Acalypha wilkesiana

How to grow Acalypha wilkesiana – growing and care:
Better more than 5C (41F) (as perennial), moist soil, well drain soil, rich soil

How to care:
When the plant young it’s important to cover the soil with mulch, after this put fertilizer 1-2 a year

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed (sowing explanation bellow) / Vegetative Reproduction – propagation by cutting

How to propagate:
Propagation by cutting – require: high humidity, moist soil, half shade, keep the soil moist and don’t let it dry better to use root growth hormone and start in the spring in ~25C (77F), also will grow better in in greenhouse (possible also plastic box) than it’s possible to create high humidity like fog, another option to grow it in water and switch the water every few days, also in those condition need high humidity

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No, but there are a lot of cultivars in different color and patterns of colors that when need specific color much better to start by cutting

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Sensitive plant

Planting season:
Planting in the spring as annual plant, spring to summer in hardiness zone 10, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11, all year in hardiness zone 12+, better not to plant in hot summer day the plant might die

Pests and diseases:
Fungal, aphids, mealy bug

Pruning season:
Autumn to winter

How to prune:
Just for design

Size of the plant:
1-3 m, 3-10 feet

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Medium growing

Water requirement:
Average amount of water, when the plant young sensitive to lace of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade

Is it possible to grow as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a pot / planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, start with container that bigger than the plant at least 30-50%, need to switch the soil once in a few years by new soil, better to do in the winter, wash the soil from the roots and cut the root and prune the plant, use potting mix or peat soil with perlite and mix it with hummus and organic matter, use chopped mulch to keep the soil moist, let the bottom of the pot fill in water but dry in the same day, for small cultivars possible to grow it in 15L (4 Gallons) big cultivars at least 25L (6.5 Gallons), always better to start to grow with small pot and grow with the plant.

Blooming information

Bloom season?
Summer

General information about the flower
White or red like needle hair, flowers grow on stalk

How to grow Acalypha wilkesiana from seeds

Sowing requirement:
At least 25C (77F), as annual plant better to start growing from cutting

Saving seeds and care until sowing:
Dry and dark location

Sowing season:
Planting in the spring as annual plant and better indoor in the mid of the winter, spring to summer in hardiness zone 10, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11, all year in hardiness zone 12+, better not to plant in hot summer day the plant might die

How to plant:
Better to plant in vermiculite, peat soil or soil the keep moist

Planting spacing:
20*30cm, but in direct sowing depend on the cultivars small cultivars 50*50cm (20*20 inches) big cultivars 1*1 (40*40 inches)

Depth of Sowing:
1cm (0.5inch)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Sunny location

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Germination time:
2-5 weeks

Condition of seedling:
Mulch, protect from wind

Acalypha wilkesiana cultivars

Mosaica (also known as Giant red leaf) – burgundy color leaves that turn bronze color in the spring.

Java white – java white copperleaf – heart shaped yellowish-green and creamy white color leaves

Louisiana red copper plant – leaves color is reddish-brick

Godseffiana – leaves color is green with white edge

Rosea – leaves color is reddish

Macrophylla – heart shaped leaves of brown color

Marginata – heart shaped leaves of bronze color with a red edge

Fire dragon – leaves are dark green

Scientific name:

Acalypha wilkesiana