Plant Care Cuphea

Cuphea

About Cuphea

Cuphea is a relatively rare houseplant 🌿 that is easy to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Cuphea likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Cuphea belongs to the Cuphea genus, and is native to Mexico.

Taxonomy

Cuphea llavea
Cuphea
Lythraceae
Myrtales

How to care for Cuphea

💦 Water

How often to water your Cuphea

Water needs for Cuphea
0.5 cups
every 9

Cuphea 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 Cuphea

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Cuphea in your home

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

Cuphea love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Cuphea does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Cuphea

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

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

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

How to Grow Cuphea →

Benefits of Growing Cuphea →

Common Cuphea Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Cuphea →


💦 Water Needs

Cuphea 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.

Cuphea Water Frequency →

Cuphea Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Cuphea 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 🏡.

Cuphea Light Requirements →

Cuphea Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Cuphea 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 Cuphea Edible? →

Cuphea Toxicity to Cats →

Cuphea Toxicity to Dogs →

Cuphea Toxicity to Humans →


🪴 Soil

Cuphea 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 Cuphea →

Best Pots for Cuphea →

When and How to Successfully Repot Cuphea →

What Are Healthy Cuphea Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Cuphea 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!

How Much and When to Fertilize Cuphea →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Cuphea grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

Cuphea Lifecycle →

Cuphea Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Cuphea →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Cuphea 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 Cuphea →


🍂 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 Cuphea, 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 Cuphea

Cuphea

Cuphea


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

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

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