Are polka dot plants harmful to pets?
No, they’re deemed non-toxic. Here's an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/keeping-your-pet-safe-identify-poison-plants-in-your-house.htm
I have a polka dot plant growing in a medium sized pot in my house. It has grown extremely tall and falls over, so I have cut it back quite a lot. I have read that you can propagate the plant by these cuttings, but every time I try, they just wilt and die. What am I doing wrong?
This article will help you with propagating these plants: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/polka-dot-plant/polka-dot-plant-propagation.htm
When can I safely plant polka dot plants in this gardening zone - 5b? Thank you.
Although this plant is a perennial, it is oftentimes grown as an annual bedding plant or potted houseplant instead, especially in cooler growing zones like yours. This plant cannot tolerate cool conditions and prefers temps of 60 degrees F. or more. For this reason, you may want to consider growing it in a container so that you can bring it back indoors for overwintering. But, if you would like to grow the plant as a garden annual instead, wait until the temps in your area reach and remain a consistent 50-55 degrees.
This is a picture of my indoor polka dot plant. It sits in a west facing window. It has good height and width, but is not very full. I've tried pinching back the height, hoping it'll fill out, but haven't been successful. What do you recommend?
Your plant looks absolutely gorgeous, by the way. The nature of polkadot plants is to send out new growth from the point where they are cut; therefore, if you cut a few of the stems almost all the way to the soil line, those stems should send up new growth from those spots to fill in the bottom.
I have a Polka Dot Pink. My plant is doing well, but it's losing its pink color. The leaves are becoming greener. What shall do to get the pink color back? My country is very hot and rainy. If put my plant for days under direct sunlight, it damages the leaves. Also, too much rain water damages the roots and leaves. Please suggest what to do. Thanking you, Shahin.
Leaves will revert to solid green in low light conditions. Polka dots need bright light but not full sun, so you will want to move the plant in a place outdoors that meets this lighting criteria as well as keep it out of the damaging rain. A covered porch might be a good place. If there is no good place outdoors you might want to consider making your polka dot into a houseplant.
For more information on polka dot plants, please visit the following link:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/polka-dot-plant/growing-polka-dot-plants.htm
My Hypoestes sanguinolenta (polka-dot plant) is in my office. It was just given to me last week. Well, over the weekend it wilted and turned brown. Now the leaves are falling off. I'm not sure why. Could you help me and can it be recovered?
A polka dot plant requires consistently moist soil. If it doesn't get enough water, the leaves will wilt & turn brown. Also, the air in office environments can be on the dry side - you will want to occasionally mist your polka dot plant because they grow best in a humid environment.
For more information on growing polka dot plants, please visit the following link:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/polka-dot-plant/growing-polka-dot-plants.htm
I was given a polka dot plant recently. I am not good with plants and am caring for it best I can. In the past two weeks, I am noticing something that looks like lilac blooms or flowering leaves. Is this new growth or something wrong?
Though it is generally grown and enjoyed for it's foliage, in perfect conditions it will flower!
So you must be good with plants! Enjoy the flowers.
Here is a link with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/polka-dot-plant/growing-polka-dot-plants.htm