Table of Contents
Numerous houseplants start with the letter C. These houseplants can be used to add colour and beauty to your home, office, surrounding, gardens as well as, parks.
To grow these plants will require some essential care and maintenance such as adequate sunlight, proper watering, growing in the right humidity and temperature rate and so many others.
For a complete breakdown of how to care for these plants, then keep scrolling down.
8 Best Houseplants That Start With C
Below are some of the houseplants that you can grow indoors which can serve as plants for beautification. They include
1. Croton Plant
Also known as Codiaeum variegatum or Joseph coat. It originated from Pacific Islands, Malaysia, and Northern Australia. It has a height of up to 3ft (90 cm), depending on the variety. When allowed to grow tall, crotons have a tree-like form with thick trunks.
Its leathery leaves in bold colours such as yellow pink, red, orange and green make it one of the most beautiful and popular houseplants to grow indoors. The exotic patterned leaves also make a Petra knockout that can brightly lighten any room where it is kept.
Furthermore, the croton plant has poisonous sap which makes it poisonous and harmful to children and pets. So do well to keep it away from their reach and always ensure that you were a glove whenever you are handling the plant such as pruning, repotting or even propagating the plants.
Care Instructions
Crotons are not easy to grow. However, it is still not impossible to try. The key to the successful growth of this plant is by keeping it in a warm, draft-free environment as well as many other needs such as
A. Light
Croton plant tends to thrive when placed in a spot where it is easily exposed to bright, direct sunlight for about 3 hours each day. The leaves glow when the plant is getting enough sunlight.
However, if you notice that the leaves of the plant are mostly green, then try and move it to a much brighter location.
When your plant isn’t getting enough sunlight as it should, it will cause the leaves of your plant to start dropping. So ensure that continually observe your croton plant regularly.
B. Water
Endeavour to water your plant and keep the soil mix evenly moistured with tepid water.
However, to avoid overwatering your plant, you should grow the plant using a pot with drainage holes. After watering the plant thoroughly, empty the drainage saucer.
Furthermore, water your croton plant more during the spring or fall seasons and less in winter as the plant’s growth rate will be slower. However, ensure that you don’t allow the potting mix to dry out.
C. Soil Mix
The best soil mix for this plant is a peat moss-based mix. For instance, an African violet potting mix.
D. Humidity
The relative humidity for this plant must be around 60% or higher around the plant. Any rate below will only cause your croton some damage. You can increase the humidity of the place where the plant is kept by using a humidifier or you can stand the pot on a tray of wet pebbles.
E. Temperature
The temperature of the location must be average to warm room between 65-85°F/18-29°C. However, avoid exposing this tropical native to temperatures below 60°F/16°C.
F. Fertilizer
Feed the plant every 2 weeks especially from early spring till summer with a balanced liquid or you can use a water-soluble fertilizer. It must be diluted by half.
G. Repotting
You must ensure that you repot your croton plant yearly during the spring. The most obvious sign to show that it is time to repot your plant is when you see that the roots on the surface of the soil are emerging from the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.
To repot the plant, follow these steps:
A. Remove the plant from its original pot, turn it on its side and ease the plant gently from the pot.
If the plant won’t budge, you may have to tap the bottom of the pot on a hard surface to loosen it or slide a trowel or knife around the inside of the pot. While doing so, ensure that you take care not to damage the root ball.
B. If the roots are coiled around the bottom, use your fingers to pull them straight.
Prune the roots before potting as pruning will stimulate new root growth and help the plant establish in its new container.
C. Partly fill the new container with a potting mix and centre the plant in its container, then fill the sides of the plant with additional mix.
Afterwards, tamp it down with your fingers, especially around the sides of the pot.
D. Water thoroughly to moisten roots and to settle potting mix. Add more mix if needed.
H. Propagation
To propagate your plant, the most suitable method is through stem cuttings.
Dip in the rooting hormone before inserting in a half-half mix of sand and peat moss-based potting mix. Ensure that you cut the roots of the plant in about a month.
I. Common Problems Of Croton Plant
Below are some of the numerous problems that can affect your croton plant. They include
A. Keep Off Dust
To avoid the infestation of pests and diseases on your plants. Ensure that you keep the leaves dust-free and shiny by gently wiping them with a damp cloth.
While doing so, avoid using leaf-shine products or any other shiny solutions.
B. Croton Leaves Fall-Off
When you notice that your plant’s leaves are falling off after you must have brought the plant home to a new environment, then it is a clear indication that your plant is lacking sunlight or dry soil.
To remedy the problem, ensure that you keep the plant out of drafts and away from heat or AC vents.
You can also try raising the humidity as it can also help with the problem. For the best result, you can use a cool-mist room humidifier near the plant.
C. Pests
The most common pests that attack this plant is mealybugs and red spider.
Mealybugs are white and fuzzy, looking like specks of cotton along the leaf axils or stems while the red spider mites look so tiny with a fine webbing between leaves and stems.
The presence of these pests can be noticed on your plant when you see any form of yellow and dry spots on the leaves.
To get rid of these pests, you can use an Insecticidal soap or neem oil. You can also use other horticultural oils.
Read More: Houseplants That Start With B
2. Corn Plant
Also known as Dracaena Fragrans ‘Massangeana’. Originated from Tropical East Africa. It grows slowly but can reach 6ft (1.8 m) or more indoors.
It is one of the best houseplants that can remove indoor air toxins such as formaldehyde, ammonia, xylene and toluene. It has a hardy, unbranched, tree-like plant with sword-shaped arching leaves.
Furthermore, the dark-green leaves are 2 ft (60 cm) long and 4 in (10 cm) wide, and have a broad cream-to-yellow stripe down the middle.
Care Instructions
Corn plant care is an easy houseplant that can naturally clean the air. Other care needs Include
A. Light
The corn plant thrives in bright light, indirect sunlight but can tolerate low light. Avoid placing this plant in direct sunlight as it can cause damage to the plant such as scorching marks on the leaves.
B. Water
Ensure that you water the plant, especially during the spring and fall seasons. This will help to moist the soil but avoid soggy soil.
During the winter season, allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Also, avoid overwatering your plant. Use a pot with drainage holes to grow the plant.
C. Soil Mix
The best-suit soil mix is the all-purpose potting mix. However, you can make your potting mix. Just endeavour to use the necessary ingredients.
D. Humidity
Grow your plant in a place with a humidity range of about 40-50%.
Indoor air can become extremely dry in the winter, so it’s a good idea to use a humidity gauge and a cool mist room humidifier if needed.
E. Temperature
The average room temperature must be between 65-75°F and 18-24°C. Any temperature rate below 55°F/13°C must be avoided as it can cause the plant to develop some problems.
F. Fertilizer
Feed your corn plant with the most suitable fertilizer, a balanced water-soluble fertilizer which must be diluted by half monthly precisely during the spring season.
G. Repotting
The best time to repot your corn plant is during the spring season especially when the plant’s roots have filled the container. It is a slow-growing plant that doesn’t need to repot more than every 3 years.
To repot the plant, follow these steps:
A. Remove the plant from its original pot, turn it on its side and ease the plant gently from the pot.
If the plant won’t budge, you may have to tap the bottom of the pot on a hard surface to loosen it or you can slide a trowel or knife around the inside of the pot, taking care not to damage the root ball.
B. If the roots are coiled around the bottom, use your fingers to pull them straight. Prune the roots before potting.
C. Partly fill the new container with a potting mix and centre the plant in its container, then fill the sides of the plant with additional mix.
Tamp it down with your fingers, especially around the sides of the pot.
D. Water thoroughly to moisten roots and to settle potting mix. Add more mix if needed.
H. Propagation
The best-recommended method of propagating is through stem tip cuttings. This just be done during the spring or the summer.
However, take 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) stem tip cuttings and pot them in a moist potting mix.
I. Common Problems Of Corn Plants
Some of the problems include:
A. Brown Leaf
They are typically a symptom of your plant being kept at a place with a low humidity rate. It will also cause the soil to be too dry or get too exposed to too much direct sunlight.
To remedy the problem, trim off the brown leaf too and move the plant away from direct sunlight. Always keep the soil moist but do well not to overwater.
B. Dropped Leaves
When you notice that your corn plant is shedding its lower leaves thereby leaving a bare stem with a cluster of leaves at its top, it is a sign that your plant has been exposed to too much draft and direct sunlight.
You will also notice some brown scorching of the leaves.
To remedy the problem, keep your plant away from AC vents and also away from direct sunlight.
Also, avoid overwatering your plant or over-fertilizing the plant.
C. Droopy, Yellow Leaves
These are signs that you must have been overwatering your plant which might have also caused some root rot.
To remedy these problems, ensure that the pot that has been in use for growing this plant must have drainage holes and also avoid leaving the plant to stand in water.
3. Coral Bead Plant
Also known as Nertera granadensis. Originated in New Zealand, Eastern Australia, Southeast Asia and South America. It grows up to 3 in (8 cm); it spreads out rather than up.
This unusual ornamental gets its common name Coral Bead Plant for the gorgeous show of colour it puts on in summer and fall.
It grows in a thick mat of tiny, dark-green leaves on intertwining stems and its foliage is attractive on its own. However, it produces small, white flowers that appear in summer only to be upstaged by bright, orange-red berries.
The berries of this plant are known to be mildly poisonous, but still poisonous to children and pets, especially cats and dogs. So if you have any, keep them off and take some precautionary approach while touching them.
Care Instructions
Below are the necessary ways to care for your plant. They include
A. Light
The plant thrives in bright light, indirect sunlight. Avoid placing the plant in direct sun as it will cause the berries to shrivel.
B. Water
Endeavour to water the plant and keep the soil evenly moist at all times, but not soggy. Do well to examine your plant to avoid drying it out as well as making it thirsty.
Water the plant based on the right amount needed in any season. However, to prevent getting the leaves wet, try to water the soil and not the plant or water from the bottom.
Use a pot with drainage holes and set the pot in a saucer of water. It will drink up the water as needed.
C. Soil Mix
The right soil mix is the peat moss-based potting mix. You can make your own by using 2 parts of peat moss-based potting mix with 1 part of horticultural sand or perlite for good drainage.
D. Humidity
The average humidity level in the room must aim for 50% or higher. Also, you must try to mist it daily from the time it flowers until the berries have formed.
However, you can boost the humidity level by putting the plant on a tray with pebbles in the bottom with a little water.
The pebbles will keep the pot above the water so the roots don’t rot. You can also try using the cool-mist room humidifier.
E. Temperature
The average room temperature must be between 55-70°F/13-21°C. So avoid keeping the plants in a room or spot with cold blasts from doors and windows and also away from heat or AC vents.
However, if you move your plant outdoors during the summer and fall, endeavour to bring it back when temperatures drop below 55°/13°C, especially during the night.
F. Fertilizer
Feed your plant once every month during the spring and summer seasons with a water-soluble fertilizer which must be diluted at half strength. This must be done when the berries are on the plant.
However, if you are watering the plant from the bottom, add fertilizer to the water tray.
G. Repotting
Repot your plants during the spring only when it gets crowded, probably for a couple of years. The creeping stems need contact with soil to keep growing.
During the repot of the plant is a good time to divide the plant, if you want. Its shallow roots make it easy to divide for more plants. Because of its shallow roots, shallow pots will do.
H. Propagation
The best form of propagation is through division.
To do so, gently pull apart clumps and plant them in separate containers. You can also grow them from seed or from tip cuttings in spring.
I. Common Problems Of Coral Bead Plant
Below are the problems that affect the coral bead plant. It includes
A. Lack Of Fruits
If your plant is unable to produce fruits, then it will be a result of being exposed to excessive sunlight which will cause the leaves to burn and the berries to shrivel.
To remedy this problem, keep your plant away from a place or spot where it will be exposed to direct sunlight.
4. Clubmoss
Also known as Selaginella kraussiana or spike moss. Originated from South Africa. It grows about 2 to 6 feet, depending on the species. It spreads out rather than grows tall. You can keep any variety small by pruning it back.
This is a spreading terrarium plant with a mounding habit that is made up of creeping stems that spread quickly across the soil, forming a dense mat of foliage.
It can add a wonderful texture to any plant grouping. It’s not toxic to children or pets such as cats and dogs.
Care Instructions
To care for this plant, you need to provide the following
A. Light
The clubmoss thrives when placed in a spot where it can enjoy moderate sunlight or bright, indirect light. So avoid keeping the plants in a place where they can be exposed to direct sunlight as it can cause the plant to burn or scorch the foliage.
B. Water
You should water the plant and keep the potting at a medium slightly moist all the time. While watering, ensure that the pot has drainage holes to avoid water dumping at the bottom and damaging the plant roots.
Also, you must always use room-temperature water for this tropical houseplant because cold water isn’t favourable to them.
C. Soil Mix
Grow your clubmoss in the right soil mix which is the peat moss-based potting mix with perlite or horticultural sand added for good drainage.
D. Humidity
The relative humidity level of the room or environment where the plant is kept must be high above 50%.
Bearing in mind that the indoor air can cause your plant or soil to be extremely dry, especially during the winter months. So, I will recommend that you use a humidity monitor to calculate and estimate when it is drying out.
However, if the air is dry, do well to mist the plant every morning with room-temperature water or stand the pot on a tray of wet pebbles.
Furthermore, keep clubmoss in a terrarium to maintain humidity around it, or you can keep it near a cool-mist room humidifier.
E. Temperature
The average room temperature must be between 65-75°F/18-24°C). To maintain a steady in the room, you need to keep the plant away from entryways and heat or AC vents.
F. Fertilizer
The clubmoss plant is not a heavy feeder. So, endeavour to feed the plant monthly during the spring and fall seasons with a balanced liquid fertilizer of 10-10-10 NPK at half strength.
Do well to avoid feeding your plant with fertilizer during the winter season to prevent the burning of the roots.
G. Repotting
You must repot your plant during the spring when you notice that the roots have outgrown the pot.
Use a shallow pot as the root of the clubmoss is shallow. Also, ensure that the pot has drainage holes to prevent soggy soil which might cause the root of the plant to rot.
H. Propagation
To propagate this plant, you can either do so through division or stem cuttings. To do so, take the stem contact with the soil and also the root as they will grow to form a spreading mat.
I. Common Problems Of Clubmoss
The common problems of this plant Include:
A. Brown, Shriveled Leaves
This can be caused when the soil has dried. So to remedy the problem, you should put the plant in a place where there is a high humidity rate either in a terrarium or raise the humidity level around the soil thereby keeping it moist.
5. Coffee Plant
Also known as Coffea arabica. Originated from Southern Asia and Tropical Africa. It grows up to 6 ft (1.8 m) indoors, confined to a pot. You can prune your plant back harshly in spring to keep it at the desired size.
The coffee plant is the source of the world’s most popular breakfast beverage. Not many know, however, that it makes a beautiful and easy-to-grow house plant.
It is a member of the Rubiaceae family and is one of 90 in the Coffea genus. It is believed to be the first species of coffee to be cultivated, being grown in southwest Arabia for well over 1,000 years. It is an evergreen shrub that has glossy, dark-green leaves with ruffled edges on willowy stems.
When growing this plant, after 3 or 4 years, Coffea arabica produces star-shaped, sweetly scented white flowers.
These flowers are followed by green fruits which change to red then to almost black as they ripen, a process that takes several months. Inside each ripened fruit are 2 seeds or beans that when properly roasted can be ground and made into coffee.
Care Instructions
Growing coffee plants indoors are easy as they are vigorous growers and are long-lived. They make attractive houseplants. However, it could take a few years before you see many fruits on it. To care for this plant, you need to follow these needs.
A. Light
Coffee plants thrive in bright indirect sunlight which is shaded from direct sunlight. However, avoid placing the plant in a place where it is exposed to fully direct sunlight.
B. Water
You need to water the plant thoroughly and moist but not soggy during spring and summer. It is barely moist during the fall and winter.
Always ensure that you water the plant with tepid water because cold water isn’t adaptable for them.
C. Soil Mix
It grows when grown in a peat moss-based potting mix with horticultural sand added to provide good drainage.
D. Humidity
It requires moist air which must be around 50% relative humidity or higher. Indoor air can become extremely dry indoors, especially during the winter months.
If you notice any brown leaf tips, it is a symptom of dry air. However, to increase the amount of humidity, you can use a cool-mist room humidifier for best results.
E. Temperature
The average room must be between 65-75°F/18-24°C. Coffea arabica can withstand cooler temperatures in fall and winter when growth slows down, but it’s not tolerant of freezing temperatures.
F. Fertilizer
Feed your coffee plant every 2 weeks during the spring and summer seasons with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer diluted by half.
G. Pruning
You should endeavour to prune the coffee plant back during the spring to keep it bushy and full. However, pruning also gives it an attractive shape.
To prune your coffee plant, then we will use your clean pruning shears to cut the stem at a 45° angle, 1/4-inch above a leaf axil. Then place where a leaf attaches to the stem and prune off top growth to keep this coffee bean plant small.
H. Repotting
Repot your plant during the spring. Move the pot 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) larger.
Use a pot with a drainage hole to avoid soggy soil.
I. Propagation
You can propagate your plant and sow fresh seeds in spring. Take the young stems before they have hardened.
6. Chinese Evergreen
Also known as Aglaonema hybrids. Originated from Subtropical forests of Southeast Asia and grows to a height of up to 2-3 ft (60-90 cm).
It is among the best plants for removing toxins, such as formaldehyde from tainted indoor air. Their air-cleaning abilities make them must-have house plants for your indoor collections.
It has large, pointed, green variegated leaves that are 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) long, 3-6 inches (7.5-15 cm) wide, and heavily marbled with white, cream, silver or red.
Furthermore, newer hybrids of this plant grow in thick clumps, so mature plants stay compact and bushy. Both the berries and the sap of this plant contain oxalic acid, which can be toxic to children and pets. So keep them away from their reach. Also, you need to take some precautionary measures while tending to them.
Care Instructions
To grow this plant, you need to ensure that they get all the required maintenance/care needs such as:
A. Light
The plant thrives when it is placed in bright, indirect light to low light. This quality makes it one of the best suitable Houseplants for your office. To strive better, avoid keeping the plant out in direct sunlight as it will cause the leaves of the plant to scorch or burn.
B. Water
Ensure that you water your chinese evergreen plant thoroughly, then allow the surface of the potting medium to dry out a bit before watering again. Keep it slightly drier in winter, when growth is slower.
However, avoid allowing the soil to dry out so that the leaves wouldn’t wilt. When watering the plant, try to keep the leaves dry to prevent leaf spots.
C. Soil Mix
Grow the plant in a good-quality, all-purpose houseplant potting mix. Ensure that the pot has drainage holes to avoid the storing of the water on the bottom thereby causing the root of the plant to rot.
D. Humidity
The average indoor humidity level must be around 40% relative humidity or higher. Avoid misting as it will cause spots on its leaves. It’s a good idea to use a humidity monitor near your houseplant to obtain accurate predictions on when to water or not.
Furthermore, the indoor air can become extremely dry during the winter months. So there is a need to boost the humidity level through the use of a cool-mist room humidifier.
E. Temperature
The normal room temperatures must be between 65-75°F/18-24°C. It can’t tolerate a cold environment as it can cause greyish, yellow patches on its leaves.
Your plant can suffer when exposed to temperatures below 55°F/13°C. So ensure that you place your place at a spot where it won’t be exposed to cold blasts from doorways and windows or an AC vent.
F. Fertilizer
Chinese Evergreen is not a big feeder. From spring and summer, feed your plant monthly with a balanced such as 10-10-10 NPK water-soluble houseplant fertilizer, using half the recommended amount.
Avoid feeding the plant during the winter as the growth rate of the plant is usually slow.
G. Repotting
Repot your plant during the spring when you notice that it has outgrown its pot. It likes to be slightly root-bound, so it’s a good idea to move to a slightly larger one.
Use a container with drainage holes to prevent soggy soil. If you want to use a container without drainage holes, use it as a cachepot.
Furthermore, slip a plain nursery pot into a decorative cachepot to cover it up. You can put small pebbles in the bottom of cachepots to keep the inner pot above the drainage water.
H. Propagation
Chinese Evergreen is easy to propagate by stem cuttings.
To do so, take 3-4 in (7.5-10 cm) long stem tip cuttings during the spring. Dip the cut ends in water then rooting powder.
Insert into a sterile, moist potting mix. However, keeping the plants warm and humid will improve successful propagation.
I. Common Problems Of Chinese Evergreen
The most common problem is the infestation of pests.
A. Pests
The most common pest that attacks your plant is scale. It can weaken your Chinese Evergreen, causing its leaves to droop. You can see them on stems and the undersides of leaves.
To get rid of this pest, treat the infestation with Insecticidal soap or neem oil. You can try other horticultural oils.
Read Also: Houseplants That Start With A
7. Pilea Peperomioides
Also known as Pilea Peperomioides or Chinese Money Plant. Originated from West Indies with a height of up to 12 in (30 cm).
Chinese Money Plant has become a must-have houseplant. It has mounded, round, saucer-like leaves that shoot out from a central unbranched stem.
You may see tiny, yellow-green flowers during the summer. But they’re not very showy compared to the leaves.
The good part of this plant is that it is non-toxic and safe for your children and pets such as cats and dogs.
Care Instructions
Caring for this plant doesn’t require much. Just feed it with the basic needs and watch it grow. These needs include
A. Light
The plant thrives in bright light and indirect sunlight. However, the foliage will lose its bright green colour if the light level is too low. So do well to keep it at the right spot.
B. Water
During the spring and fall seasons, ensure that you water the plant thoroughly. Also, ensure you use a pot with drainage holes and allow the soil to dry out a little between waterings.
Avoid the over-watering of the plant as it will cause the root of the plant to rot as well as the leaves to either wilt or fall off.
Furthermore, during the winter season, keep the soil slightly drier when the growth is slower. The best-recommended water is the use of tepid water.
C. Soil Mix
Grow your plant on a good-quality peat moss-based potting mix. You can make your organic potting mix by getting the necessary ingredients such as peat moss-based or perlite.
D. Humidity
The average humidity level must be moderate or higher which must be around 40% relative humidity. However, if the indoor air is dry during winter, raise the humidity around your houseplants through the use of a humidifier or keep the plant on a tray of pebbles.
E. Temperature
The warm room temperatures must be between 65-85°F/18-29°C year-round. It can tolerate a minimum temperature of 55°F/13°C in winter.
F. Fertilizer
Feed the plant with fertilizer every 2 weeks in the spring and summer seasons with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer. Avoid fertilizing during winter as the plant will be dormant by then.
G. Repotting
You can only repot your plant when you notice that the roots of the plant must have grown out of the rooting holes.
Use a pot with drainage holes to avoid soggy soil, which can lead to root rot. If you want to use a decorative planter without holes, use it as a cachepot.
Just slip a plain nursery pot in the cachepot. I put small river rocks in the bottom of my cachepots to keep the pot above the drainage water.
H. Propagation
You can propagate your plant by taking 3 in (7.5 cm) stem tip cuttings either in spring or summer.
Cut the stem just below a node the place where a leaf is attached. Nodes contain cells that will grow roots.
Place the cut end in a moist potting mix and cover the plant loosely with a plastic bag to retain humidity.
Cuttings root easily in about a month. It allows the offsets to growth also grows offsets in abundance. just separate them from the parent plant and pot them.
I. Common Problems Of Pilea Peperomioides
Below are some of the problems of this plant. They include
A. Leaves Falling Off
This plant will naturally lose a few leaves in winter. If it sheds more leaves than usual, it’s likely caused by cold air or overwatering. Do keep it away from drafts and heat/AC vents.
B. Dust Off Leaves
Keep your plant clean. Wipe dust off leaves when needed with a soft, damp cloth.
The dust can interfere with photosynthesis that’s how plants get the energy they need to grow.
However, avoid using leaf-shine products. Those bright green leaves are naturally shiny and don’t need it.
8. China Doll Plant
Also known as Radermachera sinica. Originated from China and Taiwan with a height of up to 4 ft (1.2 m) indoors.
China Doll plant is fairly new as a houseplant. It was introduced to garden centres in the 1980s and quickly became popular because of its tolerance to the warm, dry air of heated homes.
It has small, evergreen shrubs, it has long, bipinnate leaves with glossy, deeply veined leaflets that are about 2 in (5 cm) long. Young plants are compact with branching, woody stems that reach about 2-ft (60 cm) long. Fast-growing, this plant will quickly become leggy if not pruned back.
Care Instructions
Below are the necessary care requirements for this plant which includes
A. Light
This plant thrives in bright, indirect sunlight. So avoid placing the plant in a spot where it is exposed to direct sunlight which can cause harm to your plant such as the scorching of the leaves or burns.
B. Water
Keep soil evenly moist year-round. Don’t allow the soil to become soggy — or dry out. Either condition will cause the China Doll plant to drop its leaves. Resist the temptation to over-water, which makes the problem worse. Yellow leaves are also a symptom of over-watering.
C. Soil Mix
Grow this plant on a peat moss-based mix with added vermiculite or perlite, such as the African violet potting mix.
D. Humidity
The relative humidity level must be at least 40% around your plant. Indoor air can become extremely dry in winter. Use a humidity monitor or a humidity tray or a cool-mist room humidifier, if needed.
E. Temperature
The average room temperature is between 65-75°F/18-24°C. It will tolerate a minimum of 50°F/10°C and not below now.
F. Fertilizer
Feed China Doll Plant every 2 weeks spring and fall with balanced 10-10-10 N-P-K water-soluble fertilizer diluted by half.
G. Pruning
Prune your china doll as it will keep the plant compact and beautiful. Cut off as much as you need to in spring and summer. Always prune above a leaf node, the place where a leaf is attached to the main stem.
Use sharp pruning shears to avoid tearing the woody stems. Also, pinch off growing tips regularly to encourage the stems to branch out.
H. Repotting
Repot your plant during the spring season. only when its roots have filled the pot. Use a container with drainage holes to prevent soggy soil. If you want to cover up a plain nursery pot, you can slip it into a cachepot, a decorative container without drainage holes. Put the pebbles in the bottom of the cachepots to keep the pot above the drainage water.
I. Propagation
Propagate your plants by taking off the in (10 cm) stem tip cuttings in spring or summer.
Cut off lower leaves from the stem; use sharp pruners to cut them cleanly just above a leaf node (the place where a leaf is attached to the stem).
For best results, dip the cut stem tip in rooting hormone powder before planting. Insert the cutting into a moist potting medium.
J. Common Problems Of China Doll Plant
Below are the common problems which include
A. Dropped Leaves
Dropped leaves on China Doll are usually caused by changes in light, water or temperature. If you just brought your new houseplant home, you may see a lot of leaves falling from it.
To remedy the problem, simply adjust the plant to a new environment and cut off any bare stems, if you want.
B. Yellow Leaves
The keys to success with this China doll houseplant are plenty of bright, indirect light and consistently moist soil.
So, when you notice that your leaves are becoming yellow, it depicts that you have overwatered your plant. Remedy the problem by stopping the watering of the plant and allowing it to dry off totally.
C. Pests
The most common pests that affect your plant are whiteflies, mealybugs and scale insects.
To get rid of these pests from your plant, isolate the infested plant and treat it right away with Insecticidal soap or neem oil. You can use other horticultural oils.
If the infestation is mild, you can pick them by hand off the leaves.
Conclusion
If you are a fan of houseplants that start with the letter C, then you should check out these houseplants and select the ones that suit your taste and preference as we have provided all the necessary Information in this article.
However, the good thing is that most of them are easy to care for and can thrive when it gets the required needs.
Kindly note that these houseplants aren’t the only ones with the letter “C” but among all, these are our best picks.