Brazilian Plume Care

Looking like a pink fireworks explosion, Brazilian Plume sends up a sizzling display.  Keep this South American beauty warm and give it plenty of sunlight to bring on the blooms.

Eye-catching Justicia carnea makes a spectacular container plant. In this guide, you'll discover how to grow this tropical flower indoors, when to water, and why you should pinch your plant.

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Get to Know Brazilian Plume

Known botanically as Justicia carnea, Brazilian plume grows as an upright shrub. Its ovate, deeply veined leaves grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) long.  

It's a late bloomer. You can expect flowers later in the season than most houseplants, with most blooming in late summer and fall. Those vibrant rosy plumes are a welcome sight just when your outdoor flower garden is slowing down for the year.

How big does Brazilian plume get? It can reach a height up to 4 ft (1.2m) in a container. You can keep this shrub small by regular pinching and pruning.

Caring for Brazilian Plume Year-Round

Pinch and prune. This robust shrub grows fast. Pinch off the growing tips to keep it from getting too big. Don't toss out those stem tips, either. Propagate them for more plants. Prune long branches to keep this shrub in shape. Cutting just above a leaf node (the place where a leaf is attached) will cause the stem to branch out where it was cut. You'll get a fuller, bushier plant by pruning. The best time to prune is early spring.

Overwintering. Move your potted Justicia carnea to a cooler location. It will tolerate temperatures down to 60°F/16°C in winter, when plant is resting. Reduce watering, keeping the potting medium barely moist. Stop fertilizing till spring, when Brazilian Plume begins its most vigorous time of growth.

Something bugging your plant? Spider mites may attack new growth. Look for mottled, pale leaves with webbing between them. If your plant is infested, treat it right away and keep it away from your other houseplants because the tiny critters tend to move on to the rest of your indoor garden. Raising the humidity will help discourage spider mites that like dry air. Brazilian Plume loves to be misted.

To repot...or not? Repot in spring, only when you see roots growing through the drainage holes. Use a heavy pot to prevent toppling; this shrub can get top-heavy after a couple years. 

Brazilian Plume Care Tips

Light: Needs bright light and some direct sunlight to bloom.

Water: Keep the soil evenly moist spring through fall. Water less in winter, while growth slows down. Water thoroughly, allowing water to escape through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Remember to always use tepid water when watering your houseplants. Cold water shocks your tender tropicals.

Humidity: Aim for 50% relative humidity or higher. If humidity drops in winter, use a cool-mist room humidifier to increase the moisture around it.

Temperature: Average room temperatures (65-75°F/18-24°C). This South American native will tolerate a minimum of 60°F/16°C in winter.

Soil: Good-quality all-purpose potting mix.

Fertilizer: Use a high-phosphorous fertilizer once a month, spring through fall. Do not feed in winter.

Propagation: Take 4-inch (10 cm) stem tip cuttings and insert them in moist potting mix. Use bottom heat from a seedling heat mat to maintain a steady 70°F/21°C temperature until cuttings root. Spring is the best time to propagate, when Brazilian plume is beginning its most active time of growth.

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