Care Sheet - Hypoestes “Polka Dot Plant”

Hypoestes - “Polka Dot Plant”

Light: Your Polka Dot plant will need bright, indirect light. But be sure to protect it against direct sunlight as it will scorch the leaves. Low light will cause the bright colors to fade and the leaves will turn mostly green and spaced further apart on the stem. Hypoestes plants can be red, pink or white. 

Water: Keep the soil moist, but do not leave sitting in water. Dry soil will cause the leaves to wilt and fall off. Leaves may begin to wilt when the soil is dry, but usually perk up after a thorough watering. Allow the surface of the soil to dry out before watering again. Too much water can cause the leaves to turn yellow and roots to rot. 

Environment: This plant likes warm temperatures and high humidity. So use a pebble tray with water in it or mist the plant regularly. A humidifier will also work and grouping plants together helps to maintain the humidity surrounding them.

Toxicity:  Reported to be non-toxic

Of Note:

• This bushy plant grows quickly with bright light and can become quite leggy. Pinch back and prune the growing tips often in order to encourage branching to keep the plant looking full and compact.

• Insignificant purple flowers may appear, but it's suggested to pinch them off because they can cause the plant to deteriorate after blooming.
  
  
• *When planting in a pot without a drainage hole, avoid over watering by estimating 25% of the container’s overall volume, with appropriate drainage materials incorporated when planting.