Plectranthus - home care, types and varieties

Flowers

Plectranthus is a perennial houseplant and a member of the Lamiaceae family. It is native to the subtropical climates of Latin America, Australia, and Africa. In Russia, it is often known by other names, such as "house mint" or "spur flower."

Caring for plectranthus at home is quite simple, and the flower itself is very beautiful—you can see how striking it is in the photo. Gardeners appreciate mint for its high decorative qualities, ease of maintenance, and relatively fast growth rate. There are several varieties of plectranthus that thrive in apartments and houses, each with its own appeal. The plant propagates well by cuttings and quickly develops foliage, so in a short period of time, you can create an entire indoor greenhouse of indoor mint.

Characteristics of Plectranthus, types and varieties of the plant

Mint is an evergreen shrub, growing to a height of approximately 70 cm. Its branched shoots, depending on the species, either trail along the ground or grow vertically. The root system is fibrous and located near the surface. The flower stems are either downy or bare, and their surface is covered with a rich green or reddish skin.

Opposite leaves grow on short petioles and grow in pairs. The ovoid or oval leaflets are quite fleshy and can be bare or covered with dense pubescence. The foliage margins are finely toothed, and the surface is covered with veins or a variegated pattern.

Today, several varieties and types of plectranthus are available for home cultivation, so every gardener can choose the most suitable plant in advance.

Plectranthus coleus

Plectranthus coleus is an upright shrub, reaching a height of no more than 1 m. Its glossy foliage is ovate. The petioles and quadrangular shoots are covered with pubescence. The green leaves are serrated along the edges. White spots or neat stripes stand out clearly on the surface.

The plant's stems are reddish-pink. This variety is often used as a hanging plant for loggias, balconies, and windows.

Mona Lavender

This variety is a hybrid developed by breeders in the late 1990s. A distinctive feature of the Plectranthus Mona Lavender is its beautiful lavender flowers, clearly visible in the photo.

The plant is characterized by dark green leaves with a purple underside. The small flowers feature small dots that create an intricate pattern. The hybrid is easy to train and grows quite quickly.

Ertendal

This plectranthus can be either a shrub or a herbaceous plant. Its creeping stems grow up to 40 cm. The opposite leaves are small and rounded. The underside of the leaf is reddish and pubescent.

The foliage is green with white veins, and the leaflet edges are serrated. The flowers are small, gathered in sparse, racemose inflorescences. The white inflorescences grow to a height of about 30 cm. A single bell, white or light purple, can reach 1.5 cm in length.

Oakleaf

This variety gets its name from its oak-shaped foliage. Upright shoots bear dark green, leathery leaves. The surface of the foliage is covered with fine, silvery hairs.

The plant's distinctive feature is its pine-like scent, which is released when the foliage is damaged or rubbed. Massive blue flowers bloom from the bottom up. A complex pattern of purple stripes can be seen on the petals.

Whorled

This variety is extremely popular in Scandinavia, where the plant is commonly known as "Swedish ivy." The flower is characterized by long, drooping stems bearing glossy, green leaves with serrated edges.

The surface is smooth, without hairs. Young petioles are green, while the stems and petioles of older leaves are purple.

Rules for caring for plectranthus at home

Despite being a tropical plant, indoor mint is relatively easy to care for and requires very little attention from the gardener. Before purchasing the plant, however, it's important to familiarize yourself with the basic care instructions, as creating optimal conditions is essential for its full development.

Selecting a substrate

The soil for spurwort should be light and breathable. The soil should be neutral or slightly acidic. The best option is to make your own substrate using the following ingredients:

two parts of turf;
one part leaf humus;
one part leaf soil;
0.5 parts coarse sand;
0.5 parts peat.

You can purchase ready-made soil with the same components, but it's important to ensure the substrate has a pH of 6. Don't forget to choose high-quality drainage, which is essential for the health of the root system.

Watering and fertilizing

House mint is a moisture-loving plant, so the soil should be kept slightly moist at all times. When watering, it's important to remember that the plant tolerates short-term drought better than overwatering. Prolonged deprivation of water can cause leaf drop and bud loss, while excess moisture often leads to root rot.

Water only after the top layer of the substrate has dried. The water should be at room temperature, soft, or well-settled. In summer, it's helpful to periodically mist the air around the pot. In winter, reduce the frequency of watering slightly.

Fertilizing is essential for this tropical plant, so it should be done regularly. During active growth (spring and summer), feed indoor mint twice a month. You can use a complete fertilizer or alternate between mineral and organic fertilizers.

It's best to use liquid fertilizers, applied only to moist soil after watering. In winter, apply fertilizer no more than once a month. It's recommended to apply the fertilizer by dividing the dosage indicated on the package in half.

Lighting and temperature

Plectranthus requires good lighting, but avoids direct, scorching rays on its leaves. It's best to place the pot in a room with bright, indirect light, but it can also grow in partial shade. In winter, move the plant to a south-facing window, as insufficient light can adversely affect the foliage.

Please note!

It is important to provide additional lighting for variegated varieties, which may lose their decorative properties in cold weather.

During the active growth phase, the room temperature should range from 18-25°C. With the onset of winter, it is advisable to reduce this temperature to 12-16°C (in the absence of an additional light source). If the plant receives sufficient light, it can be kept at normal room temperature.

Trimming

With the arrival of spring, mint owners should familiarize themselves with pruning rules. This procedure is essential for rejuvenation and the formation of a beautiful bush. Mint grows quite quickly, so pruning should be regular.

The stems are shortened by almost half their length, after which the cuts are treated with charcoal or activated charcoal. Remember to use only clean tools (pruning shears or a knife). During active growth, pinching the tips of the shoots is recommended to promote good branching.

How to propagate and transplant plectranthus at home

A novice gardener should carefully familiarize themselves with the rules for repotting and propagating plectranthus, as the full development of their pet depends on them. It's important to choose the right soil mixture and the right time for repotting and propagation.

Propagation by cuttings

Mint can be propagated this way at any time of year, but experienced gardeners recommend doing it during spring pruning. The procedure is as follows:

Cut healthy cuttings, the length of which should be at least 7 cm, and remove several lower leaves.
The cut cuttings are dipped in a special growth stimulator, for example, Kornevin, and placed in a moistened mixture of sand and peat.
Containers with plants are transferred to a warm place with diffused lighting.
Rooting occurs within 2-3 weeks. During this time, it's important to maintain optimal humidity and water the cuttings regularly using a spray bottle.

Cuttings can also be rooted in water, but remember to change the water every three days. Rooted plants are planted several at a time in small containers, the bottoms of which are lined with expanded clay. The first feeding can be done only after 1.5 months.

By dividing the bush

This method is used to propagate the flower during repotting. The plant should be healthy, mature, and bushy. The root system is divided in half so that each part has well-developed roots and stems. The divisions are planted in separate pots and initially provided with some shade. Water moderately after planting, and avoid watering altogether for the first few days. Subsequent care is the same as for mature plants.

Transfer rules

Until 3-4 years old, indoor mint is repotted annually, while mature plants are repotted every 3 years (provided they are properly fertilized). This procedure is carried out in early spring, just as the growing season begins.

To begin, select the optimal soil composition, the acidity of which should vary within a pH of 6. The soil mixture is made up of the following components:

turf soil;
humus soil;
leaf soil;
sand.

The planting container should be deep enough to accommodate the plant's strong roots. Expanded clay is most often used as a drainage material, filling the pot about a third of the way.

Potential problems and diseases of indoor plants

With proper care, the plant rarely gets sick. The most common cause of illness is improper watering, especially overwatering. This contributes to the development of root rot, which is difficult to treat if not detected promptly. A diseased plant should be repotted in new soil and the frequency and amount of watering should be closely monitored. If the infection is severe, the damaged parts should be trimmed off, and the root system should be treated with a fungicide.

Sometimes insects such as aphids, scale insects, and spider mites can infest the plant. They most often nest on the underside of the leaf, causing the leaves to lose their attractiveness, wilt, turn yellow, or curl. You can get rid of these pests with a soap solution or a specialized insecticide. Remember to treat the above-ground portions of the plant several times, with intervals of 4-6 days.

Frequently asked questions about growing flowers

What flower can you plant indoor mint next to?

It's best to grow houseplants in separate pots, but if necessary, you can "plant" mint with plants that prefer similar care conditions. Avoid planting spurwort in the same pot with plants that require a dormant period in winter or prefer direct sunlight. Furthermore, the plants' flowering periods should coincide. A common option is to plant it near large container plants, such as palms.

How long should I wait for roots to appear when the cutting is “sitting” in water?

Spurwort is easily propagated by cuttings. If you dip the cuttings in a growth stimulant and then place them in a container of water, you can expect the first roots to appear within a week. Just remember to change the water regularly every three days.

Is plectranthus edible?

Mint is considered an excellent expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic. The leaves make a fragrant and healing tea. Chefs add the leaves to dishes as a spice. The leaves of various species of Plectranthus have aromas of mint, oregano, and thyme.

How to make it spread along the ground?

First, make sure the indoor mint is a creeping variety, not an upright one. It's also worth remembering that the shoots don't begin to creep immediately, but rather after they reach 50 cm in length. To promote vigorous growth and branching, it's recommended to periodically pinch the plant and rejuvenate it every few years.

Plectranthus is not only an ornamental plant but also a medicinal one. It's quite easy to care for, so even an inexperienced beginner can grow it.