bravo Tanya!

[@jennyhoman195]

fantastic! Thank you for this.

[@eliasninph]

Just a question, couldn't you restore the pH of the alkaline with the indigo powder inside?

[@Lovelygreens]

I don't completely follow.

[@Baroque-For-Ever]

Superbly done...all my appreciation

[@user-missy119]

Thank you I’ve been wanting to paint with natural colors and I’ve been really wanting to do a Cubhouse too with the natural colors and you can do a lot of stuff with it. Thank you. This video is amazing so I live in Utah with it in Utah.

[@Lovelygreens]

You are most welcome! How interesting to use indigo for paint 😍

[@potetiti]

Thank you for sharing this video! When your indigo was settling, didn’t it smell bad? My indigo liquid has strong smell when it’s on settling and drying process… not sure it’s normal or not.

[@Lovelygreens]

I think it is normal. Don't worry :)

[@CaptainKedah]

Can you make Oil Paint out of the Indigo Powder? I Enjoy watching the whole Process, thk u

[@Lovelygreens]

Probably, but I haven't done it yet!

[@jotsntittles5783]

Do you have a video using the powder you make?

[@martinebutler778]

Hi Tsnya. Fantastic video and so full of info. I'm moving soon to Wales and will have room for a poly tunnel. I love your set up. Could i ask where you found it? As i am actively looking for one. Keep growing!!!😊

[@Lovelygreens]

It's called a Polycrub, and I highly recommend it! They're based in the Shetland Islands but can ship the parts across the UK.

[@iAmGrizzlyBear420]

Did you record the weight of the plant material used? Just curious about the ratio of plant:powder dye

[@Lovelygreens]

No, I didn't

[@iAmGrizzlyBear420]

@Lovelygreens no worries, still helpful information either way 😁 I plan to do some tests myself to figure out exact yields.

[@samihage1223]

Where can I find the seeds? Do they like warm or cold weather? What type of soils do they like acidic or alkaline

[@Lovelygreens]

Indigo likes sub-tropical conditions - it dies if it approaches freezing. Seeds are supplied by various companies and individuals. What country are you in?

[@K-vp5sq]

Thanks for sharing with us! Do you know if indigo can be used to make ink?

[@Lovelygreens]

I'm fairly certain it can be used to make paint, but I'm not sure about ink.

[@marykimberlyhayes]

Wow! Makes me think.........who the heck discovered how to do this? Yikes! Absolutely Amazing!

[@Realatmx]

It was common crop in india until British colonism.. We still have shampoo purely made from soap nuts.. In ancient times indian people used to dye even beard and hairs in colors which are really bold like blue, green And high heels👠 is not western invention in India there are status of women's wearing high heels which are 2000 years old

[@pumpkinslice1811]

Can you grow the entire plant indoors if you have to? Where I am the summers get so hot. Oh! And can you ferment Woad like this too?

[@Lovelygreens]

It probably won't flourish as a houseplant, but there's no harm trying. Not only does it need warmth and sun but high humidity, which you won't have in the house. As for woad - yes, this is how you would extract woad pigment, too :)

[@pumpkinslice1811]

@@Lovelygreens Does adding sugar to the vat help fermentation along? Sorry all these questions. 😅

[@Realatmx]

It's tropical plants it will grow in full sun like 8 to 10 hours sunlight

[@brandyjean7015]

Is greaseproof paper aka parchment paper?

[@Lovelygreens]

It's waxed paper that doesn't allow oil or water through. Waxed baking paper.

[@brandyjean7015]

@@Lovelygreensso I was just googling, various ways... and finally hit upon what is greaseproof paper called in the US? And the answer was parchment paper. It's actually a silicone treated paper that doesn't leak. The old fashioned wax paper (what my childhood sandwiches were wrapped in before ziplock bags) does leak if it gets a crease & the wax cracks. It still entertainings me the differences across the pond in our common language. I'm retired in the foothills of the Cascades in SW Washington state, so indigo wasn't even on my radar until you introduced me to this species. So thanks again.

[@kimallard225]

Wow that was fantastic to watch. Thank you for sharing. Where did you get your seeds from? I would love to try to extract some indigo. That was a brilliant video Tanya. Thank you. X

[@Lovelygreens]

I'm so pleased that you enjoyed it. What a fascinating process! 💙 I got my seeds from Bailiwick Blue bailiwickblue.com/collections/seed/seed

[@modo5091]

Hi there, thanks very much for your video, this will definitely get me started. I am making inks from nature, i am going to grow indigo and woad next year. I was wondering do you know if the indigo pigment would stay in solution if you didn't chalk or line , as i am making an ink it would be best to stay suspended in solutions. Kind regards Maurice

[@Lovelygreens]

The lime is necessary to pull the pigment from the solution. Otherwise, you'd just have a very watery solution with just a hint of blue.

[@0586_]

This was an excellent video on KZbin ❤ and thank you so so so much mam for guiding us and I understood this topic very well

[@catherinerasmussen2452]

Thank you for your video, lovely garden! Have you ever used Calcium Hydroxide aka Slaked Lime to precipitate and alkalize your extraction? I grew JI for the first time last summer, central California in 90+ degree weather and it did very nicely. I got 3 good pigment extractions and lots of fresh leaf extractions. I saved much seed as well. I love your technique and have learned new approaches. Thank you. 🌱

[@TraceUK]

Can it be used in food? Or is it toxic?

[@Lovelygreens]

I'm not sure how toxic it is, but it's not food safe. For homegrown natural blue dye, grow butterfly pea flowers.

[@GrandmaY]

Thank you so much for the information!

[@sfm4774]

Thank you for adding a correction here. It's so important for folks who are just starting out! However, soda ash is sodium carbonate, not calcium carbonate. Totally different compounds, and here's why it's so critical to use the right ones: calcium hydroxide (aka lime) is an ionic compound that dissolves into hydroxide ions that raise the pH, plus calcium ions that react with dissolved carbon dioxide in the water, creating calcium carbonate (aka chalk); this is the reaction we're piggybacking onto when we use lime to flocculate pigment. All sodium carbonate (aka soda ash or washing soda) does when it dissolves is raise the pH of the solution. And while raising the pH is important part of the process--it greatly accelerates the oxidation of indoxyl to indigotin--if you don't use a flocculant, the pigment will be too fine to settle and will remain suspended for a long time. Using the correct names of the chemical compounds in place of or in conjunction with common household names avoids confusion and helps educate everyone in the process. 🙏💙🌿

[@romestic_cosmeticos]

What a amazing video, thanks a lot

[@4palya]

You use it for soap - cold soap is ok, the blue will stary or only hot soap will be safe for colour? And: can I use soap NaOH for ph during proccesing the leafs in the water bath?

[@Lovelygreens]

Hi there, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is not the same or as safe as calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) so no, you cannot. Indigo can be used in both cold and hot process soapmaking - here's my tips on using it in CP lovelygreens.com/indigo-soap-recipe-natural-blue-soap/

[@siddardhanallamilli3867]

Ma'am, I'm curious whether we could use a centrifuge for isolating indigo from the solution. Could it be more efficient on an industrial scale?

[@Lovelygreens]

Possibly!

[@amandabearss797]

Curious. Do you do your native blue woad?

[@Lovelygreens]

I have in the past, but it's inferior to indigo when it comes to the amount of pigment it contains.

[@amandabearss797]

@@Lovelygreens ok.

[@ludunkalubovmoia293]

Hello Tanya. I need an advice. Recently I received my seeds but its May already. What do you think is the best solution . To keep them till next season or try to plant.? I live in Toronto. Not sure if it's enough time to get a harvest . By the way is it perennial ? May be i should put in the pot this year?

[@Lovelygreens]

Indigo seeds need to be sown in the same year as you get them because after their first year, they lose most of their viability.

[@mariem5990]

Thank you . Really interesting

[@cherrysunburst1959]

amazing. thanks for sharing this!

[@Lovelygreens]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Sorsha011]

can you recommend where I can buy a plant or get fresh seeds to grow kojyoko indigo plant?? thanks for the video!

[@Lovelygreens]

In Britain, where I live, you can get seeds from Bailiwick Blue. Thats where mine is from.

[@jeanpierreragequit1726]

Nice tutorial ! Thx u so much !!

[@stevendowden2579]

interesting tanya

[@boop7313]

😍😍😍wow!! thankyou so much for taking us along on your indigo extraction. Such nature magic! This is right up my alley! As a soapmaker, I can't wait to see your indigo soap made from this. Also I have a question for you.. Well a couple of questions actually😅So, I live in a hot climate, opposite to you i guess in the Isle of Man, could you tell me if there is an indigo variety that's suited to the hot north of Australia? And if so, can it be processed in the same way that you have here? I'd love to see you make some indigo dyed fabric as a future video idea if you are so inclined too, that would also be amazing! Love your work Tanya, you are a true garden goddess 😍

[@Lovelygreens]

Aww, thank you! 💙 there are indigos native to Australia, such as one of the plants I show a photo of early on. I'm not sure about its dye potential for blue, though! I imagine growing many temperate to subtropical plants is challenging for you due to heat, low humidity, and water scarcity in the soil. True indigo Indigofera tinctoria and Japanese indigo would probably be among them. They like lots of moisture and indirect light, if possible. But as I believe, where there's a will, there's a way!

[@leyawilliams3712]

Thank you for this lovely informative video. Also, I agree, George is a wealth of information and is generous with it. She is also woman.😉💙

[@Lovelygreens]

Haha! George and I had a laugh over that on IG. For months, I thought she was a he 🙈😂

[@beverlylee6357]

Can this be food coloring?

[@Lovelygreens]

Indigo isn't food safe, but you can grow and use butterfly pea flower for vivid blue food colouring 💙

[@karswan]

Now I want to grow some. I do need the cooler climate seeds. I have died wool long ago with indigo. That indigo required urine/ urea? and it looked green in the tub, but once exposed to oxygen it started turning blue. Must be a different plant.

[@Lovelygreens]

You used urine? I've not heard of that in modern dyeing before.

[@karswan]

@@Lovelygreens Yes. That was years ago when I was a member of a weaving guild.

[@milesmonroe9952]

Is this powder what is used for making a reduced indigo vat for dyeing cloth? I'm having a hard time finding indigo vat instructions that don't use powder & use raw plant material instead, or how to process plant matter into the correct form of powder!

[@Lovelygreens]

Yes, this is for extracting the indigo pigment powder.

[@nancyskinner5207]

Indigo blue is not instant gratification is it? But so worth it. Great informative video.

[@Lovelygreens]

You've definitely got to work for it, but the reward is dazzling 😍 Thank you

[@nataliebolyard8578]

I made an oops! I dried the indigo in the sun after each harvest. (I read somewhere that was the process!) Now that I have dried indigo grown from seed, is it possible to still ferment and use it?

[@Lovelygreens]

You can, but it won't give you as much blue dye as fresh leaves. Dried indigo leaf is what's used for dark hair dye rather than blue dye!

[@jasooni]

inwonder if this can be use as food colorant?

[@Lovelygreens]

Indigo isn't food safe.

[@dorothygrierson2740]

Loved this ,very interesting. That.xx

[@JuliaAddeo]

I've been following this process and am waiting for my dye to settle to get that tea color but it hasn't happened yet. It almost looks like the top is growing mold. Any suggestion on what that may be from?/what im doing wrong?

[@Lovelygreens]

Just skim the mold off...it's no biggie. It's the pigment that will eventually settle on the bottom that you want, and it's not affected by mold.

[@sonthiacoleman]

This is awesome 😎 I live in Humid climate aka New Orleans! I would love to get some Plants 🌱 do you have a link ? Or seeds 😊

[@Lovelygreens]

I'm not too sure about US sources but Google might be able to help 🙂

[@dilanipushpa539]

How can get indigo plant?

[@Lovelygreens]

I don't sell it, sorry.

[@phyrewillow6463]

Thank you!

[@Jes.V3]

can i dye my dck blue with it naturally ?

[@originalwoolydragon8387]

Now I want to plant indigo...

[@ninemoonplanet]

Instead of pouring back and forth, wouldn't a bubbler do the job with less strenuous exercise? I have one pump from making a bubbler for worm "tea" which does require aeration. I'm in a temperate rainforest zone, so both woad and one variety of indigo will grow. I saw a video on a historical channel where they processed woad, it's colour has more green, but it's equally beautiful.

[@Lovelygreens]

Yes, a bubbler would work, but that's just another expense and gadget that, for most people, would be unnecessary. What's wrong with exercise? 🙂

[@chetanrawatji]

Thank You ❤

[@ufoman4468]

Hello Tanya Lovely Greens. Making indigo looks like a very rewarding task. You have the patience of Job. Good to see. By the way , Can i send you a couple of pairs of faded Levis ?😄

[@samihage1223]

Can’t you leave some to grow seeds?

[@Lovelygreens]

You can - they seed prolifically, whether you want the plants to or not 🙂

[@shakthis1580]

How much patience you have to gradually show all the steps, great...

[@zedare430]

do you sell indigo powder or indigo leaves?

[@Lovelygreens]

Sorry, I don't, but there are others who do. Bailiwick Blue is a good place for those in the UK.