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Firecracker Plant

About Firecracker Plant

Russelia equisetiformis, or the Coral plant, is a deciduous, branching, tropical shrub measuring four feet by five feet at maturity. It flowers profusely with small decumbent or trailing, red flowers. The Coral plant is a popular nectar plant for hummingbirds and butterflies and is moderately salt tolerant.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Russelia equisetiformis

Genus

Russelia

Family

Plantaginaceae

Order

Lamiales

Also known as

Fountainbush, Coral plant, Coral fountain, Coralblow and Fountain plant

How to care for Firecracker Plant

💦 Water

How often to water your Firecracker Plant

Firecracker Plant 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?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Firecracker Plant in your home

Firecracker Plant love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Firecracker Plant does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Firecracker Plant

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

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Firecracker Plant 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!

How to Grow Firecracker Plant →

Benefits of Growing Firecracker Plant →

Common Firecracker Plant Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Firecracker Plant →

💦 Water Needs

Firecracker Plant 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.

Firecracker Plant Water Frequency →

Firecracker Plant Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Firecracker Plant 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 🏡.

Firecracker Plant Light Requirements →

Firecracker Plant Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Firecracker Plant 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.

Is Firecracker Plant Edible? →

Firecracker Plant Toxicity to Cats →

Firecracker Plant Toxicity to Dogs →

Firecracker Plant Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

Firecracker Plant 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!

Best Soil Mix for Firecracker Plant →

Best Pots for Firecracker Plant →

When and How to Successfully Repot Firecracker Plant →

What Are Healthy Firecracker Plant Roots →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Firecracker Plant Lifecycle →

Firecracker Plant Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Firecracker Plant →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

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

Firecracker Plant Temperature Tolerance →

Firecracker Plant Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Firecracker Plant →

When to Plant Firecracker Plant →

How to Plant Firecracker Plant →

Where to Plant Firecracker Plant →

Winter Care for Firecracker Plant →

Best Companion Plants for Firecracker Plant →

Is Firecracker Plant a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Firecracker Plant can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Firecracker Plant →

🍂 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 Firecracker Plant, 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.