Plant Care Mexican Cotton

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

Gossypium hirsutum
Gossypium
Malvaceae
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

Water needs for Mexican Cotton
0.5 cups
every 9

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.

Calculate water needs of Mexican Cotton

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Upland Cotton in your home

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

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!

How to Grow Upland Cotton →

Benefits of Growing Upland Cotton →

Common Upland Cotton Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Upland Cotton →


💦 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.

Upland Cotton Water Frequency →

Upland Cotton Root Rot →


☀️ 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 🏡.

Upland Cotton Light Requirements →

Upland Cotton Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Mexican Cotton 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. Mexican Cotton is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Is Upland Cotton Edible? →

Upland Cotton Toxicity to Cats →

Upland Cotton Toxicity to Dogs →

Upland Cotton Toxicity to Humans →


🪴 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!

Best Soil Mix for Upland Cotton →

Best Pots for Upland Cotton →

When and How to Successfully Repot Upland Cotton →

What Are Healthy Upland Cotton Roots →


💩 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!

How Much and When to Fertilize Upland Cotton →


⬆️ ⬇️ 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.

Upland Cotton Lifecycle →

Upland Cotton Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Upland Cotton →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🍂 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 Mexican Cotton, 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 Mexican Cotton

Mexican Cotton

Mexican Cotton


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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