Product Overview
Iresine Herbstii – Bloodleaf.
The beautiful bold red patterned leaves with prominent red veins give this shrubby plant the common name of Bloodleaf. Native to Brasil they like bright light, warmth and humidity. A really eye catching addition to your indoor jungle.
Summer care:
Bloodleaf require bright, indirect light to maintain their colour, which is basically the reason to keep them. If kept in too little light then growth will be leggy and weak, and their colours will fade. Shade from hot, direct Summer sun.
In Summer, while growing, keep the soil moist, but not water-logged. The best way to achieve this is to water the plant well, but then allow the top of the soil to become dry before watering again.
Prefers moist, warm conditions. Room temperatures above 18c are ideal.
Humidity is best achieved by placing on a saucer filled with decorative stones that you add water to, stand the plant on the stones. This will increase the moisture in the air around the plant. In particularly hot weather regular misting will also help to keep the plant happy.
A happy plant can grow quite quickly, so regular pruning will encourage a more attractive, bushier plant. Simply pinch the plant back on a weekly basis.
Fertilise monthly with an organic liquid houseplant feed as per instructions.
Minimum Temp: 13c
Winter care: In Winter your plant will adapt to cooler temperatures and reduced light levels. Growth stops so it requires less water and no fertiliser. Water moderately but make sure to wait until the top 2-3cm of the soil becomes dry, don`t be tempted to water again until this happens, even if it seems a long time since last watered.
Extremely easy to propagate by stem cuttings. Take a stem cutting approximately 8-10cm in length, remove the lower leaves, and plant in coarse, free draining compost. Cacti compost is ideal. Keep moist and warm. The cutting should produce new roots in a number of days. Transplant once the roots have reached 8-10cm long in to standard houseplant compost and enjoy.
