How to Care for and Grow Waffle Plants: Hemigraphis exotica
Bought this for my mom for 10 years now. At one time, green leaves were almost dark red like its underside. Will this thing flower? Very difficult to take cuttings and get roots but I was lucky once. Thanks..
Hi Robert,
Your plant is called a Hemigraphis exotica commonly called a Waffle Plant
Water: Waffle plants like evenly moist soil but never soggy soil. If the soil is too wet the roots rot.
Light: Bright indirect light but no direct sun.
Plant Food: Fertilize with a basic plant food monthly in the Spring through the beginning of Fall.
Humidity: High humidity: you might want to place your Waffle Plant on a wet pebble tray. It’s easy to make a wet pebble tray, just place pebbles in a saucer, or any container without holes. Fill with water to the top of the pebbles. Set the plant on top, but be sure the plant is sitting on the pebbles and not in the water.
Propagation: Propagate using stem cuttings. Use 4- to 6-inch stem cutting. Remove all but 3 or 4 leaves from the stems, plant 2 or three stem cuttings in a 4″ pot of moist soil, be sure there are drainage holes in the bottom. Cover with clear plastic and place in bright indirect light. Check to see when soil starts to dry out and plant needs more water. The cuttings should root in about 10 days.
Flowering: Waffle Plants do produce small white flowers, but I think the leaves are more impressive that the flowers.