Downy Indian Paintbrush

Also known as

plains paintbrush and purple paintbrush

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Castilleja purpurea

Genus

Castilleja

Family

Orobanchaceae

Order

Lamiales

How to care for Downy Indian Paintbrush

💦 Water

How often to water your Downy Indian Paintbrush

Downy Indian Paintbrush 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 Downy Indian Paintbrush in your home

Downy Indian Paintbrush love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Downy Indian Paintbrush does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Downy Indian Paintbrush in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Downy Indian Paintbrush

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

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Downy Indian Paintbrush 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.

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Downy Indian Paintbrush 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 🏡.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Downy Indian Paintbrush is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

🪴 Soil

Downy Indian Paintbrush is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Downy Indian Paintbrush can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

🍂 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 Downy Indian Paintbrush, 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.