The Waffle Plant, also known as the purple waffle plant or red ivy, is one of my favorite indoor plants. It has a small statue, making it suitable as a table or office plant. I have this fantastic beautiful waffle plant on my office table, purifying the air, which is one of its benefits.
You can grow and care for a Waffle Plant for your home, office, or garden. From my experience, growing and caring for the Waffle Plant is easy. Here I will provide all you need to know about planting and caring for the Waffle Plant.
How to Grow the Waffle Plant
The plant is tropical and will require low to medium light to thrive. You can grow the plant using seeds or stem cutting.
Since the seeds of the plant are small and hard to cultivate, I will encourage you to use stem-cutting methods as shown below:
- Get a sharp and clean scissor or blade to cut the stem swiftly.
- Ensure you cut a stem with at least one node. Stem cuttings with nodes close to the soil may have started developing roots already, and many gardeners prefer those stems close to the soil.
- Fill a planting pot with moist soil and dip the stem cutting.
- Keep the soil damp by watering often.
- Monitor the cutting till you see roots forming, then transplant permanently.
The Waffle Plant originates from the tropics as a low-growing plant, and they are ground-hugging plants that thrive like most summer plants. With their oval-shaped leaves and purple-colored bottom, they are unmistakable and eye-catching.
To replicate the whole essence of this plant, you need to understand and set up the natural conditions where they thrive.
Lighting Conditions
Now that you have gathered the plant is sun-loving, please do not place it in direct sunlight. In its natural environment, it grows under shades, and you will find them on the feet of more enormous trees or plants that shade them from direct sunlight.
Please place them in a place with access to bright and indirect sunlight because direct sunlight will damage the foliage and discolor the plants.
Soil Condition for Waffle Plant
The Waffle Plant needs rich, well-drained soil mixed with compost and peat will suit the plant. An all-purpose commercial soil will be suitable for your indoor and nursery garden. The pH level should be slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 6.1 to 6.6.
Water Requirement for Waffle Plant
It will be best to provide adequate water to keep the soil moist. However, it would help if you were careful not to soak the soil in water. And if you are in a dry region, water regularly or set up an irrigation system.
I have seen some gardeners in the dry regions using water-absorbing crystals placed on the soil.
Temperature and Humidity Conditions
The plant thrives in an environment with warm temperatures and high humidity. It is not a frost-resistant plant, so get it indoors during the winter. And keep the temperature warm indoors.
For indoor planting of Waffle plants, increase humidity by misting, using the pebbles and water method, and placing the plant in your bathroom where it is steaming and increasing the moisture in the environment.
Fertilizer Requirement
The native area of the waffle plant is made up of rich humus soil consisting of dead foliage and organisms. I recommend applying fertilizers to your soil mixture to aid your plant in producing rich foliage, just like in its natural habitat.
I recommend you use houseplant fertilizers; applying them gradually for too many fertilizers will adversely affect the plant.
Repotting the Waffle Plant
A healthy waffle plant will grow fast, and you must repot it every four to five years. Take note as the plant grows fast and repot immediately after the root protrudes from the pot’s drainage holes.
Repotting the waffle plant is easy by uprooting it and placing it in a bigger pot. However, it would help if you were careful while handling the stem of the plant, for they are brittle and will break with the slightest pressure.
Pest and Diseases Affecting Waffle Plant
The waffle plant is mainly affected by houseplant pests such as scales and whiteflies. On noticing any infestation, apply insecticidal soaps to kill the insects and restore the plant.
Aside from the common houseplant pest, Waffle Plant may also suffer from root rot. To prevent root rot, avoid overwatering and soaking the soil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Waffle Plant purify the air?
The waffle plant does purify the air and can help remove volatile organic compounds, and it can help to remove pollutants such as carbon dioxides, ammonia, benzene, and other elements.
What is the cause of yellow leaves in the Waffle Plant?
One of the symptoms of downy mildew is the yellowing of leaves. Downy mildew is not common, but it does cause the yellowing of leaves in the Waffle Plant. It is best to remove it when you notice leaves showing yellow spots.