Start by carving out a designated work area in your space. With a little care, your plant will continue to grow spotted leaves with pink, white, or red colors. There are over 100 species of polka dots, all with different shades of color and patterns. Polka dot plants are easy to propagate. "This will also help keep it bushy and full. The freckle face plant gets small flowers and produce seed in perfect conditions. Some varieties of the plant also have multiple shades of dots on their leaves. Water well when the top ½ to 1 inch of soil has dried out. Indoors, it prefers filtered sun and rich, well-drained soil. The easiest method for growing a polka dot plant, however, is from cuttings. 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.". This plant is native to Madagascar and can grow to a height of 30 inches when grown outside. However, you will find that cultivated varieties in the garden are smaller. 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. The polka dot (splash) plant also grows outdoors in colder climates as an eye-catching flowering annual plant. If it dries out too much, it will begin to wilt and keel over. "[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. Polka dot plant propagation is best done from cuttings. In this image: Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘Pink Splash Select’. Growing Polka Dots as House Plants The Polka Dot plant, Hypoestes phyllostachya, needs bright light but not full sun. You should water enough so that it starts to drain through holes in the bottom of the container. Want more tasty and festive holiday cookie recipes and tips? Mist it often to maintain the high humidity levels it loves. The unusually bright daylight is the ideal place inside this plant. 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. The ideal temperature range for polka dot begonias is between 65°F and 86°F (16°C – 30°C). One tip to know when to water your polka dot plant is to wait until the top part of the soil has dried out. Most often seen in pots. Some just get to 1-2 years before flowering. Many houseplant enthusiasts say that blooming seems to coincide with a polka dot plant dying. Outdoors, the polka dot plant enjoys a spot with dappled shade, away from the direct midday sun. 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. You will most often see polka dot plants being used as a bedding plant in outdoor gardens. 31 Days of Christmas Cookies—It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year for Baking! It has unique foliage. Martha Stewart may receive compensation when you click through and purchase from links contained on So, if you live in such zones, you can easily grow your polka dot plants. Put them in a mass of ferns or ivies, and their colors will stand out in bright contrast. A polka dot plant thrives in fertile, moist soil that is well-draining. They will grow well where water drains and there is partial shade. There is almost no end to the list of beautiful polka dot plants that have stunning multicolored foliage. Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and put it in a soilless growing medium such as peat moss. The cheery plant is known for its brightly patterned leaves, which show off splashy red, pink, and white tones against a deep green Watering issues are usually the reason why the speckled pink or white leaves start to droop or look unhealthy. You can get healthy polka dot plants by using soil that has plenty of organic matter and has a porous mix. This will help train your colorful plant to grow as a bushy shrub in a small container. The more light they get, the more exciting the pattern on the foliage! Although polka dot plants are easy to grow, they are sensitive to dry soil or wet soil. Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home! First, make sure your plant always sits in a bright location. The polka dot plant has the scientific name Hypoestes phyllostachya and is in the plant family Acanthaceae. Its USDA hardiness zones are 10 and 11. One sign that your polka dot plant requires watering is if the stems start to wilt. With regular pruning, you can have a gorgeous bushy shrub with pink, white, red, or purple spotted leaves. During the fall and winter, you should feed your polka dot plant less. Usually, some fertilizer every other month should be enough. Also, you may find that if your splash plant is in too much direct sunlight, it will begin to lose its color. Polka dot plants thrive in average household temperatures between 70 and 75°F (21 – 23°C). Polka dot plants are easy to grow indoors, and you can grow a plant from cuttings. From BBQ chicken to the perfect grilled steak, here you'll find grilling recipes that are guaranteed to be delicious all summer long. 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. MORE FACTS - Hardy here in zone 10, south Florida. Polka dot plants also grow in indirect sunlight and will keep their color. Hypoestes can be grown as a bedding plant to add color in partially shaded areas. Polka dot plants enjoy moderate temperatures in the home. The plant gets very leggy very quickly, to avoid it, pinch the plant weekly. Polka dot is an easy to grow indoor plant. Whether in a terrarium, pot or planter, this is one of my favorite plants to place around my home. It may take some time for roots to appear, so patience is essential. 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. Indoor splash plants usually come in small pots. Usually, about once a week in the growing season is enough. When you need a comforting meal but don't have a lot of time, whip up one of these fast pasta recipes. 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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 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. Because polka dot plants grow in tropical and subtropical climates, they are well-suited to the indoor environment. So, pinch off any new flowers that appear to prevent the plant wilting and dying. You can easily propagate polka dot plants from cuttings. The ideal temperature for a healthy, growing polka dot plant is 75°F (23 – 24°C). Confetti Types having scattered spots looks very unique. Repotting may or may not be an issue for you. The easiest way to grow any variety of plants from the Hypoestes genus is from cuttings. Avoid allowing your polka dot plant to sit in water as it will cause root rot. The polka dot plant requires moist soil but not soggy. The distinct colors make a great contrast next to other outdoor plants. Very often, freckle face or splash plants begin to die off after flowering. Proper care for your splash plant also helps it retain its bushy shape and attractive features. 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. Here in Australia, the polka dot plant is nicknamed the freckle face plant. Native to Madagascar, South Africa, and Southeast Asia, polka dot plants are small and shrub-like. You can quickly grow strikingly colorful polka dot plants to brighten up your garden if you live in warm climates. Looking houseplant peat moss or a glass of water healthy growth if you want to grow indoors and... 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