Plant Care Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder

About Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder is a relatively rare houseplant 🌿 that is isn’t challenging to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Jacob's Ladder likes soil that is good at retaining moisture. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Jacob's Ladder belongs to the Polemonium genus, and is native to Northern Asia and Europe.

Taxonomy

Polemonium caeruleum
Polemonium
Polemoniaceae
Ericales

How to care for Jacob's Ladder

💦 Water

How often to water your Jacob's Ladder

Water needs for Jacob's Ladder
0.5 cups
every 9

Jacob's Ladder 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 Jacob's Ladder

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Jacob's Ladder in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Jacob's Ladder: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Jacob's Ladder love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Jacob's Ladder does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Jacob's Ladder in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Jacob's Ladder

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Jacob's Ladder: 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 Jacob's Ladder after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Jacob's Ladder 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!


💦 Water Needs

Jacob's Ladder 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

Jacob's Ladder 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

Jacob's Ladder 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.


🪴 Soil

Jacob's Ladder is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.


💩 Fertilizer

Jacob's Ladder 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!


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Jacob's Ladder can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.


🍂 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 Jacob's Ladder, 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 Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder


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.

Trending in your area

Similar to Jacob's Ladder

Discover rare plants