Home»Flowering»Perennial
Hemigraphis alternata , also call Strobilanthes alternata , is an herbaceous perennial member of the Acanthaceae family .
The plant originally hails from the Maluku Islands , Malaysia , Java , and India . The plant ’s genus name , Hemigraphis , is Greek and means “ half brush . ”
This refers to the thick pelt spread over the plants ’ KO’d stamens . The specific epithet , alternata , is also Greek and means “ alternating . ”
The specific variety aboriginal to Java is also known as Strobilanthes alternata ( stroh - bil - AN - theez al - ter - NAY - tuh ) .
You may also get word this attractive plant usually referred to the following common name :
In this clause , we will search at how we can grow and care for your Hemigraphis alternata at home .
They are herbaceous perennials and belong to the flowering works family unit – Acanthaceae along with :
Purple Waffle Plant Care
Size and Growth
Purple Waffle Plant is a low - turn , sprawling wood floor works with a prostrate , spreading development habit . It may attain only a matured sizing of 8″ inches while spreading 18″ inches or more .
Hemigraphis alternata have 3″ to 6″ inches long oval leave that are glistening , puckery , corrugated , and toothed .
This tropical has beautiful ellipse leaves that are haired and opposite with gray - green metal shininess upper side and lighter green or purplish bottom surfaces .
Excessive amounts of sunlight will prevent the leave of absence from acquire their classic metallic sheen .
Some cultivars have slightly unlike color . For example , the Snow White Waffle Plant has green leaves with large blank markings and stir of pink .
On the other deal , the Belgian Waffle Plant has green leafage with cream - colored margin .
Flowering and Fragrance
The bell - regulate blooms of Red Ivy are humble , white , unscented , yet attractive , appearing in summertime . However , the petite white flower are only secondary to the plant life ’s beautiful leaf .
They produce in clusters of in - long raceme in the summer .
Plants indoors need ample shining , indirect sunshine to spur blooming .
Light and Temperature
Indoors , strive to keep temperature between 55 ° and 75 ° Fahrenheit .
think that they call for gamy humidity conditions for healthy growth . If the humidness levels are low , you could increase them by misting or produce your plants in a pebble tray with water .
you could also observe comparatively gamy humidity levels ( 50 % to 70 % ) through a humidifier .
Watering and Feeding
Keep the soil slightly moist by irrigate whenever the top quarter inch of dirt becomes dry . However , do n’t rob the soil , and never leave behind your plant abide in pee , as this can lead to antecedent rot .
fertilise once early in the spring and again in mid - summer . Excessive amounts of fertilizer will get spotted folio or white spots on leaves and leggy growth .
Use a liquid fertiliser invent for indoor plant . The NPK ratio should be 6 - 12 - 6 .
Using a dumb - release 6 - 12 - 6 houseplant fertilizer will also provide the necessary nutrients , admit phosphate , potash , and nitrogen , for level-headed growth .
In the landscape painting , top attire / mulch with well - rotted compost very early in the springtime . The compost will provide nutrients on a slow , steadfast basis while helping maintain moisture in the land surface .
Add another stratum of compost in mid - summer . Do n’t fecundate in winter .
Soil and Transplanting
This low - raise industrial plant does best in fertile , dampish soil with a groovy deal of humus content and a pH level of 6.1 to 6.9 .
Moist , well - run out soils will also work well for this plant .
If you are growing Red Ivy as a container or potted plant life , repot with fresh soil early in the spring . However , you may not find it necessary to repot every year .
If the works seems overcrowded in its pot or root start to sprout from the drainage hole , you ’ll acknowledge it ’s prison term to repot .
When grown as an yearly or outdoor perennial , add leaf mold and compost to the moist soil to enrich it .
When farm as a houseplant , you could opt for commercial potting soil or an all - purpose potting admixture .
Grooming and Maintenance
How To Propagate Purple Waffle Plant
It is easy to propagate Purple Waffle Plant through vegetative press clipping in urine or soil . The plant spreads enthusiastically in the landscape painting and sets down roots as it swan along .
You only need to abridge an actively produce stem with at least one lymph gland at the end using clean scissor hold or hand - pruning shears .
Then , plant the stem cutting in a container with moist potting soil .
you’re able to also circularize Waffle Plant through division when you repot containers or potted flora .
Red Ivy Main Pests Or Diseases
Whiteflies , mealybugs , and scale are the vulgar problematic pestilence for this flora .
Tackle whiteflies by drench and rinse your entire plant in your sink or shower . Pests leavinghoneydew secretedsaps and cottony affair may pretend the undersurface of the leaves .
When you see them vanish around your plant , you may also use the hose fond regard on your vacuum cleaner cleanser to suck them up , but be careful not to damage your plants .
If you see mealybugs on the industrial plant ’s undersides of the parting , use a cotton plant ball fleece in isopropyl inebriant to wipe them away .
Scale insectsappear as small browned bumps on the stem turn and leaves of your plants . you’re able to gently scratch up them away with the edge of a knife steel or your thumbnail .
If there are a wad of them , you may be better off pruning away intemperately - infested stem and leafage .
Overwatering and excessive humidness can make coarse problem with root rot and other fungal infection .
If this happens , prune away move leaves , stems , and rootage using a very shrill , desexualize cutting implement . In improver , adjust your care habits to avoid excessive amounts of moisture .
Repot your plant into an entirely clear potting mix and a new or sterilized toilet or container .
Take care not to overwater the plant in the future . Instead , bring home the bacon easy air circulation around your plants to help foreclose fungal growth on leaves and stem .
check Plant Leaves
Is the plant considered toxic or poisonous to people, kids, and pets?
Metal Leaf Plant is completely non - toxic .
Is the plant considered invasive?
Although Red Ivy has a fair slow ontogeny pace , it does spread and ego - propagate well in tropical climates . In this sorting of circumstance , it can well become invasive .
In cold climates , it snuff it out at the first rime and is not invasive .
How to Grow and Care for Hemigraphis Alternata (Red Ivy)
Suggested Hemigraphis Alternata Uses
Red - Flame Ivy can make a nice year - round ground cover in tropic and semi - tropical environments . It is institute as an annual ground cover or bedding flora in areas with dusty winters .
In addition , get behind Red Flame Ivy is a good choice for containers and hanging basketful to practice in the landscape painting .
Like coleus , Red Ivy may also be keep as a houseplant during wintertime . Its trailing ontogeny habit makes it hone for indoor hanging baskets .
Its coloured leaf also makes an fantabulous addition to theon top of a bedchamber table , your office staff or terrarium at menage .
You might also try found in long planters placed on a high shelf ( with ample artificial light ) to create a dwell paries or curtain effect .
As a houseplant , Waffle Plant has a good reputation for helping improve air timbre . This may be because its waffly leaves provide more control surface area than received flat - riff houseplant .
