Plant Care Swamp Cottonwood

Swamp Cottonwood

About Swamp Cottonwood

Swamp Cottonwood is a super rare houseplant 🌿 that needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

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

Swamp Cottonwood belongs to the Populus genus, and is native to Canada and the Southeast United States.

Taxonomy

Populus heterophylla
Populus
Salicaceae
Malpighiales

Also known as

Swamp Cottonwood, downy poplar and swamp poplar

How to care for Swamp Cottonwood

💦 Water

How often to water your Swamp Cottonwood

Water needs for Swamp Cottonwood
0.5 cups
every 9

Swamp Cottonwood 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?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Swamp Cottonwood in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Swamp Cottonwood: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Swamp Cottonwood love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Swamp Cottonwood does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Swamp Cottonwood

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

💡 FAQs
💦 Water Needs

Swamp Cottonwood 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

Swamp Cottonwood 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

Swamp Cottonwood 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

Swamp Cottonwood 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

Swamp Cottonwood 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

Swamp Cottonwood 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
Swamp Cottonwood can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 5a-9a. 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 Swamp Cottonwood, 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 Swamp Cottonwood

Swamp Cottonwood


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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