![]() In the spring, you can replant it in the garden after the threat of frost is over.Ĭommon pests that enjoy polka dot plants are mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, thrips and blackfly. If kept outdoors in a container, bring these plants indoors to a partially sunny indoor spot. Before the first frost, you can cut stems from the plant, root them indoors in a small potting container or jar of water. Since this plant is a tropical plant, it will not survive frosty weather. Too large a pot encourages the roots to focus on growing below the soil line, which is not good for the plant’s upward growth. The new pot should not be more than two inches wider and no more than two inches deeper than the old pot. The best time to repot a polka dot plant is in the spring after its dormant period. ![]() A sure sign your plant has outgrown its pot is when the roots start growing out of the drainage holes. If a plant outgrows its container, it becomes pot bound or root bound. The plant will die off or enter dormancy once it has finished flowering. The flowers aren’t as ornamental as the leaves anyway. Although flowers sound nice, it’s best to clip them when they start appearing to extend the growing season of your polka dot plant. Actively trimming can help the plant to grow healthier and more vigorously. To promote a bushier growth habit, cut or pinch back the top two leaves on each stem weekly. ![]() You’ll need a pair of clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to keep the plant from developing long, lanky branches. If planting in-ground, mix a layer of compost into the soil each spring. If you need to raise the humidity, you can mist your plant’s leaves or place its pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water as long as the bottom of the pot isn’t touching the water.įeed container plants with an organic fertilizer designed for houseplants once a month during the warm growing season. These plants like humid conditions, preferring a minimum humidity level of 50 percent. They should be planted outside in the spring after the threat of frost has passed and brought inside if you plan to overwinter them well before the first frost of the fall. Polka dot plants are only hardy in USDA growing zones 10 and 11, preferring temperatures between 70-80 F. Slightly reduce watering in the winter and resume your routine once growth picks up again in the spring. You will need to water container plants more frequently than in-ground plants. Give enough water to moisten the soil evenly. Water the plant when the top half-inch of soil has dried out. Never let the soil become soggy, which can cause root rot and kill the plant. Avoid letting the soil completely dry out, which can cause the foliage to wilt and make the plant struggle to survive. These plants like a moderate amount of moisture in the soil at all times. Mix in some pumice or perlite to improve soil drainage. An all-purpose organic potting mix is typically suitable for these plants. Polka dot plants prefer organically rich soil with good drainage. Bright, indirect light is ideal indoors, such as from an east- or south-facing window. Pick a planting site that’s not too bright, or else you can expect the foliage colors to fade, lessening the plant’s ornamental value. When grown outdoors, polka dot plants like a spot with some shade. Pinch off these flower spikes to keep the plant’s energy focused on growing its vibrant foliage. Polka dot plants bloom sporadically, typically during the summer, with small lilac or pink-colored flowers on spikes. This plant also needs regular feeding throughout the spring to fall growing season. Expect to water regularly unless you get sufficient rainfall. Warm temperatures and humidity are key to growing polka dot plants. They are not considered invasive plants however, they have a vigorous growth rate in Australia, where they are a weed and have become invasive. They have a moderate growth rate and remain relatively small once mature, especially when grown indoors. They also can be grown in containers as houseplants. These plants are not especially difficult to grow, but because they are native to warm climates, many gardeners treat them as annuals and replace them with new plants each year. But there are several spotted or mottled varieties with purple, white, red and deeper colors and brighter contrast, so the plants pop even more. The most common polka dot plants feature leaves with a pink base color and green spots. The polka dot plant is an eye-catching little plant with brightly variegated leaves that stand out against most other foliage.
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