Plant Care Sweetleaf

Sweetleaf

4.5 out of 5 (2 experiences)

Sweetleaf has a Survivor plant personality Survivor

About Sweetleaf

Sweetleaf is a perennial in the aster family and is native to warm humid climates in South America. It is grown for its leaves from which a sweetener is made. It needs sandy well-drained but moist soil in sun to partial shade. It can be grown as an annual or brought indoors for the winter.

Taxonomy

Stevia rebaudiana
Stevia
Asteraceae
Asterales

Also known as

Candyleaf and Sugarleaf

How to care for Sweetleaf

💦 Water

How often to water your Sweetleaf

Water needs for Sweetleaf
0.5 cups
every 9

Sweetleaf 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 Sweetleaf

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Sweetleaf in your home

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

Sweetleaf love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Sweetleaf does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Sweetleaf

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

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Sweetleaf 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 Sweetleaf →

Benefits of Growing Sweetleaf →

Indoor Care Guide for Sweetleaf →

Outdoor Care Guide for Sweetleaf →


💦 Water Needs

Sweetleaf 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.

Sweetleaf Water Frequency →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Sweetleaf 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 🏡.

Sweetleaf Light Requirements →

Sweetleaf Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Sweetleaf 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

Sweetleaf 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 Sweetleaf →

Best Pots for Sweetleaf →

When and How to Successfully Repot Sweetleaf →

What Are Healthy Sweetleaf Roots →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Sweetleaf grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Sweetleaf Lifecycle →

Sweetleaf Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Sweetleaf →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

Sweetleaf 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 Sweetleaf →


🍂 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 Sweetleaf, 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 Sweetleaf

Sweetleaf

Sweetleaf


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.

What other plant parents say

Sweetleaf has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 1
Sweetleaf has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 1
@Lolo825 avatar
@@Lolo825
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 58 XP
globe Cottage Grove, WI
08/08/2021

I just bought it! So i dont know much yet. But it has a sweet taste to it. I wanna use it in like my coffee or whatever else

Survivor Survivor

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