Why are my plant's leaves turning brown?

This is often a sign of low humidity or underwatering.

Does it need direct sunlight?

No, it prefers bright, indirect light to keep its colors vibrant.

Guía de plantas

Polka dot plant.

Hypoestes phyllostachya

Pronunciación hy-po-ES-teez fil-lo-STAK-ee-uh

También se conoce como Baby's Tears, Flamingo Plant, Polkadot-Plant, flamingo-plant, freckle-face, measlesplant, pink-dot, polka-dot-plant

Polka Dot Plant — Foto de Shaan Aroeste (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Esta encantadora planta es famosa por su vibrante follaje moteado que añade un toque de color a cualquier espacio interior. Es una planta compacta que ama la calidez y la humedad constante. Te darás cuenta de que es una excelente opción para terrarios o como compañera brillante en el alféizar de una ventana.

De un vistazo

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Perenne herbácea
Light: La luz indirecta brillante es lo mejor para mantener la intensidad de las manchas de las hojas.
Indoor light: bright-indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 30 a 50 cm
Growth rate: medium
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 11
Bloom time: Finales de verano

Cuidados

Mantén la tierra constantemente húmeda pero nunca empapada para prevenir la pudrición de las raíces. Si la planta empieza a verse alargada, pellizca los tallos para fomentar una forma más frondosa. Observa las hojas caídas, que son una clara señal de que tu planta tiene sed.

Watering: Riega cuando los primeros centímetros de tierra se sientan secos al tacto.
Feeding: Usa un fertilizante líquido equilibrado diluido a la mitad de su potencia durante la temporada de crecimiento.
Pruning: Pellizca las puntas de crecimiento regularmente para mantener la planta compacta y prevenir la floración.
Repotting: Trasplanta en primavera si la planta se queda sin espacio en la maceta.
Soil: Mezcla de tierra para macetas a base de turba y bien drenada.
Soil pH: 6.0 a 7.0
Temperature: 15 to 27°C
Humidity: 50 to 70%
Drought tolerance: low
Lifespan: Short lived perennial, often grown as an annual.
Deer and rabbits: moderate

Señales de que necesita trasplante

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
The plant wilts very quickly after watering.

Seguridad

People: This plant is generally considered non-toxic to humans, but it is best to keep it away from curious mouths.
Pets: La planta de lunares generalmente se considera no tóxica para gatos y perros.
Children: The small leaves could pose a choking hazard if ingested by very young children.
Edibility: While not considered highly toxic, it is not meant for human consumption and may cause stomach upset.

Cómo identificarla

Hojas ovaladas con manchas coloridas
Los colores incluyen rosa, rojo o blanco
Textura de hoja suave, ligeramente peluda
Ocasionalmente aparecen pequeñas flores tubulares

Height: 0.2 to 0.5m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.4m
Leaves: verde, rosa, rojo, blanco, perenne
Flowers: lavanda, rosa, 1 to 2cm

Problemas frecuentes

Aphids — These tiny insects cluster on new growth and suck sap from the leaves.
Root rot — Overwatering leads to fungal decay of the root system.
Leggy growth — Insufficient light causes the stems to stretch and lose their compact shape.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagation: esquejes, semilla
When to plant: primavera
Overwintering: Bring the plant indoors if you keep it outside during the summer. Keep it in a warm spot with bright, indirect light and reduce watering slightly.
In containers: It grows very well in containers and stays compact in a 4 to 6 inch pot.

Stem cuttings

Take a 3 to 4 inch cutting from a healthy stem.
Remove the lower leaves from the cutting.
Place the stem in water or moist potting mix.
Keep in a warm, bright area until roots develop.

Group plants with similar water needs together to maintain a consistent microclimate.

Buenas compañeras

Ferns — They share similar requirements for high humidity and indirect light.
Peace Lily — Both plants enjoy consistent moisture and lower light conditions.
Pothos — They make a great visual contrast when grown together in a shared container.

Especies parecidas

Fittonia — It has similar light and humidity needs but features distinct veined patterns.

Ciencia

Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Hypoestes
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Madagascar and parts of Southeast Asia.
Conservation: This species is not currently listed as endangered or threatened in its native range.

It thrives in the moist, shaded forest floor where it competes for light beneath the canopy.

Uses: indoor ornamental, terrarium plant, seasonal bedding

A lo largo del año

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Indicadores ecológicos

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 7/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Why are my plant's leaves turning brown?: This is often a sign of low humidity or underwatering.
Does it need direct sunlight?: No, it prefers bright, indirect light to keep its colors vibrant.

De dónde viene el nombre

The name Hypoestes comes from the Greek words for under and house, referring to the bracts that cover the flowers. Phyllostachya means leaf spike, describing the arrangement of its foliage.

Bueno saberlo

It is commonly known as the polka dot plant because of its speckled foliage.
The leaves can come in shades of pink, red, and white.
It belongs to the Acanthaceae family, which includes many tropical flowering plants.
Regular pinching of the stems helps keep the plant bushy and full.

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Esta guía se ha generado con IA y se ha cotejado con la taxonomía de GBIF. Es información general, no asesoramiento botánico ni veterinario. Descubre cómo elaboramos estas guías.