Add the Cheerful Polka Dot Plant to Your Collection
With colorful foliage splashed with white, pink, red or rose on a green background, the polka dot plant is a must-have for any plant lover. Native to Madagascar, this tropical plant grows in an attractive mound that can range from 6 inches to a foot tall and wide. It’s equally at home as a houseplant or grown outdoors with other shade-loving plants as an annual (it’s considered perennial in warm climates). Polka dot plant also looks great in pots and window boxes or as a pretty edging plant along a walkway or patio. Also known as hypoestes, this plant is not particularly tasty to deer, so it’s a good option if Bambi often browses in your garden. At the end of the season, dig it up and bring it indoors to enjoy its eye-catching color over the winter.
Here’s what else you need to know about polka dot plant:
How should I care for polka dot plant?
Unlike more easy-going houseplants such as pothos or Swiss cheese plant, polka dot plant is a teeny bit on the fussy side. However, it will do well in the right conditions, though it’s not a particularly long-lived plant, looking its best for just a few years. Polka dot plant prefers temperatures in the mid 60s and 70s, and it likes medium to bright light, so an east or south-facing window is best. In low light levels, it tends to get tall and lanky as it stretches for light, and it may also lose its mottling. If the light is too intense, leaves may get sunburned or curl.
Keep the soil consistently moist, but not sopping wet, and never leave water in the saucer beneath the pot. Pay extra attention in winter when the soil may dry out more quickly due to low indoor humidity. If the plant completely dries out, the foliage will wilt; water right away, and it usually will revive. If you overwater polka dot plant, the leaves will turn yellow and drop.
How do I keep polka dot plant from getting leggy?
It’s more likely to happen if you don’t give it ideal light conditions. If it starts getting long and scraggly looking, prune it any time to maintain its size and mounded form. Just pinch back stems evenly all over to encourage the development of bushy branches and a full appearance.
Should I feed my polka dot plant?
Yes. Polka dot plant tends to do best if you feed it a couple of times a year during the growing season with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer.
Is polka dot plant safe for pets?
Although it is considered non-toxic to pets, any plant can cause GI upset and vomiting if eaten in large enough quantities. If you have a nibbler on your hands, keep this plant out of your pet’s reach.
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