Last Updated on December 27, 2021 by Cristina
Polka dot plants are a very popular choice among gardeners, with many wondering how big do polka dot plants get. This plant can be a great addition to your garden, but it’s important to plan ahead. That’s why, in today’s article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the size of polka dot plants and their care!
Polka Dot Plant Size
These plants are very grateful – they don’t require a lot of care and they do give a lot in return. When they grow to their full size, they most often won’t be taller than 18 inches! Anything taller than that is a unique specimen, and that’s usually rare.
Having that in mind, finding a spot for your polka dot plant shouldn’t be a problem! A large polka dot plant is everything larger than 15 inches and that’s what you should expect from a full grow polka dot plant!
How To Care For A Polka Dot Plant
What’s interesting about the polka dot is that you really don’t have to care for it too much. There are a few important requirements that you certainly have to fulfill. However, once you’ve managed that, these plants pretty much grow themselves! This is something that makes them a favorite amongst gardeners!
They come in many colors, ranging from purple to scarlet, so you really have a wide variety of choices. There are four important things to keep in mind when discussing care for the polka dot: watering, pruning, fertilizing, and lighting.
Watering
These plants need just the right amount of water. They won’t like it if you overwater them, as it’s best to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Unlike some other plants, this plant isn’t too prone to developing root rot. This can still happen, however, if you overwater it and turn the ground surrounding the roots to mush!
They need about an inch of water each week, and if you live in a moderately wet area (regarding rain), this should be the natural amount of water they receive. Some gardeners recommend the usage of containers with good drainage. This way, all the excess water will simply drip out!
Lighting
Lighting is arguably the most important part of polka dot plant care! Believe it or not, the polka dot doesn’t like light that much. They like indirect sunlight, so it’s best to place them in a shaded place where they’ll get light, but no direct light! Their leaves are prone to burning, and putting them in direct sunlight will cause just that!
The other side of the coin is just as surprising as the first one, though. These plants don’t like places that are too shady, either! They’ll never bloom properly if you put them in a place where there isn’t enough light!
Placing them in a spot that’s outside, but not without cover, would be the best solution to this problem.
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Fertilization
You should feed this plant with fertilizer at least once a month! You wouldn’t be wrong to call this plant ever-hungry, but it gets easier in the winter. During the colder months, it’s best to fertilize it every other month.
These plants aren’t likely to survive winter either way. They’re tropical and originate in Madagascar, so adapting to colder temperatures is virtually impossible for them. Some gardeners have had luck by covering their polka dots during the winter, but you shouldn’t count on it.
The only sound technique of surviving the winter is by picking a few stems and keeping them inside in a container. It’s then easy to replant them outside!
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Pruning
Almost all gardeners agree that the polka dot requires constant pruning, so make sure you don’t slip up! Luckily, pruning this plant is very easy – you just need to pick two leaves at the top of each stem. Do this once a week – this will propagate growth and it will grow a better bush.
It’s possible, although it doesn’t necessarily have to happen, that your plant will start to grow leaves. Make sure you cut them off if they do start to grow. You want leaves when it comes to this plant, not flowers!
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Planting And Growing A Polka Dot Plant
When it comes to the height of the polka dot – it usually doesn’t matter whether you plant it outside or inside. The plant is most likely going to grow to the height of 18 inches if you take good care of it.
However, it’s going to grow much quicker if you can control the environment around it and keep it perfect for the plant! Most experts recommend planting them after the last frost. These plants enjoy temperatures between 70 and 75 Fahrenheits. Humidity is also important – if you can keep a humidity percentage of 50% in your home, then the plant would grow quicker in your home.
On the other hand, these plants are absolutely incredible as an addition to any garden, which is why most gardeners prefer keeping them outside, rather than inside. Planting your polka dot inside might be beneficial to its growth, but you likely won’t be able to experience its beauty if it’s stuck inside!
Polka dot plants that grow in containers also usually don’t grow to be as large and as beautiful as the plants that grow outside. Polka dots like well-drained soil. And while containers can provide that, they usually can’t provide enough of that soil.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, your polka dot will most likely grow to the size of 18 inches if you take good care of it. It might take more than a single season for it to grow to that size, and anything more than that is unlikely. These plants prefer growing outside, as it’s unlikely that a polka dot will grow to its full potential in a container.
When growing a polka dot outside, know that they don’t like too much direct light, but they also don’t like shady areas. The polka dot most likely won’t live through the winter, so it’s best to pick a few stems and keep them inside during the colder months.
