Plant Care Alligatorweed

Alligatorweed

Also known as

alligator-weed and Alligator Weed

Taxonomy

Alternanthera philoxeroides
Alternanthera
Amaranthaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Alligatorweed

šŸ’¦ Water

How often to water your Alligatorweed

Water needs for Alligatorweed
0.5 cups
every 9

Alligatorweed needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Alligatorweed

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
ā˜€ļø Light

Finding light for Alligatorweed in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Alligatorweed: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Alligatorweed love being close to bright, sunny windows šŸ˜Ž.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Alligatorweed does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Alligatorweed in your home šŸ”.

🪓 Nutrients

How to fertilize Alligatorweed

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Alligatorweed: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Alligatorweed after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

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šŸ’” FAQs
šŸ’¦ Water Needs

Alligatorweed prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Alligatorweed Water Frequency →

Alligatorweed Root Rot →


ā˜€ļø Sunlight Needs

Alligatorweed requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive šŸ’Ŗ. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home šŸ”.

Alligatorweed Light Requirements →

Alligatorweed Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 šŸ‘¶ Toxicity

Alligatorweed is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Alligatorweed Edible? →

Alligatorweed Toxicity to Cats →

Alligatorweed Toxicity to Dogs →

Alligatorweed Toxicity to Humans →


🪓 Soil

Alligatorweed does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

When and How to Successfully Repot Alligatorweed →

What Are Healthy Alligatorweed Roots →


šŸ’© Fertilizer

Alligatorweed should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


šŸŒ¦ļø Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Alligatorweed can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 7a-13b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Alligatorweed Temperature Tolerance →

Alligatorweed Hardiness Zones →

Is Alligatorweed a Weed? →


šŸ‚ Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Alligatorweed, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Alligatorweed

Alligatorweed

Alligatorweed


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4ā€ pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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