Posted by The purple waffle plant is also known as the red ivy. This tropical perennial plant is a very commonly grown indoor or outdoor plant, native to Malaysia. This plant has a beautiful prostrate foliage. It is very popular because of its air-purifying qualities.
Appearance:
Red ivy’s botanical name is Hemigraphis alternata. This genus comes in 30 species with leaves ranging from grey or green on the top and purple underneath. The purple waffle plant has a deep gathering of wrinkles or small folds on each leaf that double its surface area and increases the leaf’s air-purifying qualities.
This plant reaches a maximum height of 6 inches and width of 8 inches when fully matured. It needs a rich and moist soil to thrive. The soil should be slightly acidic to neutral for its healthy growth. It grows in the summer season and has white colored flowers.
Tips to Grow the Purple Waffle Plant:
This exotic plant is surprisingly very easy to grow. It just needs the right soil, warm temperature and regular watering for a healthy growth. It is best to nourish them with a rich, humus soil that works as a fertilizer too. You can grow it in your garden or even on your window as an indoor houseplant.
These plants can also be grown in combination with other tropical plants as they tend to serve as a trailing plant, also known as spillers. When paired with a ti plant, the red ivy covers the soil really well.
Purple Waffle Plant Care:
- The red ivy plants are generally care-free, but they can be attacked by whitefly or scale occasionally.
- They grow the best in bright indirect light indoors or in partial shade outdoors. If you place them under direct sun, their leaves tend to scorch. Harsh sunlight also causes the cool and metallic shade of the leaves to fade away.
- The purple waffle plant can also grow under artificial lights.
- You should grow them in an all-potting mix or commercial potting soil for best results.
- If you want to plant them directly in the ground, you should add compost or leaf mold to nourish the soil.
- The purple waffle plant grows the best when it is moist. But if you overwater them or soak them in water, they will not thrive. If you are growing plants in very dry weather, then you should add water-absorbing crystals to the soil to help retain moisture.
- The ideal temperature should be below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also increase the humidity by spraying some water or growing them in a tray full of pebbles and water.
- You can also grow your red ivy in a steamy bathroom with a window or place a sick waffle plant in such a humid place to revive them.
- Ensure that you use a rich soil to grow these plants. You can use a slow-release 6-12-6 houseplant fertilizer to provide them with adequate nitrogen, potash and phosphate.
These are the basic secrets for optimal growth of a purple waffle plant. If you have the desired conditions naturally, you can easily grow the red ivy indoors or outdoors.