Do you adore your hypoestes plant? This comprehensive guide will show you the simplest approach to growing the polka dot plant in water. My polka dot plant is my absolute favorite! This pink and green plant, also called the hypotheses, has lovely polka-dot patterns on its leaves. It spreads from stem cuttings VERY easily, grows swiftly, and requires very little maintenance!
Because of its cheery and colorful foliage that comes in several eye-catching color combinations like green & pink, green & red, green & white, and pink & white, the polka dot plant, also known botanically as Hypoestes Phyllostachys, is one of the common houseplants that’s considered one of the “it” plants of 2021. The Polka Dot Plant, also known as Freckle Face Plant, is a heavily hybridized indoor plant that produces various leaf spotting patterns and hues.
The Polka Dot Plant, a native of South Africa, Madagascar, and East Asia, thrives in warm indoor settings with brilliant indirect light and reduced light levels. You should definitely include the Polka Dot Plant in your collection of houseplants. It’s a houseplant that grows quickly and is simple to care for.
Interesting fact:
The Polka Dot Plant is a type of vine that may be trained to climb a trellis or totem pole.
Polka Dot Plant Types
The Polka Dot Plant comes in a variety of forms, according to House Plants Expert:
- Bright red dots can be seen on the leaves of Carmina.
- Confetti: These plants are tiny and have a range of colored leaves that resemble confetti.
- Pink dots are present in pink brocade.
- The plant Purpuriana has purple leaves.
- Large dots of pink, red, or white make up a splash.
Polka Dot Plant Care Tips
When cultivated inside, the mature Polka Dot Plant stays quite tiny and is best planted in the spring. We adore the Polka Dot Plant because, when combined with other houseplants that enjoy humidity, it makes a wonderful addition to dish gardens and terrariums. Additionally, given that it is quite affordable to purchase, it is a cost-effective method to bring beauty and color to your house. Due to its brief lifespan, many gardeners discard it after it turns dormant. If you want to learn more, read our article on how to take care of your Polka Dot Plant, which covers everything from the need for sunlight to typical issues and how to fix them.
Sunlight
Our first tip for taking care of your Polka Dot Plant is to give it plenty of filtered light and bright, indirect sunshine. Avoid growing your Polka Dot Plant in direct sunlight as it may cause the leaves to burn.
Common Issue: If the color of your Polka Dot Plant’s leaves is fading, it may be receiving too much direct sunlight. Burned or reddish leaf edges are another indicator.
Solution: Place your Polka Dot Plant near a window that faces east or south to give it plenty of filtered light. Your Polka Dot Plant’s lovely leaf colors will deteriorate if it receives too much direct sunlight. It will, however, become leggy if it doesn’t receive enough light.
Water
Watering your Polka Dot Plant when the top half inch of the soil feels dry is the next item on our list of ways to take care of it. It prefers soil that is consistently moist but not damp. To prevent the plant from struggling and wilting, don’t let the soil entirely dry out. Given that it is susceptible to root rot, it is crucial to prevent overwatering it.
Common Issue: Overwatering may be the cause of bacterial and fungal illnesses on your Polka Dot Plant. While wilting leaves can indicate that the plant is beneath the water.
Solution: Verify that the soil’s top half-inch is dry. If so, watering your Polka Dot Plant is necessary.
Note: It’s better to use distilled water or a water filtration system because some houseplants can be sensitive to salts in tap water. If this isn’t possible, overnight storage of the water in an open container is advised.
Temperature & Humidity
Put your Polka Dot Plant in a space with a minimum relative humidity of 50% since it will thrive in a humid environment. This is another tip to add to our list of ways to take care of your Polka Dot Plant. If you wish to enhance the humidity, we advise misting it frequently, putting it close to a humidifier, or using a pebble tray.
The ideal temperature range for the polka dot plant is between 70°F and 80°F.
Toxicity
The Polka Dot Plant is generally non-toxic. The Polka Dot Plant is harmless for pets, but that doesn’t mean they won’t feel a little queasy after eating any portion of it.
Food
Since Polka Dot Plants have a voracious hunger, fertilizing them frequently makes them happiest. During the growing season, fertilize every two weeks with a liquid all-purpose fertilizer product to promote lusher growth. Throughout the fall and winter, every other month. Just after your Polka Dot Plants develop a root system, remember to feed them.
Even though the Polka Dot Plant consumes a lot of food, it’s crucial to follow the recommended fertilizer schedule and amount to prevent fertilizer burn or plant burn.
Pests and other issues
Aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies should all be avoided. Use a green solution that is roughly half as strong to get rid of these pests. It is also susceptible to overwatering, which can result in root rot and powdery mildew.
On our screened porch, it started growing swiftly right away. Since the branches were so long that they were bending, it really started to get a touch lanky, so I decided to take some stem cuttings to trim it back.
Well, there was no need for a rooting hormone because the cuttings rooted quite rapidly and effortlessly. In our propagation station, they developed roots quite quickly, and I’m really happy with the outcome!
How long does it take polka dot plants to grow?
The spread of hypotheses happens VERY quickly! In about 7–10 days, you should start to notice roots, and in less than a month, they should be around 2 inches long.
The best way to spread the polka-dot plant (hypotheses Phyllostachys)
Plant propagation using polka dots is really quick and simple!
What you require:
- a thriving polka-dot plant
- pristine scissors
- water container
How you act:
Step 1: Pick a node
The lumps on a stem known as nodes are where leaves develop. Additionally, roots will develop here!
Step 2: Cut right below a node
Directly cut beneath a node.
Step 3: Remove the lowest leaves.
Once your cutting is submerged in water, remove any leaves that are on the bottom node or lower leaves that may fall into the water.
Step 4: Add to the water
Put the cutting in a water-filled glass or container. In my homemade propagation station, I utilize test tubes.
Step 5: Place in indirect light
Put the clipping in a shaded area.
Step 6: Plant in the soil
You can plant it in soil once the roots are 2 inches long. To prevent root rot, use a planter with drainage holes (here’s how to drill drainage holes in ceramic pots).
Conclusion:
From seeds, which should be begun around 12 weeks before the plants are to be transported to the garden, polka-dot plants are simple to cultivate. They can also be cultivated as houseplants in pots, where they can keep their eye-catching appearance for up to two months.
Plants should not be planted in the garden until the soil has warmed up in the spring. Due to their small size, polka-dot plants are typically planted in groups with other low-growing annual flowers or as a bed border. Keep them well-watered during dry spells and plant them in regions that receive full sun or mild shade.
