Care of Polka Dot Plants
With its colorful freckled leaves and easygoing habits, the polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) is a enjoyable addition to your houseplant collection. The leaves of the polka dot plant are green with white speckles or pink with green speckles, depending on the variety. As a result, the polka dot plant is sometimes called the freckle face plant or measles plant. The polka dot plant is low maintenance, with only a few basic requirements. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Pot with drainage hole
- Commercial potting soil
- General purpose fertilizer for indoor plants
- Additional pot for repotting
Instructions
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Plant your polka dot plant in a pot filled with fresh, good quality commercial potting soil. Use a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom because a polka dot plant will rot in waterlogged potting soil.
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2
Place your polka dot plant where the plant will be exposed to moderately bright light. A location 2 to 3 feet away from a bright window or near a sunny window covered with a sheer curtain works well. Avoid placing the plant directly in a sunny window. Polka dot plant thrives in moderate room temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Water your polka dot plant regularly and keep the soil evenly moist. Never allow the soil to become bone dry, but don't water until the soil is soggy, or the plant may develop root rot. Decrease watering during the winter, keeping the soil just barely moist, because indoor plants are more susceptible to rot during the winter months.
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4
Feed your polka dot plant every week during spring and summer, using a general purpose fertilizer for indoor plants. Apply the fertilizer according to the instructions on the label. Withhold fertilizer during fall and winter.
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Pinch the tips of your polka dot plant occasionally. Pinching the growing tips will result in a fuller, bushier plant. Repot your polka dot plant to a container one size larger if the plant outgrows its pot. Signs that indicate it's time to repot include decreased growth or tiny roots growing through the drainage hole. Repotting in spring is preferable. Prune your plant in spring if the plant looks uneven or spindly.
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