Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant

Light Needs

Full Shade to Partial Shade

(0 - 4 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

16-22 Inches

Mature Spread

8-14 Inches

Despite its rather ponderous name, Hippo Red Polka Dot plant is a daintier foliage plant that lends itself well to container gardens, hanging baskets or massing out in your part to full shade landscape. Bright red splashes of color on dark green leaves contrast beautifully with chartreuse foliars and provide a wonderful compliment to a variety of coleus and other shade loving plants.

Native to Madagascar, Zone 10a to 11b, hypoestes in general grow best in temperate humid environments. Plant out well after the last frost in Zones 3-9 for all season color. Although full to part shade location is recommended for Hippo Red Polka Dot plant, it may get leggy if it has to reach too far for the sun. Filtered sunlight will keep its colors bright and its leaves lush.

Hippo Red Polka Dot Plant Care

If your plant exhibits curled or browning leaves, it may be getting too much sun and needs some relief. If looking a bit wilted, it is drying out too much and will benefit from a good watering. Easy to grow, not fussy about watering, it will appreciate fertilizing once a month with a diluted houseplant fertilizer. It does not tolerate wet soil, so using perlite or compost to keep medium light and well draining is essential to prevent root rot. Hypoestes prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.8 to 6.2.

Pruning or deadheading is not required, but pinching back will encourage branching and create a fuller look allowing this petite-looking plant to hold its own against more vigorous plants in the same container or garden space. Hippo Red Polka Dot plant makes a great houseplant.

Hippo Red Polka Dot Plant Spacing

Growing up to 22 inches tall and 14 inches wide, Hippo Red Polka Dot plant will appreciate some elbow room in your container or landscape garden. It has a medium upright habit and pairs well with leggier ferns and trailing ivies with similar lighting preferences. Altogether, Hippo Red Polka Dot plant is an easy care performer for your shade garden.

SKU:

HYPHRP