Polka dot plant

How to grow Polka dot plant growing and care:

How to grow:
More than 15C (59F) but prefer 20C (68F), well-drained soil, humidity

How to care:
Humidity, even possible to grow without care at all in terrarium

Polka dot plant losing color:
Lace of light and humidity cause, the plants will burn in full sun but need a lot of light in order to get strong color, high humidity affect but less on the colors

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative reproduction cutting in water or in the soil, for soil high humidity, moist soil, possible to use root growth hormone

How to propagate in water
Cut the stem and leaves 2-4 leaves in the top, cut half of the leaves and put in water, the plant need a lot of light without sun, switch the water every 1-2 days and wash the stem if start to be on the stem slimy structure

Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction?
To get the same as the mother plant recommend

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Sensitive to change in the amount of water, lose the colors

Planting season:
All year as houseplant and in spring as annual, as perennial in hardiness zone 11 spring to autumn and all year in hardiness zone 12

Pests and diseases:
Aphids, spider mites, mealy bug

Pruning season:
All year

How to prune:
Just for design

Size of the plant:
15-40 cm, 6-16 inches

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing

Water requirement:
Average amount of water

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

Is it possible to grow indoors as houseplant?
Yes, when growing indoor need to be aware that the plant requires light in order to have strong color, also need humidity

Plant indoor care:
Pruning once a year, light, humidity, better to fertilize once a year in the spring

Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, start with pot that will be 50-70% more than the root ball, bigger the plant smaller the percentage, soil need to be potting mix or peat soil with perlite, put a bottom for the container and when water the plant let it fill the bottom but also need to dry in the same day, also need to check that the water go out if not, or the soil not good or not enough holes in the container

Polka dot plant repotting:
Need to repot every time that the plant arrive to full capacity need to switch to bigger pot until arrives to desirable size, need to take care and switch every few years the soil, because the soil lose the viability over time and it’s efficient, if it’s not possible to take the plant out the soil need to take part of the soil and switch (from the side of the plant, also prune the plant and the roots

Location for planting outdoors:
Possible to grow outdoors above 15C (59F), better to plant in shelter, the plants doesn’t like winds, but need a lot of light to keep the colors if not the leaves will be green

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Summer

General information about the flower
Purple small flowers that grow on stems

How to grow Polka dot plant seeds

Sowing requirement:
High humidity, temperature of 21-25C (70-77 F) moist soil

Saving and care seeds until sowing:
Dry and dark place

Sowing season:
Spring / Summer

How to plant:
Better to plant in soil like vermiculite or soil that keep most after 5 leaves better to transplant

Planting spacing:
15*20cm (6-8 inches)

Depth of Sowing:
0.5-1cm (0.25-0.5 inch)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Light (not sun), moist soil

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water

Germination time:
2-6 weeks

Condition of seedling:
Moist soil, at least above 20C (68F)

Scientific name:

Hypoestes phyllostachya