How to grow hypoestes

What are hypoestes?

These small houseplants are also known as polka dot plants, although their brightly coloured leaves aren’t regularly spotted as this name implies – instead they’re often almost entirely splashed with colour. Different cultivars come in various shades of either pink, red or white, some with very little green, others with more.

Plants can grow to about 30cm (1ft) tall over time, but can be kept low and bushy by pinching out any tall, straggly shoots and flower stems.

As they need humid air, they are ideal for growing in a terrarium

A miniature garden or ecosystem contained within a glass or plastic container. If sealed, self-sustaining terrariums need very little to no maintenance. Small and slow-growing foliage plants, miniature ferns and mosses are great for sealed terrariums, and succulents and cacti for open terrariums. The first example of a terrarium was a Wardian Case, which helped plant collectors bring back and introduce new, exotic plants in the 19th century.

, or a humid bathroom. In dry air, the leaves can start to turn brown. Especially when sold in small pots, these plants can be relatively inexpensive, so it’s easy to put together a vibrant collection. Planting several different colours in one container can look very striking.

Choosing hypostes

Although only one species, Hypoestes phyllostachya, is widely sold as a houseplant, there are many cultivars that are very varied in appearance. Leaves splashed with red, pink and white are common, but these colours can range in intensity from bright magenta to coral, lavender and cream.

Select healthy plants that show no signs of withering, leaf browning or damage, and have well-developed roots. Inspect the leaves for any insects too.

Buying hypoestes

Hypoestes are often sold in multi-packs or as reasonably priced small potted plants in the houseplant area of garden centres and from online retailers. Although generally sold without cultivar

Gardeners often use the word variety when referring to a specific plant, but the correct botanical term is 'cultivar'. Whichever word you use, it means a distinctive plant or plants, given a specific cultivar name and usually bred to enhance certain characteristics, such as flower or fruit size, colour, flavour or fragrance, plant size, hardiness, disease resistance, etc. Additionally, it is worth knowing that, botanically, variety has another meaning - it refers to a naturally-occurring distinct plant that only has slight differences in its looks. For example, Malva alcea var. fastigiata differs from typical plants by having an upright habit.

names in mixed selections, you may see the following for sale:

• ‘Carmina’ – reddish-pink
• ‘Rose Splash’ – rose pink
• ‘White Splash’ – bright white
• ‘Pink Splash’ – lavender pink

Buying: garden centre plants

Buying: mail order plants

Hypoestes grow well planted in a terrarium

A miniature garden or ecosystem contained within a glass or plastic container. If sealed, self-sustaining terrariums need very little to no maintenance. Small and slow-growing foliage plants, miniature ferns and mosses are great for sealed terrariums, and succulents and cacti for open terrariums. The first example of a terrarium was a Wardian Case, which helped plant collectors bring back and introduce new, exotic plants in the 19th century.

or large glass jar, where the humidity

The concentration of water vapour in the atmosphere. This affects the rate at which plants transpire (lose water from their leaf pores), which in turn affects how much water their roots absorb from the soil. If air humidity is low, plants transpire quickly and become at risk of wilting if water is lost from the leaves faster than it can be absorbed by the roots. Different plants require different levels of humidity to thrive. Many tropical houseplants need high humidity and are best grown in a steamy bathroom, misted regularly or placed on a saucer of damp pebbles. In a greenhouse, humidity can be raised in hot weather by damping down (wetting) the floor or overhead misting.

is high. See our video guide to planting a terrarium:

Alternatively, plant individually in a small pot or as a collection of different leaf colours in a larger pot. Use a moisture-retentive peat-free houseplant compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost:

• Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

or peat-free multi-purpose compost.

Repot every two or three years, once the roots fill the container. See our guides on repotting houseplants:

How to repot a plant

Peat-free compost choices

Location

Hypoestes like humidity

The concentration of water vapour in the atmosphere. This affects the rate at which plants transpire (lose water from their leaf pores), which in turn affects how much water their roots absorb from the soil. If air humidity is low, plants transpire quickly and become at risk of wilting if water is lost from the leaves faster than it can be absorbed by the roots. Different plants require different levels of humidity to thrive. Many tropical houseplants need high humidity and are best grown in a steamy bathroom, misted regularly or placed on a saucer of damp pebbles. In a greenhouse, humidity can be raised in hot weather by damping down (wetting) the floor or overhead misting.

, so grow best in a terrarium. A bright steamy bathroom or kitchen is also a good location. Humidity can also be created elsewhere by standing the pot on a wide tray filled with gravel or clay granules that’s topped up with water regularly.

To ensure the best leaf colour, hypoestes need plenty of light, but not direct, strong sunshine. The temperature should always be at least 12°C (54°F).

Watering

Keep the compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost:

• Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

moist but allow the surface to dry out slightly between waterings. Underwatered plants will show you they need watering by drooping or wilting. Although this looks worrying, they will soon recover once watered thoroughly (provided you don’t leave it too long).

If grown in a terrarium

A miniature garden or ecosystem contained within a glass or plastic container. If sealed, self-sustaining terrariums need very little to no maintenance. Small and slow-growing foliage plants, miniature ferns and mosses are great for sealed terrariums, and succulents and cacti for open terrariums. The first example of a terrarium was a Wardian Case, which helped plant collectors bring back and introduce new, exotic plants in the 19th century.

or sealed glass container, they need watering less frequently, as the high humidity means the compost doesn’t dry out as quickly.

For more on watering houseplants, see our quick video guide:

Humidity

Hypoestes need high humidity to keep their foliage looking good – in dry air the leaves start to brown at the edges. The easiest option is to plant them in a terrarium, or keep them in a steamy bathroom. Alternatively, you can raise the humidity by misting the leaves regularly, or sitting the pot over a tray of damp gravel. See our video guide for full details:

Feeding

To boost growth you can feed during the growing season

The period of time when an individual plant is in active growth. This will depend on the local climate and light levels, and can vary between different plants, although it is broadly from spring to autumn.

(April to September) every two or three weeks using a liquid general-purpose or houseplant fertiliser. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid overfeeding, which can lead to tall, spindly shoots.

Remove browning or dead leaves and stems as needed to keep plants looking their best.

If growth becomes spindly and tall, pinch out

Removal of a plant’s growing tip (usually with finger and thumb) to encourage it to produce side-shoots, forming a bushier, well-shaped plant that will bear more flowers and/or fruits.

the shoot tips, along with any flowers, to encourage bushiness.

Hypoestes is easy to propagate using the following methods:

• Divide a large clumpin spring by separating the rootball
  

  The roots and accompanying soil when a plant is removed from a container or lifted from the ground.

  into several pieces with your hands, then pot up individually. Ensure each new plant has three or more stems
• Sow seeds in spring onto moist compost
  

  Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost:

  
  • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

  , pressing them down gently, but not covering them (light stimulates their germination
  

  Germination is the process by which a seed develops into a new plant. It starts with the seed coat absorbing water, expanding and splitting, which allows oxygen and water into the seed so its food reserves can be broken down and used by the embryo for growth. The first root (called the radicle) pushes into the soil to anchor the new plant in place and start absorbing water and nutrients. The first shoot (called the plumule) then grows upwards, out of the soil, towards the light.

  ). Prick out the seedlings
  

  A seedling is a young plant grown from seed.

  and pot up individually. The amount of colourful spotting on plants grown from seed can be variable. Seeds are available from a few online stockists
• Take softwood stem-tip cuttingsin spring and summer. Cut a stem around 5cm long from the plant, severing just below a pair of leaves. Insert into a pot of moist peat-free compost. Keep humid (in a propagator
  

  A propagator is a portable, lightweight structure usually plastic, with a vented or unvented lid to provide a humid, slightly warmer atmosphere. It is useful to help seeds germinate and root cuttings. It may have adjustable, thermostatic temperature control.

  or sealed clear bag) until well-rooted

Although generally trouble free, these plants are sometimes susceptible to:

• Leaf yellowing and leaf drop – caused by poor growing conditions such as over- or underwatering. See our quick video guide to houseplant watering
• Loss of leaf colouring – leaves may become green due to reversion or insufficient light, while too much sun can fade the vibrant colours
• Browning leaf tips and margins – may be caused by low humidity
  

  The concentration of water vapour in the atmosphere. This affects the rate at which plants transpire (lose water from their leaf pores), which in turn affects how much water their roots absorb from the soil. If air humidity is low, plants transpire quickly and become at risk of wilting if water is lost from the leaves faster than it can be absorbed by the roots. Different plants require different levels of humidity to thrive. Many tropical houseplants need high humidity and are best grown in a steamy bathroom, misted regularly or placed on a saucer of damp pebbles. In a greenhouse, humidity can be raised in hot weather by damping down (wetting) the floor or overhead misting.

  . Watch our video guide to raising humidity
• Spindly, weak growth – if plants don’t get enough bright, indirect light. See our quick video guide to light levels
• Sap
  

  Sap is a fluid that circulates through a plant's vascular system, in a similar way to blood moving through our veins. Phloem sap carries the sugars produced in the leaves by photosynthesis down to roots and other storage organs, as well as carrying minerals and hormones. Xylem sap is watery and transports nutrients absorbed by the roots upwards to the rest of the plant. Some plants leak sap from wounds or pruning cuts, and this is known as bleeding.

  -sucking insects – look out for mealybugs, aphids and red spider mites
• Powdery mildew – especially when plants are too dry, due to underwatering and/or low humidity

How to help a poorly houseplant

Leaf damage on houseplants