Plant Care Virginia Bluebell

Virginia Bluebell

About Virginia Bluebell

Virginia bluebells are beautiful wildflowers. They flower in the spring and go dormant in mid-summer. They grow in nutrient-rich, moist soils of floodplain forests and thickets. They can be easily propagated by sowing fresh seed or dividing plants in spring.

Taxonomy

Mertensia virginica
Mertensia
Boraginaceae
Boraginales

Also known as

Virginia bluebells, Virginia cowslip, Lungwort oysterleaf and Roanoke bells

How to care for Virginia Bluebell

💦 Water

How often to water your Virginia Bluebell

Water needs for Virginia Bluebell
0.5 cups
every 9

Virginia Bluebell 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 Virginia Bluebell

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Virginia Bluebell in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Virginia Bluebell: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

Virginia Bluebell may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Virginia Bluebell

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

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Virginia Bluebell is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Virginia Bluebell →

Benefits of Growing Virginia Bluebell →

Common Virginia Bluebell Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Virginia Bluebell →


💦 Water Needs

Virginia Bluebell 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.

Virginia Bluebell Water Frequency →

Virginia Bluebell Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Virginia Bluebell may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Virginia Bluebell Light Requirements →

Virginia Bluebell Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Virginia Bluebell 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 Virginia Bluebell Edible? →

Virginia Bluebell Toxicity to Cats →

Virginia Bluebell Toxicity to Dogs →

Virginia Bluebell Toxicity to Humans →


🪴 Soil

Virginia Bluebell 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 Virginia Bluebell →

Best Pots for Virginia Bluebell →

When and How to Successfully Repot Virginia Bluebell →

What Are Healthy Virginia Bluebell Roots →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Virginia Bluebell grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Virginia Bluebell Lifecycle →

Virginia Bluebell Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Virginia Bluebell →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

Virginia Bluebell can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

  • Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
  • If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
  • Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
  • Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Virginia Bluebell →


🍂 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 Virginia Bluebell, 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 Virginia Bluebell

Virginia Bluebell

Virginia Bluebell


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft 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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