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Bloodleaf

About Bloodleaf

Bloodleaf 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.

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

Bloodleaf belongs to the Iresine genus, and is native to Northern Peru.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Iresine diffusa f. herbstii

Genus

Iresine

Family

Amaranthaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

Also known as

Iresine herbstii, Beef Plant, Beefsteak Plant and Iresine herbstii.

How to care for Bloodleaf

💦 Water

How often to water your Bloodleaf

Bloodleaf 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 Bloodleaf in your home

Bloodleaf love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Bloodleaf does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Bloodleaf

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

Browse #Bloodleaf

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

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

How to Grow Bloodleaf →

Benefits of Growing Bloodleaf →

Common Bloodleaf Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Bloodleaf →

Outdoor Care Guide for Bloodleaf →

💦 Water Needs

Bloodleaf 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.

Bloodleaf Water Frequency →

Bloodleaf Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Bloodleaf 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 🏡.

Bloodleaf Light Requirements →

Bloodleaf Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Bloodleaf 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 Bloodleaf Edible? →

Bloodleaf Toxicity to Cats →

Bloodleaf Toxicity to Dogs →

Bloodleaf Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

Bloodleaf doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Bloodleaf Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Bloodleaf 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 Bloodleaf →

Best Pots for Bloodleaf →

When and How to Successfully Repot Bloodleaf →

What Are Healthy Bloodleaf Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Bloodleaf 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 Bloodleaf →

🌎 Native Region

Bloodleaf is native to Tropical Americas.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

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

Bloodleaf Temperature Tolerance →

Bloodleaf Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Bloodleaf →

When to Plant Bloodleaf →

How to Plant Bloodleaf →

Where to Plant Bloodleaf →

Winter Care for Bloodleaf →

Best Companion Plants for Bloodleaf →

Is Bloodleaf a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Bloodleaf can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Bloodleaf →

🍂 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 Bloodleaf, 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.