Plant Care Common Myrtle

Common Myrtle

3.3 out of 5 (4 experiences)

Common Myrtle has a Survivor plant personality Survivor
Common Myrtle has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily

About Common Myrtle

Common myrtle is an evergreen shrub in the Myrtacae (myrtle) family. The leaves have been used for medicinal and culinary purposes. The berries that follow the flowers are edible and when dried are used as a food flavoring. Oils obtained from the bark, flowers and leaves are used in skin care products.

Taxonomy

Myrtus communis
Myrtus
Myrtaceae
Myrtales

How to care for Common Myrtle

💦 Water

How often to water your Common Myrtle

Water needs for Common Myrtle
0.5 cups
every 9

Common Myrtle 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 Common Myrtle

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Common Myrtle in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Common Myrtle: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Common Myrtle love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Common Myrtle does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Common Myrtle

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

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

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


💦 Water Needs

Common Myrtle 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

Common Myrtle 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

Common Myrtle 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

Common Myrtle 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

Common Myrtle grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Common Myrtle can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.


🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Common Myrtle can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.


🧐 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 Common Myrtle

Common Myrtle

Common Myrtle


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.

What other plant parents say

Common Myrtle has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 2
Common Myrtle has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 2
@thiago avatar
@@thiago
leaf-1 15 Plants
xp 1,635 XP
10/04/2021

High maintenance. Thirsty all the time and one day without water is a reason to loose leafs and get the others brown.

Survivor Survivor
Browns easily Browns easily
Dominic avatar
@Dominic
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 27 XP
globe Egg Harbor City, NJ
05/30/2021

Extremely difficult to take care of, whether it’s getting too much light too little light, too much water too little water, too much heat too much cold, too much humidity too little, you’ll basically never know.

Browns easily Browns easily

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