How to grow and care for a polka dot plant
Advice on growing and caring for a polka dot plant, for your bathroom or terrarium.
The polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) is bushy plant native to southern Africa, Madagascar and parts of south-east Asia. In the UK, it's a popular house plant and works well in terrariums. Also known as the freckle face plant, it has brightly variegated or spotted leaves that look like polka dots.
There's a wide variety of polka dot plants to choose from, including those with purple, white or red variegation, but most have green leaves with pink spots. Polka dot plants thrive in warm, humid conditions with bright, indirect light.
The polka dot plant has a moderate growth rate, although that tends to slow in unfavourable conditions.
How to grow a polka dot plant
Grow polka dot plants in peat-free house-plant compost in a warm and humid environment that has bright but indirect sunlight. Water sparingly and remove developing flowers to keep plants looking their best. In summer, feed fortnightly with a liquid house-plant fertiliser.
Where to grow polka dot plants
Grow polka dot plant in a warm and humid environment, with a minimum temperature of 15ºC and a humidity level of around 50 per cent. A warm bathroom or terrarium is ideal, as long as there is sufficient light – polka dot plants thrive in bright but indirect sunlight and can stop growing if conditions are too dark.
How to plant a polka dot plant
The polka dot plant needs a rich, free-draining potting mix. Plant it at the same depth it was in its original pot and water well, allowing excess water to fully drain away.
How to care for a polka dot plant
During the growing season, water your polka dot plant sparingly, when the top 1.5cm of soil has dried out. Reduce watering in winter and increase again once you see the first signs of growth in spring.
Feed once a month with a general-purpose liquid fertiliser. Remove any developing flowers to keep the plant looking its best.
How to propagate a polka dot plant
You can propagate polka dot plants from stem cuttings rooted in water. Just follow this simple step-by-step guide:
- Using secateurs or scissors, cut 10cm sections of stem from the main plant. Remove the leaves on the lower half of the stem
- Place the cuttings in a glass or jar of water, ensuring that only the lower portion of the stem is submerged
- Keep the cuttings in a bright, warm spot and replace the water weekly to keep it fresh
- Roots should develop within a few weeks. When they are about 10cm long, pot up the cuttings into peat-free, free-draining house-plant compost
Pests and diseases
Pests Polka dot plants may be affected by house-plant pests such as aphids, red spider mite and fungus gnats. Aphids are best removed by hand. The red spider mite thrives in dry conditions, so misting to increase humidity should stop it from breeding. Fungus gnats can be deterred by adding a thick layer of gravel over the surface of the compost.
Fading leaves Too much or too little light can cause leaves to lose their colour – direct sun can cause the variegation to fade.
Brown or drooping leaves These are signs of a lack of water or humidity. Water sparingly and move the plant to a more humid environment or mist with water to raise ambient humidity.
Yellow leaves This is a sign of overwatering – stop watering immediately and check the roots for signs of root rot. It may be necessary to repot the plant, removing any rotting bits of rootball.
Advice on buying polka dot plant
- Polka dot plant needs a warm, humid environment with plenty of bright but indirect sunlight. Make sure you have these conditions before buying
- Always check plants for signs of damage or disease before planting
Where to buy a polka dot plant online
Varieties of polka dot plant
Hypoestes White – a cheerful variety with green and ivory variegation. Height x Spread: 30cm x 40cm
- Buy Hypoestes White from Thompson & Morgan
Hypoestes Pink – pink foliage splashed with dark-green variegation. H x S: 30cm x 30cm
- Buy Hypoestes Pink from Topical Glass
Hypoestes Red – dark pink to red leaves with contrasting dark-green variegation. H x S: 30cm x 30cm
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