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Pumpkin

About Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a popular 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.

Pumpkin likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Pumpkin belongs to the Cucurbita genus, and is native to South America.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Cucurbita maxima

Genus

Cucurbita

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Order

Cucurbitales

Also known as

Vegetable marrow, Big Max Pumpkin and Winter Squash

How to care for Pumpkin

💦 Water

How often to water your Pumpkin

Pumpkin 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 Pumpkin in your home

Pumpkin love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Pumpkin does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Pumpkin

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

Browse #ButtercupSquash

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Pumpkin 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 Pumpkin →

Benefits of Growing Pumpkin →

Common Pumpkin Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Pumpkin →

💦 Water Needs

Pumpkin 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.

Pumpkin Water Frequency →

Pumpkin Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Pumpkin 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 🏡.

Pumpkin Light Requirements →

Pumpkin Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Pumpkin 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.

💨 Humidity

Pumpkin doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Pumpkin Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Pumpkin 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 Pumpkin →

Best Pots for Pumpkin →

When and How to Successfully Repot Pumpkin →

What Are Healthy Pumpkin Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Pumpkin 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 Pumpkin →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Pumpkin is a naturally climbing plant and can be trained to climb indoors if you provide a moss pole or trellis. The newest growth will emerge from the end of the stems.

Pumpkin Lifecycle →

Pumpkin Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Pumpkin →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Pumpkin can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Pumpkin Temperature Tolerance →

Pumpkin Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Pumpkin →

When to Plant Pumpkin →

How to Plant Pumpkin →

Where to Plant Pumpkin →

Winter Care for Pumpkin →

Best Companion Plants for Pumpkin →

Is Pumpkin a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

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

How to Propagate Pumpkin →

🍂 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 Pumpkin, 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.