How Gardening Blunders are Causing the Polkadot Plant Dying

If you have planned to decorate your garden with the freckled-faced Polkadot plant, you have come to the right place as I am here to unfold the reasons for Polkadot plant dying and the measures to avoid that.

Some of you who are reading here may not know about Polkadot plants. So, let’s have background knowledge about the Polkadot plant.

The Polkadot Plant

The Polkadot plant is among those popular plants that people love to grow in their gardens to make them alluring.  It is a tropical plant found in  Madagascar.

 The most unique and fun thing about the Polkadot plant is the beautiful spots and patterns it has on its leaves that look like tie and die patterns clothes and vary in color and patterns in different types of Polkadots.

The scientific name of the Polkadot plant is Hypoestes Phyllostachys. The height of the Polkadot plant varies from 10cm up to 50cm. It has an approximate spread from 40cm up to 5ocm. If your plant is in the bigger pot, it is more likely to be leggy and needs pruning. The plant doesn’t have a long life and dies after completing the first flowering cycle.

Variations of the Polkadot Plant

There are many variations of Polkadots; Carmina, Confetti, Pink Brocade, Pink Dot, Purpariana, Red Splash, and White Splash. Each one of them has its distinctive colors and beauty of patterns.

On the whole, it is easy to grow the Polkadot plant, but some issues need to handle carefully to avoid the Polkadot plant dying. Here are some of the reasons that can cause the death of the Polkadot plant.

The Most Common Reasons for The Polkadot Plant Dying

• It is under direct sunlight.
• Lack of water or abundance of water.
• Lack of essential nutrients in the soil.
• May become the victim of pests.
• The Polkadot plants are vulnerable to root rot.
• It can get root-bound.
• Fluctuations in temperature.

The question is now how to fix the issues to stop the Polkadot plant from dying.

Essential Know-How to Save the Polkadot Plant Dying

Some key points that are a must to follow for healthy growth and to circumvent the Polkadot plant dying are as follows:

Save Your Polkadot Plant from Direct Sunlight

The Polkadot plant is sensitive to light; a little hanky-panky in the intensity of light can burn the leaves and may put the plant to death. The plant needs bright light, but the light should not fall on the plant directly.

If you are planting the Polkadots indoor, you may notice that the low-level sunlight inside can make the plant pale and spots on the leaves disappear. The plenty of indirect sunlight makes it lush green and gives it rich colored blotch patterns, which is the most attractive part of this plant. Be considerate to arrange a shade to save the life of your plant.

Fairly Good Amount of Water

The water it needs is a sensitive issue; more or less water level can damage the tree. In summer it needs a little more – not too much and in winter the amount of water required should be less.

So, if you want to avoid the damage caused by water, consult an expert to find out the exact amount of water your plant requires for healthy growth.  The amount of water the plant needs vary depending on the weather conditions of your area.

If you still are confused about the moisture in the soil, a moisture meter can help you. A moisture meter is a device that tells all about the moisture level, so you may re-water the plant when it needs.

Fertilize the Soil to Avoid the Plant from Dying.

Fertilizing the plant on time can save the life of the decaying plant. You must fertilize the plant on time for better growth and healthy blossom.

The best time to fertilize the plant is when it has developed its roots system. You can choose any fertilizer for this purpose which is to use for Polkadot plants, but make sure to dilute the fertilizer before using it.

Re-Pot the Plant in Case of Root-Bound

The Polkadot plant is at risk of rootbound if it is in a small pot. Quickly replace the planter with a bigger one to fix this issue, which may become a reason for dying of the plant if left unchecked.

Protect the Polkadot Plant from Pests and Powdery Mildew

Ordinarily, Polkadot is not vulnerable to any diseases, but if you over-water the plant, it can get powdery mildew on the leaves, which can harm the plant. You can solve this issue by less watering the plant.

Some pests like whiteflies, aphids, and mealybugs can also put the plant in danger. Using pesticides that are safe for the plant can solve this problem and stop the plant from dying. You can also sprinkle the water having soap to avoid these pests.

Try to Maintain a Moderate Temperature Level

The Polkadot plant neither loves cold nor hot environments; it is happy in moderate temperature, so you need to provide the plant a favorable environment if you want it in your garden.

By taking these measures, you can put the plant out of danger. The next challenge is to know what to do if you want to plant the Polkadot indoors.

How to take care of the Polkadot plant when you want to grow it indoors?

If you have chosen to grow your Polka indoors, you have to take extra measures for the better nourishment of the plant.

1. There is little sunlight indoors, and this can be challenging for you if you need your Polkadot plant to have rich color and healthy growth. Try to manage enough sunlight for your Polka to save it from dying and getting beautiful blotches on the leaves, which may vanish in the absence of it.
2. Indoor planting needs more fertilizers, so feed your Polkadot regularly with liquid fertilizer to grow it well.
3. The Polkadot plant likes a humid environment and moderate temperature, so you must provide a favorable environment.

By taking these measures, you can grow the plant indoors in a healthy way to make your space look attractive.

Is it better for the Polkadot plant to organic mulch?

Organic mulching is a recommendation for healthy Polkadots, no matter indoor or outdoor the plant is. Organic mulch fortifies the soil for better nutrition value in the earth, so your Polka can get plenty of nutrients to grow better.

Organic mulch is best at retaining the moderate moisture level in the soil to make your Polkadot plant grow well and increase the chances of its survival.

Organic mulch is a proven tact to maintain moderate temperature levels. It saves the plant from the extremities of severe weather, which is also a requirement of the Polkadot plant, so mulch is ideal to avoid the Polkadot plant dying.

FAQs

What is the best way of planting the Polkadot plant?

You can sow it using seeds or cuttings. But the results show that planting using cuttings is the best, easy and fruitful way of planting.

Which season is considered best for planting the Polkadots?

If you want to sow the seeds, the best time is the early spring, but if you are planting the tree using cuttings, you can go for it anytime.

What is the best place to sow the seeds of Polkadots?

The best place to sow the seeds is indoors, where there is less light.

How to protect the plant from insects?

Though it doesn’t get diseases, some insects may harm it; using soapy water can make them stay away.

What is the best time to re-water the  Polkadot plant?

The best time to re-water is when the quarter or half part of the soil is moistureless.

Closing Point

All in all, the care of the Polkadot plant though tricky at times, is not impossible. If you want to enjoy the beauty of this matchless plant, you might have practiced how to avoid the Polkadot plant dying to keep your garden look colorful and lush.