The Polka Dot plant is also known as Hypoestes Phyllostachya which is its botanical name and also as the freckle-faced plant. You can propagate polka dot plants easily using water or soil and using the stem cuttings or division.
What are the Best Ways to Propagate a Polka Dot Plant
Ideally, there are two ways to propagate a polka dot plant either through water or in soil. Water is considered to be easier and is also a more fun and popular method to watch as you can also see the growth of the roots. You can also use vessels for propagation where you can see the process of growing plants and also see the vessels that act as home decor. Summer or Spring is the ideal period when You should propagate the polka dot plant through the stem and overall it will take 4 to 6 weeks to develop roots
Propagating Polka Dot Plant in Water
If you root a polka dot plant in water that is faster and is so a preferred method for most people here is the step-by-step method to propagate a polka dot plant in water.
- First, find a stem that there leaves that are on the top and there is a node below so you can make a cutting so that there are parts where the new roots can grow.
- Make sure you take a clear glass container and fill it with water and make sure that you place it such that there is one node that is under the water.
- Make sure that you place the cutting such that you get some light that is bright but indirect.
- Make sure you change the water every week to help remove algae.
- In two weeks you should see the growth of roots.
- After a few more weeks the roots have shown some growth and that is the right point to repotting it again in the soil. Make sure that the soil you are repotting is kept wet and is kept moist and that the roots are at least two inches long.
How to Propagate Polka Dot Plant in Soil
- Make sure that you take a clean shear and make a cutting and when doing so make sure that you cut such that their at least 2 node that have leaves at the top of it and you are cutting just below the node.
- Make sure that you find a pot ad you fill it with a potting mixture.
- The node should be mixed with the rooting hormone which gives more chances for the cutting to take hold of the roots.
- You can take a pencil or use a stick on your potting soil and cut making a hole sure after that you place the cutting inside your created hole.
- Make sure you water the soil over the next few weeks so that it retains moisture but it is not soggy throughout a couple of weeks.
- After waiting for a few weeks check if your roots have gotten hold of the soil by tugging the plant and if they show resistance that means roots have gotten hold.
How Do You Care for Polka Dot Plant?
a) Light Requirements
When this plant is placed in an outdoor place where some shade can be received. When the plant has been exposed to sunlight that is too much it can cause the variegation of the plant to completely fade. When you are inside the house then exposing the plant to light that is bright or indirect when exposed to a window that is faced south is best for the plant.
b) Soil Requirements
The soil that this plant is with drainage has contains a large amount of organic potting mixture. The best soil is one that has a mixture of perlite or pumice in it that will improve the drainage of the soil a potting mix is categorized as an all-purpose potting mixture.
c) Water Requirements
Make sure that you water the plant regularly so that the soil becomes moist evenly the best way to do this is to water the soil once the top half inch of the soil has become dry
d) Temperature Requirements
Polka dot plants should be kept at temperatures over 60 degrees Fahrenheit when grown indoors. The Polka dot plant can also be grown outdoors when in USDA zones 11 and 10 where the plant is hardy. We should grow the plant
e) Humidity Requirements
Polka dot plants should be kept in a humidity that is of more than 50 percent. The best place to keep the plant is in the bathroom if you have a window in the bathroom.
f) Fertilizer Requirements
Container plants should be fed with fertilizer once a month during their growing period in summer making sure that fertilizer is organic and suitable for plants kept indoors. If you are planting this outdoors in the ground make sure that you have added compost in the soil before planting during the spring season.