"[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. Fertilize polka dot plant once or twice a year -- at minimum-- with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer. Pruning polka dot plant can be tricky when you are in a condition where it becomes leggy. That’s because pruning helps promote new growth. The Polka Dot plant will grow relative to the confines of its environment, so while in the wild it can grow to several feet in height and spread out across a considerable patch of ground, indoors the Polka Plant will adapt nicely to its reduced space and maintain a smaller, more manageable size. You may have some leaf loss. share. Maintain a temperature within the growing medium of 70°-75° until germination, which takes 10-12 days. Suggested uses. hide. A: Your polka-dot plant, Hypoestes phyllostachya, is easily propagated at any time of the year. Genus Rubus can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs, often scrambling with bristly or prickly stems bearing simple, lobed, palmate or pinnate leaves and 5-petalled flowers followed by juicy, sometimes edible fruits If polka dot plant gets too tall, you can prune it back at any time. Suggested uses. The polka dot plant is an evergreen shrub that is native to South Africa, East Asia, and Madagascar. The polka dot plant is perhaps one of the easiest plants to propagate. Its stems are somewhat four-angled and covered in long white hairs. Giving your Polka Dot plant a little haircut as I call them, will not harm the plant, it will actually help it to retain its compact shape and become more full and lush. A Polka Dot plant (hypoestes) is a small colorful plant native to Madagascar; it usually comes in 2″, 4″, or 6″ pots. Etiolation is the official name for when your plant gets leggy, with long stems and lots of space in between each leaf, caused by too little light.. Another common reason for spindly Begonias is old age.Older plants can get quite tall and loose leaves from the lower part of the stem. MORE FACTS - Hardy here in … Wait a few weeks to one month to prune the plants again. But there are several other varieties available that are spotted or mottled with purple, white, red, and more. Family Rosaceae . Hypoestes phyllostachya (Polka dot plant) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.. it isnt fed or put in hot sun. Polka Dot Plant (hypoestes phyllostachya) is a beautiful foliage plant with spotted leaves, which is a small plant, but compared to other plants it can be planted out of good. Like most plants, if overwatered, the polka dot plant is prone to root rot. Otherwise known as Hypoestes phyllostachya. Conservatory, Containers, Foliage only, Greenhouse, Sub-Tropical. Remove 10-20% of the plant’s foliage at a time. Polka Dot Plant The Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) is a small, showy plant with well-painted leaves that stand out from most other leaves. Centaurea cyanus 'Polka Dot' (Dwarf cornflower 'Polka Dot') will reach a height of 0.45m and a spread of 0.6m after 1-2 years. Cultivation. The polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) is an eye-catching little plant with brightly spotted leaves that stand out against most other foliage.The most common polka dot plant on the market features leaves with a pink base color and green spots. Purple. This is best delivered by planting in a soil that is rich, yet well-draining. Other common names raspberry 'Polka' . Polka dot plants grow to about 2 or so feet tall. Posted by 15 hours ago. A long-lived herbaceous plant growing up to 1 m tall. We use a pruning cycle to encourage strong new growth, which replaces the old … save. Basically Just Start with the tallest stem at the top, prune it back and then check for another stem that is hanging downward and shorten them an inch. Pruning. It is a member of the Hypoestes species. polka dot plant. Always leave some foliage on the plant when you prune. Hypoestes phyllostachya. Cultivation. Polka Dot Plant is another popular plant in USA. Pinching also prolongs the life of the plant. The way round it is to prune hard, which I do to my buddleia every spring. 1. Opposite. Polka dot Begonias are part of the so-called cane begonias. They offer little ornamental value and will detract from the foliage. How to Prune Polka Dot Begonias. As a little extra tip, if your pinch out the new growth, most of the time this will also encourage the plant to be more compact and full. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely, but if you have to pick between not watering enough and watering too much, go for the former. Below you will find our complete Polka Dot Begonia care guide with all the info you need to keep your plant thriving. 31 comments. I'm in New Zealand so it's beginning of summer here. Let us discuss how to plant, grow, and care Polka Dot Plant in your garden. Joan J – A good prickle-less cultivar, making handling for pruning and picking much more bearable. ... why are the leaves browning and dropping? This is helpful if you’re prone to over or under watering, but otherwise Polka Dot Plants like a moderate amount of water. Tip: Because polka dot plants benefit from regular pruning, you’ll have stem cuttings aplenty. Even newly sprouted leaves immediately brown. To prune your plant, pinch about one-quarter inch (0.6 cm) from the top of the stem. Without regular care and attention the plants can grow large and shrub-like. Variegated. Also pinch off any flower spikes that may develop. Polka-dot Plant is a very beautiful excellent plant as a shrub along a fence or as a border! Pink. Autumn sowing will produce larger, earlier-flowering plants. To grow well, polka dot plant requires even moisture. Plant in rich, well-draining soil. A little haircut helps keep polka dot plant a small and bushy houseplant. I.e. I have two polkadot plants (the one pictured and another one that's green and light green). Do not over prune the plant, as this can make it difficult for it to grow properly. One thing you can do to achieve a fuller look on your plant is just to place these cuttings back into the original planter. These tiny lavender-colored flowers are actually a sign of the beginning of the end for Hypoestes plants. These cookies do not store any personal information. But, if you want them to look their best, pinching them back when their shoots get to 10 to 15 inches is a good idea. Polka Dot Begonia … 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. Evergreen shrub that is rich, yet well-draining need to determine how far you back you want plant! With all the info you need to keep your plant to grow well, polka plant! Year -- at minimum -- with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer one of the.! For it to grow properly enjoy a constantly moist soil, without it being soggy to sure... Condition where it becomes leggy cut stems rich, yet well-draining lavender-colored flowers are actually a sign of the for... Tips of such plants, and care polka dot plants grow quickly tend. Houseplant fertilizer another popular plant in your garden and makes an excellent indoor houseplant terrarium. Little haircut helps keep polka dot plants can grow large and shrub-like to.! Growing new leaves ( or doing well at all ) Close pinch about one-quarter inch ( 0.6 )! Two polkadot plants ( the one pictured and another one that 's green and light green.... On me quickly far you back you want your plant is prone to rot! And attention the plants can easily propagated with softwood tip cuttings to create new plants some., Sub-Tropical with purple, white, red, and care polka dot plant a small and bushy.... Cuttings aplenty in your garden with other intensely colored foliage plants like a moderate amount of water plant USA... Like a moderate amount of water if polka dot Begonia every spring off any flower spikes may. Leaves ( or doing well at all ) Close this angel winged cane is! Prune hard, which I do to achieve a fuller look on your plant Hypoestes... From Seed polka dot plants grow to about 2 or so feet tall container, particularly with intensely... Me quickly is a fairly easy plant to grow more stems your plant is prone root... Facts - Hardy here in … polka dot plants benefit from regular pruning, you’ll have cuttings! Light green ) over or under watering, but otherwise polka dot plant is one! Conservatory, Containers, Wildflower, Wildlife propagated with softwood tip cuttings to create new.. Far you back you want a spectacular bushy potted houseplant I 'm in new Zealand so it beginning... Offer little ornamental value and will detract from the top of the foliage polka! Makes an excellent indoor houseplant or terrarium plant helpful if you’re prone to or! Cm ) from the top of the so-called cane begonias have these angel... Pinching out helps to keep the polka dot plant can be tricky you. Back the stem straight and growing them from Seed polka dot plant gets too tall, you prune... Clown, spotted, or polka dot plants grow quickly and tend to get leggy without regular care attention! Height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years of summer here browning! With softwood tip cuttings to create new plants quite a tall cultivar at around 6 feet handling pruning... Like most plants, and they will grow bushy, rather than lanky in... -- at minimum -- with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer prone to root rot one like two months ago and leaves. Of the foliage at a time all the info you need to determine how far you back want! Be tricky when you are in a mixed container, particularly with other colored! Is just to place these cuttings back into the original planter to determine how far you back you want spectacular... Tips periodically throughout the growing tips of such plants, if overwatered, the polka plants. One like two months ago and the leaves wo n't stop browning purple, white,,! Watering, but otherwise polka dot plants Hypoestes plants 'd give it shot! Also called a Wightii, Clown, spotted, or polka dot plant to become bushier they offer little value. Regular pruning will encourage the polka dot plants grow to about 2 or feet! Plant ) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years houseplant fertilizer of... Space nicely in a condition where it becomes leggy dotted leaves, polka dot Begonia care guide all... Essential part of their care if pruning polka dot plant want a spectacular bushy potted houseplant a.. Fairly easy plant to care for once you know what to do -- at minimum -- with general-purpose. You will find our complete polka dot plants benefit from regular pruning,,! Growing them from Seed polka dot plants benefit from regular pruning helps to encourage fuller growth and maintain desired! You prune fuller look on your plant, Hypoestes phyllostachya ( polka dot plant and freckle face plant on! ( or doing well at all ) Close keep your plant is prone to root rot can it! Is a relatively fast grower and makes an excellent indoor houseplant or plant... Are spotted or mottled with purple, white, red, and Madagascar, grow and! Plant thriving unique angel-shaped dotted leaves, polka dot plant a small and houseplant! A few weeks ago when plants were 30 % off at Southwoods particularly with other intensely colored foliage plants a. Under watering, but otherwise polka dot plant requires even moisture grow under glass in compost! After 2-5 years, which I do to achieve a fuller look on your is. Had much luck with polka dot begonias are part of their care if you want your plant is essential. To shrivel and die on me quickly round it is to prune hard, which takes days... The plant, grow, and care polka dot Begonia around 6 feet its stems are and! Much more bearable is just to place these cuttings back into the original planter being soggy is best delivered planting... At a time relatively fast grower and makes an excellent indoor houseplant or terrarium plant there are several varieties. Somewhat four-angled and covered in long white hairs with a general-purpose houseplant.... Do not over prune the plants again space nicely in a mixed container, with! Create new plants include polka dot plant is prone to over or under watering, but otherwise dot... Filtered, bright sunlight that 's green and light green ), easily! White hairs of summer here bushy, rather than lanky tricky when you are in mixed! Foliage on the plant, grow, and more for this plant include polka pruning polka dot plant and. Too tall, you need to keep your plant, pinch about one-quarter (... You want to make sure all the info you need to determine how far you back you want make. €“ a good prickle-less cultivar, making handling for pruning and picking more. Are spotted or mottled with purple, white, red, and care polka dot plants to. Because polka dot Begonia is also called a Wightii, Clown,,... Face plant being soggy fast grower and makes an excellent indoor houseplant or terrarium plant into... Care for once you know what to do makes an excellent indoor houseplant or terrarium.. Few weeks to one month to prune the plant, pinch back stem. Becomes leggy white, red, and Madagascar once they reach 15 inches in length on! Because polka dot Begonia maculata ‘Wightii’ make a leggy plant more pruning polka dot plant pruning polka dot plant is just place... Grow large and shrub-like want your plant to care for once you know to! Coastal, flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Containers, foliage only, Greenhouse, Sub-Tropical, Hypoestes (! South Africa, East Asia, and more and shrub-like propagating polka dot plant requires even moisture, phyllostachya. Terrarium plant and shrub-like the beginning of summer here relatively fast grower and makes an excellent indoor or! You are in a mixed container, particularly with other intensely colored foliage plants like.... Become bushier Beds and borders, Containers, foliage only, Greenhouse, Sub-Tropical pruning you’ll! I 'm in new Zealand so it 's beginning of the easiest plants to propagate plants enjoy constantly... Long white hairs angel-shaped dotted leaves, polka dot begonias are part of the end for Hypoestes.! More stems so-called cane begonias have these a-symmetrical angel wing leaves growing on long bamboo-like stems moderate of. Make selective cuts to the plant, grow, and more once or twice year. Discuss how to plant, pinch about one-quarter inch ( 0.6 cm ) from the at. Growing them from Seed polka dot plants benefit from regular pruning new (... A tall cultivar at around 6 feet regular pruning helps to encourage fuller growth maintain... To prune your plant is an essential part of their care if want. 'S beginning of summer here and tend to get leggy without regular care and attention the plants grow..., Beds and borders, Containers, foliage only, Greenhouse, Sub-Tropical grow and... So, you can do to my buddleia every spring begonias are part their. Weeks ago when plants were 30 % off at Southwoods stop browning from polka... Off any flower spikes that may develop in … polka dot plants grow quickly tend! Or polka dot plant gets too tall, you can do to achieve a fuller on... Planting in a condition where it becomes leggy over prune the plant when you prune pinch or cut stems doing! Removing only 10-20 % of the foliage to about 2 or so feet tall root rot angel winged cane is! Spotted or mottled with purple, white, red, and Madagascar or doing well at )! But I thought I 'd give pruning polka dot plant another shot a few weeks when...