How to Care for Cuphea Plant

 

The botanical name of Cuphea plant is Cuphea hyssopifolia and the common names are Hawaiian Heather, Elfin Herb, False Heather, and Mexican Heather. Actually the Cuphea plant is a small evergreen shrub that is native to Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. The plant has naturalized to Hawaii and is considered weedy there. The Cuphea plant is moderately salt-tolerant, adaptable to various soils with good drainage in full sun and the plant also tolerates high summer heat and some drought but grows best with regular moisture. What is the lifespan of a Cuphea plant? The Cuphea plant is a perennial in zones nine and higher but is generally grown as an annual.

 

Cuphea Plant Info

Plant Family: Cuphea plant belongs to Lythraceae family

Plant origin: Cuphea plant originated from Mexico, Jamaica.

The plant size: The Cuphea plant can reach about 40-60 cm in height and width in room conditions.

The growth rate: The plant  grows relatively slowly.

Temperature requirement: In summer the plant prefers room temperature, in winter the minimum temperature is fifty degree Fahrenheit.

Humidity requirement: High, it is desirable to spray the Cuphea plant at least 3 times a week.

Light requirement: The plant prefers a sunny place with light shading. At Kufa is not insufficient light to bloom and the Cuphea plant leaves become dull. In bright light, the edges of the Cuphea plant leaves will turn red.

Soil requirement: Ready-made rich weakly acidic primer is appropriate for general use. For a soil of own preparation, take: one part of the garden land, one part of coarse sand or perlite, one part of wet peat or humus (leaf land). Good drainage and a pot with a hole are required.

Cuphea water requirements: To water very abundantly every three to four days, it is essential to wet the earth well, so that the water flows out of the drainage hole. The substrate should dry slightly between waterings, but it must never completely dry up.

What is the best fertilizer for Cuphea? From spring to autumn, every two weeks, a complex fertilizer with a high content of potassium and phosphorus.

Reproduction: The apical cuttings in March-April at a soil temperature of seventy-seven degree Fahrenheit. Use cuttings seven to eight centimeter, bottom leaves terminated by kornevinom treated slice. You can plant the cuttings in a mixture of peat and sand and cover with a film. Root at room temperature. After the plant roots are formed, the cuttings are planted separately. Cuphea plants can be propagated by seeds that have a fairly low germination capacity. The seeds are sown in a substrate of peat and sand, slightly pressing into the soil, the soil is not sprinkled, covered with polyethylene and germinated in diffuse light at a temperature of not lower than 69,8 ° Fahrenheit. The soil should be periodically moistened. It is timely to form the crown, pinching the sprout at the correct height.

Blooming time:  Tubular flowers, red and yellow in kufei fiery red and white, pink and purple, measuring about 2.5 centimeter. Blooms from June to November.