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Mexican Cotton

About Mexican Cotton

Upland Cotton is the most commonly planted agricultural cotton and provides 90% of the world's cotton. Cotton-seed oil is obtained from the seeds and used in various cooking products as margarine and cooking oils. It is an annual to perennial subshrub in the mallow family.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Gossypium hirsutum

Genus

Gossypium

Family

Malvaceae

Order

Malvales

Also known as

Upland Cotton, Upland Cotton, Cotton and Mexican cotton

How to care for Mexican Cotton

💦 Water

How often to water your Mexican Cotton

Mexican Cotton 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 Upland Cotton in your home

Mexican Cotton love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Mexican Cotton does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Mexican Cotton

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

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Mexican Cotton can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!

💦 Water Needs

Mexican Cotton 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

Mexican Cotton 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

Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.

If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.

🪴 Soil

Mexican Cotton 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

Mexican Cotton 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

Mexican Cotton will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Mexican Cotton can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

🧐 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.