Plant Care Purple Viper's-Bugloss

Purple Viper's-Bugloss

About Purple Viper's-Bugloss

Purple Viper's-Bugloss is a super rare houseplant 🌿 that is a fun challenge 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.

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

Purple Viper's-Bugloss belongs to the Echium genus, and is native to Europe and the Mediterranean.

⚠️ Purple Viper's-Bugloss is extremely dangerous if consumed. 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 immediately. These plants are not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Taxonomy

Echium plantagineum
Echium
Boraginaceae
Boraginales

Also known as

Paterson's curse

How to care for Purple Viper's-Bugloss

💦 Water

How often to water your Purple Viper's-Bugloss

Water needs for Purple Viper's-Bugloss
0.5 cups
every 9

Purple Viper's-Bugloss 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 Purple Viper's-Bugloss

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Purple Viper's-Bugloss in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Purple Viper's-Bugloss: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Purple Viper's-Bugloss love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Purple Viper's-Bugloss does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Purple Viper's-Bugloss in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Purple Viper's-Bugloss

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Purple Viper's-Bugloss: 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 Purple Viper's-Bugloss after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Purple Viper's-Bugloss can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!


💦 Water Needs

Purple Viper's-Bugloss 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

Purple Viper's-Bugloss 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

Purple Viper's-Bugloss is extremely dangerous if consumed. 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 immediately. Purple Viper's-Bugloss is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.


🪴 Soil

Purple Viper's-Bugloss 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!


💩 Fertilizer

Purple Viper's-Bugloss 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!


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Purple Viper's-Bugloss grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Purple Viper's-Bugloss can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a-9b. 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 Purple Viper's-Bugloss, 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 Purple Viper's-Bugloss

Purple Viper's-Bugloss

Purple Viper's-Bugloss


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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