Plant Care Common Buckthorn

Common Buckthorn

About Common Buckthorn

Common Buckthorn 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.

Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Common Buckthorn belongs to the Rhamnus genus, and is native to Europe to Western Siberia and Northwest China and Northwestern Africa.

⚠️ Common Buckthorn 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.

Taxonomy

Rhamnus cathartica
Rhamnus
Rhamnaceae
Rosales

Also known as

Buckthorn, Cathartic buckthorn and Purging buckthorn

How to care for Common Buckthorn

💦 Water

How often to water your Common Buckthorn

Water needs for Common Buckthorn
0.5 cups
every 9

Common Buckthorn 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 Buckthorn

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Common Buckthorn in your home

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

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

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

Common Buckthorn does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Common Buckthorn

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

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Common Buckthorn 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 Common Buckthorn →

Common Common Buckthorn Problems →


💦 Water Needs

Common Buckthorn 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.

Common Buckthorn Water Frequency →

Common Buckthorn Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Common Buckthorn 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 🏡.

Common Buckthorn Light Requirements →

Common Buckthorn Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Common Buckthorn 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.

Common Buckthorn Toxicity to Cats →

Common Buckthorn Toxicity to Dogs →

Common Buckthorn Toxicity to Humans →


💩 Fertilizer

Common Buckthorn 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 Common Buckthorn →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Common Buckthorn 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.

How and When to Prune Common Buckthorn →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Common Buckthorn can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-7b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Common Buckthorn Temperature Tolerance →


🧐 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 Buckthorn

Common Buckthorn

Common Buckthorn


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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