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Polka dot plant care
Hypoestes phyllostachya · Acanthaceae
Also called Freckle face, Measles plant, Flamingo plant.
A small, bushy plant from Madagascar with soft oval leaves spotted or splashed with pink, red or white. It grows fast and stays about 30 to 50 cm tall in a pot, but gets leggy with age, so most growers pinch it often and restart it from cuttings.
Light
Bright IndirectWatering
WeeklyDifficulty
EasyPets
Non-toxic to cats and dogsHeight indoors
0.3-0.5 m
Growth
Fast
TemperatureUnconfirmed
16-27 °C
Not below 10 °C
HumidityUnconfirmed
50% - 70%
Likes humid air
Soil pHUnconfirmed
6.0-7.0
Slightly acidic soil
Native to
- Madagascar
Through the year
Give it plenty of water while it is putting on growth, then wait until the top of the mix is just dry before the next drink; it wilts fast if left dry for long. Water less in winter.
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Spring
WeeklyPinch back and take cuttings to refresh old plants; resume feeding.
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Summer
WeeklyWater often and keep it in bright, filtered light. It can also grow outdoors in part shade.
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Autumn
WeeklyFlower spikes may appear as days shorten; snip them off. Bring outdoor plants in before nights fall below 10 °C.
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Winter
Every 2 weeksKeep it in a bright window, water less and mist now and then in dry, heated rooms.
Feeding
Every 4-6 weeks in spring and summer. Diluted balanced liquid fertilizer once the plant is established.
Care tips
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Pinch it often
Nipping off the stem tips keeps it compact and full.
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Remove the flower spikes
The small lilac flowers are not showy, and cutting them keeps the plant putting energy into leaves.
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Avoid strong direct sun
Strong direct sun leaves the foliage wrinkled and curled, and too little light washes out the spots.
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Restart it from cuttings
Older plants get woody and sparse; 10 cm cuttings root quickly in water or moist mix.
Common problems
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Leggy, faded growth
What you seeLong bare stems and spots that fade to plain green.
What to doMove it to brighter, filtered light and pinch the tips back to make it branch.
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Powdery mildew
What you seeWhite, dusty patches on the leaves.
What to doImprove air flow, water the soil rather than the leaves and remove badly affected shoots.
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Whiteflies and aphids
What you seeTiny white flies rising from the leaves, or clusters of soft green insects on new tips.
What to doRinse them off and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Pets
Is polka dot plant safe for cats and dogs?
Non-toxic to cats and dogs. Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats and dogs; eating it may still cause mild vomiting or diarrhea.
Good to know
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Seedlings start with plain green seed leaves; the colour only shows from the first true leaves.
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It flowers as the days shorten: long days keep it making leaves, so any flowers, which are uncommon on houseplants, come in late summer or autumn.
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The genus name comes from Greek words meaning under a house, because bracts cover the flower calyx.
