Acalypha wilkesiana grow and care – shrub of the genus Acalypha also known as Flamengueira, Acalypha wilkesiana perennial evergreen or annual plant also used as ornamental hedge plant, can grow in tropic, mediterranean or subtropical climate and growing in hardiness zone 10b+ as perennial or 5-10a as annual, in hardiness zone 10a need to take care overwinter when the plant young.
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
