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Malabar Spinach

About Malabar Spinach

Malabar Spinach is a vigorous climbing vine native to tropical regions in Asia. It can grow to a six-foot vine, but can often reach 30 feet in length. It needs a well-drained moisture-retentive soil rich in organic matter and a warm sunny sheltered position. It tolerates high rainfall and fairly poor soils but does better in rich soils.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Basella alba

Genus

Basella

Family

Basellaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

Also known as

Vine spinach and Ceylon spinach

How to care for Malabar Spinach

💦 Water

How often to water your Malabar Spinach

Malabar Spinach 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.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Malabar Spinach in your home

Malabar Spinach love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Malabar Spinach does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Malabar Spinach in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Malabar Spinach

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Malabar Spinach: 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 Malabar Spinach after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #MalabarSpinach

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Malabar Spinach is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Malabar Spinach →

Benefits of Growing Malabar Spinach →

Common Malabar Spinach Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Malabar Spinach →

Outdoor Care Guide for Malabar Spinach →

💦 Water Needs

Malabar Spinach 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.

Malabar Spinach Water Frequency →

Malabar Spinach Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Malabar Spinach requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Malabar Spinach Light Requirements →

Malabar Spinach Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Malabar Spinach 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.

🪴 Soil

Malabar Spinach 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!

Best Soil Mix for Malabar Spinach →

Best Pots for Malabar Spinach →

When and How to Successfully Repot Malabar Spinach →

What Are Healthy Malabar Spinach Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Malabar Spinach is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Malabar Spinach →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Malabar Spinach is a naturally climbing plant and can be trained to climb indoors if you provide a moss pole or trellis. The newest growth will emerge from the end of the stems.

Malabar Spinach Lifecycle →

Malabar Spinach Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Malabar Spinach →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Malabar Spinach can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Malabar Spinach Temperature Tolerance →

Malabar Spinach Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Malabar Spinach →

When to Plant Malabar Spinach →

How to Plant Malabar Spinach →

Where to Plant Malabar Spinach →

Winter Care for Malabar Spinach →

Best Companion Plants for Malabar Spinach →

Is Malabar Spinach a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Malabar Spinach can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Malabar Spinach →

🍂 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 Malabar Spinach, 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.