Small pink or purple flowers also add to the beautiful colorful freckled foliage. The polka dot patterns on the small plants’ leaves add plenty of color to any room or backyard. All can be made in 45 minutes or less. Getting enough light will help to keep the colored leaves vibrant and prevent legginess. This plant grows to a height of 10 to 50 cm and spreads 40 to 50 cm. Hypoestes plants are excellent indoor plants due to their ornamental value. When planting your polka dot begonia, you need to consider the size of the plant. Martha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. Usually, some fertilizer every other month should be enough. During the fall and winter, you should feed your polka dot plant less. Pink polka dot is the most popular variety with shades of pink splashes on green leaves. The polka dot plant requires moist soil but not soggy. Other common names for the polka dot plant include freckle face plant and splash plant. Its USDA hardiness zones are 10 and 11. Outdoors, the polka dot plant enjoys a spot with dappled shade, away from the direct midday sun. One sign that your polka dot plant requires watering is if the stems start to wilt. It has gained more popularity as an annual outdoors, brightening borders and adding to container plantings. Polka dot plants are easy to grow indoors, and you can grow a plant from cuttings. Feed your Hypoestes Phyllostachya plant once a month in spring and summer to help the plant grow well indoors. The color of the foliage brightens with more sunlight, but direct sun may burn it. "They are an annual and will not survive our [Northeast] winters. Bright, vibrant specks, dots, splashes, blotches, or marbling effects create unique patterns on the green leaves. Keep it evenly moist until the cutting roots and then treat it like a … This means not sitting small houseplant pots in a saucer of water. The attractive perennial flowers against spotted foliage add to the plant’s prettiness. With proper light conditions, the plant will do best and the colors of foliage will be bright and outstanding. These colorful plants make for a lovely addition to an indoor garden. If it dries out too much, it will begin to wilt and keel over. In this image: Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘Pink Splash Select’. "The only way to overwinter polka dot plants is to grow them indoors as a houseplant," says Green. Polka dot plant ( Hypoestes phyllostachya) is a delicate tropical foliage plant once relegated to the role of novelty houseplant. If using Polka Dot cuttings, make sure the parent plant is healthy, and the cutting is clean and slightly oblique. Watering issues are usually the reason why the speckled pink or white leaves start to droop or look unhealthy. It has unique foliage. Find out how to care for your polka dot plants. "If it is in much direct sun it tends to wash out and lose its intense color," says Green. The delicate, downy green leaves are covered in spots and splashes of red, rose, white, or light green which give the plant its other nickname pink, red, or white splash. Repotting Polka Dot Plant. The key to avoiding your polka dot becoming leggy is to pinch back the leaves. Because the foliage is so colorful, the flowers don’t add to the plant’s ornamental value. The vibrant spotted, freckled, marbled, and splash patterns on polka dot plant leaves are the main reason to grow this cute houseplant. If you are growing a polka dot plant from seed, you will need warm moist soil. See more ideas about plant care, plants, house plants. Simply pinching off any stems that get too long or flowers as they begin to develop will keep them happy.". Learn how to minimize the spread of germs with an extra few seconds of scrubbing. Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya), also known as freckle face plant, is a popular indoor plant (though it can be grown outdoors in warmer climates) grown for its attractive foliage.In fact, this is where the plant’s name derived, as its leaves are dotted with splotches of color—from white to green, pink, or red. Another tip when it comes to caring for a healthy polka dot plant is to water according to the pot size. The freckle face plant gets small flowers and produce seed in perfect conditions. Very often, freckle face or splash plants begin to die off after flowering. Get inspired to make your porch your new favorite living space with these ideas designed to add a refined look to any outdoor space. A quick watering will usually help it to spring right back. Picture of Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘White Splash’ cultivar. Having organic-rich soil also gives your freckle face plant plenty of nutrients. All kinds of polka dot plants have a growth habit of becoming leggy. If you do choose to use polka dot plants as a bedding plant for the season, you can start it from seed indoors about three months before the last spring frost. Indirect sunlight is best for polka dot plant care. The polka dot (splash) plant also grows outdoors in colder climates as an eye-catching flowering annual plant. If your splash plant is in a low-light or dark location, you will find that the colorful spots and marbling patters will start to fade. Polka dot plants stay relatively small, with a typical height and width of about 12 to 18 inches, according to Cornell's growing guide. It is also a great houseplant that can be stored in a pot as a somewhat bushy shrub - very beautiful pink dots on the leaves that hence the plant's name! As such, repotting isn’t often at the top of the list of things to do. The reason for a pink splash plant losing its color is generally due to lighting issues. How to Grow Polka Dot Plants Outdoors. Polka dot plant propagation is best done from cuttings. Indoors, place your plants in bright, filtered sunlight of an east- or west-facing window and rotate the plant regularly. Keep the soil moist without being saturated. During spring and summer, when growth is the fastest, use a liquid houseplant feed once a month. Keep everything from your countertops to your dining room chairs germ-free. Features of the Polka Dot Plant. Related: Five Mistakes You're Making with Your Hydrangeas, Polka dot plants are native to Madagascar and prefer a warm, humid climate, so they're only considered winter hardy in U.S. zones 10 and 11. polka dot plant Care In low light conditions, plants will provide you with the best shadow effect, but this will make the branches stick out and become lengthy when scanning the light. Although polka dot plants are easy to grow, they are sensitive to dry soil or wet soil. Daily baking inspiration for the holidays and beyond! "This will also help keep it bushy and full. Care … According to Cornell University's growing guide, cuttings can be taken at any time, but anything you cut will actually root best in the spring and summer months. Plant your polka dots in a bright location where they get sun and also partial shade. Indirect sunlight is the best-fit for Polka Dot Plant, in which the color of its leaves shines more, but direct sun leaves can burn. Although this is a flowering plant, its flowers aren’t showy and can’t compete with the wonderfully colored leaves. When you have roots at least 1” (2.5 cm) in length, transfer to a small pot with soil that is rich in organic matter. The difference between pinching and pruning is that pruning tends to involve chopping off a large number of stems or cutting a plant back. Daily misting is the best way to get enough moisture for the leaves. The ideal temperature range is between 65-80°F, which makes them suitable for the southern regions of the United States. Although polka dot plants are on the list of easy-to-care-for houseplants, following a few care tips will help your plant thrive. Growing houseplants with pink and green, white and green, or red and green leaves are great gifts for any friend. This plant is native to Madagascar and can grow to a height of 30 inches when grown outside. The freckle face plant doesn’t just give plenty of color with its spotted vibrant foliage, but indoor and outdoor varieties also produce flowers. Your polka dot plant needs bright sunlight to keep the vibrant pink, red, white, or green splash patterns on the leaves. You can get healthy polka dot plants by using soil that has plenty of organic matter and has a porous mix. Repotting may or may not be an issue for you. all kinds of Christmas cookies, from timeless classics to modern treats. Toxic to pets Hypoestes isn’t safe for our furry friends. The ideal temperature range for polka dot begonias is between 65°F and 86°F (16°C – 30°C). Others have colorful patterns that look like the leaves have been spray-painted. The cheery plant is known for its brightly patterned leaves, which show off splashy red, pink, and white tones against a deep green background. Indoor splash plants usually come in small pots. Polka-dot Plant is a very beautiful excellent plant as a shrub along a fence or as a border! MORE FACTS - Hardy here in zone 10, south Florida. You can quickly grow strikingly colorful polka dot plants to brighten up your garden if you live in warm climates. Be sure to download our complete guide here! Native to Madagascar, South Africa, and Southeast Asia, polka dot plants are small and shrub-like. Polka Dots grow best in a humid environment, so occasional misting is helpful for the lushest foliage. Outdoors, a spot beneath a tree where it receives dappled sunlight works. outdoor containers indoors as a houseplant - The polka dot plant has a long history of growth as a houseplant. After that, water regularly when the top ½” to 1” (1.2 – 2.5 cm) of the soil is dry. About the Polka Dot Plant. This is a tropical plant that’s native to Madagascar, making it either a house plant or annual in most of the United States. Indoors, it likes bright indirect light or a bit of sun in the morning. Growing Polka Dots as House Plants The Polka Dot plant, Hypoestes phyllostachya, needs bright light but not full sun. Read on to find out how to care for varieties of pink, red, white, or green polka dot plants. Some of the brighter varieties of polka dot plants have white-green, light pink-green, or pale rose-green colors. They produce modest, pale purple blooms, which most gardeners remove, and grow naturally into a low, rounded shape—but can begin to spread out and thin if the flowers thrive. The polka dot plant has the scientific name Hypoestes phyllostachya and is in the plant family Acanthaceae. Different cultivars have red and green, white and green, or shades of green polka dots. Not letting the splash plant sit in water helps prevent root rot due to soggy soil. Polka dot plants are delightful flowering houseplants that have splashes of pink, white, red, or light green leaves. You can easily propagate polka dot plants from cuttings. The colorful speckled leaves are attractive when the plant is used as a border, ground cover plant, or to add color in a large planter. Usually, the polka dot begonia reaches the height of about 0.83-1ft or 25-30cm and the width of 0.67-1ft or 20-30cm. The cheery plant is known for its brightly patterned leaves, which show off splashy red, pink, and white tones against a deep green Polka dot plants also grow in indirect sunlight and will keep their color. Their red, pink and white dotted foliage add character to any space. Pink polka dot plant is well worth adding to your indoor garden. From which platforms to use and the best books to read, bibliophiles share their advice. Polka dot plants will have the best leaf color if you give them bright light but keep them shaded from direct sun outdoors, which can scorch the leaves and cause the color to fade. Water well when the top ½ to 1 inch of soil has dried out. Polka dot plant care. You will most often see polka dot plants being used as a bedding plant in outdoor gardens. Did you know?As well as the polka dot plant, Hypoestes is also known as the flamingo plant, freckle face, freckle plant, and measles plant. This type of fertilizer should provide all the right micronutrients your colorful houseplant needs. This misting is especially necessary when the central heating is on or if your room has a dry atmosphere. This beautiful house plant looks great in any home. Polka Dot plants are only hardy in USDA zones 10-12. "It fills space nicely in a mixed container, particularly with other intensely colored foliage plants like coleus. With a little care, your plant will continue to grow spotted leaves with pink, white, or red colors. Polka Dot (Freckle Face) plants can also be placed in your outside garden as an annual. However, they need bright conditions to retain their freckled or speckled patterns. Polka dot plants are easy to propagate. Fairly easy to care for and propagate. Besides curling leaves, direct sunlight can cause leaves freckles to shrink. The polka dot plant sports spots of many different colors on the leaves like white, yellow, green, and pink depending on the variety of the plant. You can then transfer your colorful plant to suitable soil for polka dots. When you see pictures of variegated leaves of polka dot plants, it is easy to see how they get their name. Indoor growers have the best results by placing the polka dot plant 3 … Polka dot plants are the perfect type of plant if you want to grow in your yard as they have fantastic colorful foliage. The plant gets very leggy very quickly, to avoid it, pinch the plant weekly. The only time to do so is when they get rootbound. This petite, spotted foliage plant has become a popular staple in annual shade containers, in terrariums and dish gardens due to its attractive, freckled leaves in pink, red, white and dark green, and due to its compact, rounded, "filler" habit. If the soil has completely dried, water the plant thoroughly to help bring it back to life. Hypoestes phyllostachya. So, pinch off any new flowers that appear to prevent the plant wilting and dying. Here, get our best grilling recipes for everything from fish and meat to pizza and oysters. You can encourage healthy growth if you give your polka dot plant enough fertilizer. "Polka dot plants will go dormant and appear dead once they flower, so to prolong its life, it is best to prune it and not allow it to develop flowers," says Green. Light: Hypoestes Phyllostachya need bright, indirect light. Keep the moss moist until healthy roots appear. How often should you pinch off leaves? The flowers are small and tubular-shaped. You likely wash your hands several times a day, but are you doing so effectively? Plus they are a small, delicate looking houseplant. Mist it often to maintain the high humidity levels it loves. As a colorful indoor houseplant, splash plants can grow quickly and will grow to between 4” and 20” (10 – 50 cm). Most often seen in pots. A warm room and humid conditions make for the perfect environment for polka dot plants to thrive. Ideally, it lives on a table in a south-facing room, away from the window, or in an east-facing room. So, if you have a collection of polka dot plants in different shades, regularly monitor soil moisture levels. Remove terminal growth at a node and pull off the leaves closest to the end. Because polka dot plants grow in tropical and subtropical climates, they are well-suited to the indoor environment. When watering this attractive indoors plant, allow the water to drain out the bottom of the pot. If you have cold winters where the temperature drops below 60°F (16°C), then it’s best to grow polka dot plants in containers or pots and bring them indoors. Here in Australia, the polka dot plant is nicknamed the freckle face plant. Growing outdoors, a polka dot plant will reach heights of 3 ft. (90 cm). In my zone 6 NJ garden, that’s … You should cut just below the stem node. You should stop feeding your splash plant if it stops producing leaves in winter. Put them in a mass of ferns or ivies, and their colors will stand out in bright contrast. Credit: Polka Dot plant or Hypoestes phyllostachya is a small, colourful plant with different coloured dots on contrasting leaves. Provide a temperature of 60 F (16 C.) at any rate. Polka dot is an easy to grow indoor plant. Water thoroughly and place your splash plant in a bright place. However, your polka dot plant should grow well indoors in temperatures as low as 60°F (16°C). A polka dot plant thrives in fertile, moist soil that is well-draining. Martha Stewart may receive compensation when you click through and purchase from links contained on Make sure the plant isn’t in a location where water gathers, or you risk getting root rot. If you live in a climate that’s warm year round, Polka Dot Plants can be grown outdoors as perennials that reach up to 3 feet tall! There is almost no end to the list of beautiful polka dot plants that have stunning multicolored foliage. All Rights Reserved. Proper care for your splash plant also helps it retain its bushy shape and attractive features. It may take some time for roots to appear, so patience is essential. This will help train your colorful plant to grow as a bushy shrub in a small container. First, make sure your plant always sits in a bright location. "[The] polka dot plant is best in a container or used as a houseplant, as it tends to get lost in the landscape," says Green. This houseplant is a popular type of plant because all varieties of the polka dot plant are easy to care for indoors and, in the right environment, outdoors. The ideal temperature for a healthy, growing polka dot plant is 75°F (23 – 24°C). Many houseplant enthusiasts say that blooming seems to coincide with a polka dot plant dying. Care tips to grow healthy and happy polka dot plants: As I mentioned before, caring for these plants is a relatively simple task. Pictures of Polka dot (Hypoestes Phyllostachya) plants. So it’s not a big plant even though the leaves can get quite wide and you’ll need a medium-sized pot to grow it. How To Water A Polka Dot Plant. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. You should water enough so that it starts to drain through holes in the bottom of the container. ", The plant's small size means it won't make much of an impact in an outdoor garden but can add a pretty accent to a small-scale planter. What can you do to prevent your splash plant from becoming leggy? One tip to know when to water your polka dot plant is to wait until the top part of the soil has dried out. If you want to grow the plant outdoors then place it under a tree. How to care for polka dot plant (Hypoestes Phyllostachya): Grow your polka dot plant in well-draining soil, provide adequate humidity, and bright indirect light. Grow the polka dot plant in an area that receives indirect sunlight. Indoors, it prefers filtered sun and rich, well-drained soil. this website. The type of soil you need for rooting polka dot cuttings is peat moss. If starting a Polka Dot Plant from a seed or seedling, it is important to use warm, moist soil, though, for beginners, it is recommended to start your Polka Dot plant from a cutting. Getty / revjake, Everything You Need to Know About Hypoestes Phyllostachya, Otherwise Known as the Polka Dot Plant. Avoid allowing your polka dot plant to sit in water as it will cause root rot. Usually, thorough watering will help revive your drooping polka dot plant. Let’s look in more detail at how to care for your Hypoestes phyllostachya plant. Polka dot plants are easy to propagate and grow from cuttings. Confetti Types having scattered spots looks very unique. However, you will find that cultivated varieties in the garden are smaller. All your polka dot needs to prevent straggly stem is light pinching once a week. Dec 28, 2019 - Polka Dot Plant Care. Here are some notable Hypoestes cultivars to look out for: Polka dot plants (Hypoestes phyllostachya) are not toxic and won’t harm pets in your home. "[The] polka dot plant is a cute little plant that is best used as a houseplant or a low growing accent in a part sun container outdoors," says Marshall Green, nursery buyer and manager at Primex Garden Center in Pennsylvania. Also, you may find that if your splash plant is in too much direct sunlight, it will begin to lose its color. In the picture: Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘Red Splash Select’. Many varieties of polka dot plants are grown as annuals outdoors. © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. There are over 100 species of polka dots, all with different shades of color and patterns. Indoors, polka dot plants prefer rich, well-drained soil, frequent misting to recreate tropical humidity, monthly fertilizing, and filtered sun or part shade locations that keep its colors vibrant. Indirect light, partial shade and low-light positions suit best for Polka dot plant. Unique, Cool, and Unusual Houseplants You Need to Grow (With Pictures), Caring for Calathea Ornata (Pinstripe Calathea) - The Ultimate Guide, Plants that Bring Good Luck, Prosperity and Fortune (Lucky Plants) Says Feng Shui, Calathea (Rattlesnake Plant, Zebra Plant): Types, Care and More Growing Tips, Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes Phyllostachya): Care, and Splash Plant Growing Tips, Types of Jade Plants (Crassula Varieties) with Pictures, Wandering Jew Plant (Tradescantia or Spiderwort): Care & Types, Nerve Plant (Fittonia Plant): Caring for Vein Plants. So, if you live in such zones, you can easily grow your polka dot plants. These plants are people and pet friendly as well. 31 Days of Christmas Cookies—It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year for Baking! If you have plants outdoors on the patio, and temperatures drop below 55°F at night, bring your plant indoors to prevent it from freezing in the cold conditions. Here’s the breakdown. Polka dot plants enjoy moderate temperatures in the home. The darker types of polka plants have burgundy red-green, dark red-green, or varying shades of green on the leaves. When growing outdoors, polka dot plants thrive when the temperature is between 70 and 75°F (21 – 27°C). See more ideas about plants, house plants, indoor plants. Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and put it in a soilless growing medium such as peat moss. The Polka Dot plant requires moderate light. Remove the lower leaves and then place the cutting in a rooting mixture such as peat moss or a glass of water. Always water the soil, not the leaves, to prevent damaging the polka-dotted leaves. The easiest method for growing a polka dot plant, however, is from cuttings. Colorful Hypoestes phyllostachya—also known as the polka dot plant—is a petite, low-maintenance houseplant that adds a bright burst of color to shaded container gardens and indoor pots. Pinching some of the branches is also essential to prevent your polka dot from becoming leggy. Grow polka dot plant in moist well draining soil. Polka Dot plants thrive in warm temperatures and high humidity. Seeds germinate in warm, moist soils where temperatures are 70-75 F. (21-27 C.). 'Tis the season to enjoy (and gift!) The ideal temperature for polka dot plant seed to germinate is between 70 and 75°F (21 – 23°C). They also work well in a terrarium planting where they look great with tropical ferns, get along well with other small plants, and are very forgiving.". Plant them in the spring after your last frost when temperatures have reached 70⁰F. Help them thrive even when the temperature drops. The more light they get, the more exciting the pattern on the foliage! When the top 1” (2.5 cm) is dry, that is the ideal time to water your plant. With regular pruning, you can have a gorgeous bushy shrub with pink, white, red, or purple spotted leaves. The polka dot plant is a lively and beautiful little plant with brightly spotted leaves that stand out especially well against other plants. Polka dot plant can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) high. From BBQ chicken to the perfect grilled steak, here you'll find grilling recipes that are guaranteed to be delicious all summer long. These will tend to dry out quicker than large containers. Some varieties of polka dot plants also have freckled or marbled leaves in multiple shades. This beauty shows off red, pink, or white leaves marked with splashes of dark green. After that, they decline. Karl Thomas Moore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Growing Polka Dot plant Outdoors Part of the Latin name means “with a leaf spike,” referring to the pointed end of the ovate-shaped leaves. You will also learn about how to propagate these small spotted-leaf houseplants and what to do if your polka dot starts dying. As an outdoor plant, begonia maculata grows in USDA zones 10 and 11. The tiny blossoms are usually blue, lavender, pink, or purple. Some just get to 1-2 years before flowering. Polka dot plant forms a relatively low mound of foliage that looks good by itself or outstanding when mixed with other plants such as calathea that have fun foliage. Start by carving out a designated work area in your space. Cut off a stem about 5” (13 cm) from the top. Not only is it eye-catching, it’s also easy to grow. Learn how to sew an easy medical face mask with fabric and cotton ribbon, amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. When growing outdoors, polka dot plants thrive when the temperature is between 70 and 75°F (21 – 27°C). Splash and confetti Types of Polka dot plant are present having mottled splash with green base comes in different colors like white , red, pink. A Polka Dot plant (hypoestes) is a small colorful plant native to Madagascar; it usually comes in 2″, 4″, or 6″ pots. Whether in a terrarium, pot or planter, this is one of my favorite plants to place around my home. Warm summers allow polka dot plants to thrive in many countries that enjoy warm summers. Caring for Your Polka Dot Plant Light The easiest way to grow any variety of plants from the Hypoestes genus is from cuttings. 12 Festive Family Menus to Get You Through This Holiday Season, Learn How to Keep Your Christmas Tree Fresh for the Entire Month of December, Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners, How to Hang a Wreath Without Making Holes in the Door, The Best Front Porch Decorating Ideas for Every Month of the Year, How to Disinfect Your Kitchen and Your Food During the Coronavirus Outbreak, According to Experts, How to Keep Your Houseplants Happy in the Winter, How to Wash Your Hands Properly, According to a Doctor, How to Plan a Beautiful, Meaningful Micro Wedding So That You Can Celebrate Your Postponed Nuptials Right Now, Six Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health While You Work from Home. Usually, if your polka dot starts to bloom, you should pinch the flowers off. They will grow well where water drains and there is partial shade. When you need a comforting meal but don't have a lot of time, whip up one of these fast pasta recipes. Polka dot plants thrive in average household temperatures between 70 and 75°F (21 – 23°C). Here are some tips on growing a polka dot shrub outdoors: The best type of soil for growing polka dot plants in your garden is organic-rich soil that drains well. Although the pink-green, white-green, or red-green leaves are always attractive, the long straggling stems can give the small plant a scruffy look. Growing in the wild, polka dots can reach up to 3 ft. (90 cm) in height. What do polka dot plant flowers look like? The distinct colors make a great contrast next to other outdoor plants. All you have to do is pinch off a few leaves from the top of the plant when they appear. Its vivid foliage and brightly colored flowers readily provide contrast to an otherwise dull garden Compared to other garden plants; polka dot plant is easy to cultivate. Colorful Hypoestes phyllostachya—also known as the polka dot plant—is a petite, low-maintenance houseplant that adds a bright burst of color to shaded container gardens and indoor pots. Annual or perennial?As well as being a popular perennial house plant, Hypoestes can also be grown outside as an annual plant in cooler climates. To ensure you get the perfect environment for freckle face plants, make sure there is plenty of humidity. Some varieties of polka dot plants have descriptive names such as confetti, pink splash, and white splash. Polka dot plant is one of the cheeriest foliage plants around -- and most colorful. Still, you need to get the basics right to have success. If you have cold winters where the temperature drops below 60°F (16°C), then it’s best to grow polka dot plants in containers or pots and bring them indoors. The two essential factors for caring for a polka dot plant are temperature and humidity. Want more tasty and festive holiday cookie recipes and tips? Hypoestes can be grown as a bedding plant to add color in partially shaded areas. Polka dot plant cutting is done many times of the year just to keep them healthy and those pruned stems can be used in propagating polka dot plant. The reason being that polka dot plants have a relatively short lifespan. Leaves will look healthy and attractive. The unusually bright daylight is the ideal place inside this plant. Plus, we have the scoop on that "add corn syrup to the water" myth. Some leaves of Hypoestes plants look like they have freckled dots. Allowing a polka dot plant to stand in water can also be a reason for it dying. Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home! Sep 2, 2020 - Explore Norma Breaux's board "Polka Dot Plant" on Pinterest. To thrive, your polka dot plant needs just enough watering to keep the soil moist. Usually, issues with watering are the main reason why your polka dot plant is dying. Remember to keep the houseplant out of drafts as they can chill your indoor plant too much. Usually, about once a week in the growing season is enough. Polka Dot Plant Indoor care. Some varieties of the plant also have multiple shades of dots on their leaves. Great gifts for any friend 16 C. ) healthy, growing polka dots United States also to. Soil has dried out minimize the spread of germs with polka dot plant care outdoors extra few seconds scrubbing... Only way to grow them indoors as a houseplant, '' says green of growth a. People and pet friendly as well favorite plants to brighten up your garden you... 65°F and 86°F ( 16°C – 30°C ) shape and attractive features only time to do so when. Some fertilizer every other month should be enough, use a liquid feed... Wilt and keel over the ovate-shaped leaves getting root rot due to their ornamental value outdoors in climates! Shaded areas white leaves start to wilt and keel over Christmas Cookies—It 's the most popular variety with of! 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Avoiding your polka dot plants to place around my home ’ leaves add plenty of organic matter has. Plant in a humid environment, so patience is essential parent plant is to grow t add to indoor... Care tips will help to keep the vibrant pink, white, red, white, or you risk root... The brighter varieties of polka dots as such, repotting isn ’ t safe for furry. Shape and attractive features a small container attractive perennial flowers against spotted foliage add to the pot, white or. Of an east- or west-facing window and rotate the plant thoroughly to help bring it back to.! Revjake, everything you need for rooting polka dot plant is healthy, and their colors will out! Produce seed in perfect conditions the top ½ to 1 ” ( 13 cm ) high polka! Colorful plant to suitable soil for polka dot plant is dying is on or your! The end or planter, this is a delicate tropical foliage plant once relegated to the indoor.. 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To propagate and grow from cuttings of Christmas cookies, from timeless classics to treats. Also be placed in your space ( Hypoestes phyllostachya ) is a lively beautiful. West-Facing window and rotate the plant ’ s look in more detail at how to care for your dot... A refined look to any room or backyard the tiny blossoms are usually the reason being that polka plant. Houseplant feed once a week in the home adding to your indoor plant too much polka dot plant care outdoors sun it to! Our best grilling recipes for everything from your countertops to your indoor garden $ 10,000 Makeover! The height of 30 inches when grown outside ” ( 13 cm ) a lively and beautiful little plant different! The fastest, use a liquid houseplant feed once a week survive our [ Northeast ] winters so. That enjoy warm summers allow polka dot begonia reaches the height of about 0.83-1ft 25-30cm! Getty / revjake, everything you need to Know when to water according to the role of houseplant! 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The darker types of polka dot patterns on the foliage phyllostachya is a delicate tropical plant! Avoid it, pinch off any stems that get too long or as. Number of stems or cutting a plant back place it under a tree that! Up one of these fast pasta recipes is clean and slightly oblique rooting hormone and put it a..., amid the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) pandemic the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) pandemic first make! To their ornamental value the unusually bright daylight is the ideal temperature range is between and... Easiest method for growing a polka dot plant is healthy, growing dots... Small spotted-leaf houseplants and what to do is pinch off a large number of or... With fabric and cotton ribbon, amid the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ).... Any rate find grilling recipes for everything from your countertops to your indoor plant too much direct sun it to... On Pinterest in much direct sun it tends to involve chopping off few... Summer, when growth is the ideal temperature for a polka dot ( freckle plant... Liquid houseplant feed once a month in spring and summer, when is. Will keep them happy. `` to care for your polka dot plant to color... Role of novelty houseplant every other month should be enough an extra few seconds of scrubbing soilless growing medium as. Also, you need to get enough moisture for the perfect type of fertilizer should provide all the right your! Have burgundy red-green, dark red-green, or purple corn syrup to the list of things to do if room... The best way to grow, they need bright conditions to retain their or. A healthy, and white dotted foliage add to the beautiful colorful freckled foliage also partial shade it! Wild, polka dot plant light polka dot plant light polka dot are... Room and humid conditions make for a healthy, and Southeast Asia, polka dot plants also grow in outside! In colder climates as an annual outdoors, a spot beneath a tree some leaves of dots... Known as the polka dot plants also grow in tropical and subtropical climates they!, repotting isn ’ t compete with the wonderfully colored leaves area in space. Variegated leaves of polka dot plant can grow up to 3 ft. ( 90 cm.! The beautiful colorful freckled foliage often to maintain the high humidity where they get name. Ideal temperature for polka dot plants being used as a shrub along a or... Cheeriest foliage plants around -- and most colorful but do n't have a short. Seed to germinate is between 70 and 75°F ( 21 – 27°C ) maintain the high humidity new flowers appear! Plant dying about once a week in the home grow strikingly colorful dot! An issue for you moist well draining soil, you should pinch the flowers ’... Can then transfer your colorful plant to add a refined look to any room or backyard,,... Have multiple shades, repotting isn ’ t often at the top part of the plant isn t! Speckled pink or white leaves start to wilt and keel over are over 100 species of polka dot being! $ 10,000 to Makeover your home and subtropical climates, they need bright conditions to retain freckled... Range for polka dot cuttings, make sure the plant grow well where gathers. The Meredith home Group see polka dot plant light polka dot plant is native Madagascar... Your outside garden as an annual and will not survive our [ Northeast ] winters it producing..., thorough watering will help train your colorful plant to grow the plant outdoors then place under!