Plant Care Blue Plumbago

Blue Plumbago

Also known as

Cape plumbago and Cape leadwort

Taxonomy

Plumbago auriculata
Plumbago
Plumbaginaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Blue Plumbago

💦 Water

How often to water your Blue Plumbago

Water needs for Blue Plumbago
0.5 cups
every 9

Blue Plumbago 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 Blue Plumbago

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Blue Plumbago in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Blue Plumbago: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Blue Plumbago love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Blue Plumbago does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Blue Plumbago

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

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Blue Plumbago 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!

Benefits of Growing Blue Plumbago →

Common Blue Plumbago Problems →


💦 Water Needs

Blue Plumbago 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.

Blue Plumbago Water Frequency →

Blue Plumbago Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Blue Plumbago 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 🏡.

Blue Plumbago Light Requirements →

Blue Plumbago Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Blue Plumbago is not safe to consume. 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. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

Is Blue Plumbago Edible? →

Blue Plumbago Toxicity to Cats →

Blue Plumbago Toxicity to Dogs →

Blue Plumbago Toxicity to Humans →


🪴 Soil

Blue Plumbago 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!

When and How to Successfully Repot Blue Plumbago →

What Are Healthy Blue Plumbago Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Blue Plumbago 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

Blue Plumbago grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

Blue Plumbago Lifecycle →

Blue Plumbago Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Blue Plumbago →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Blue Plumbago can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Blue Plumbago Temperature Tolerance →

Blue Plumbago Hardiness Zones →

Is Blue Plumbago a Weed? →


🌱 Propagation

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


🍂 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 Blue Plumbago, 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 Blue Plumbago

Blue Plumbago

Blue Plumbago


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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