Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender'

Botanical Name: Plectranthus hybrid

'Mona Lavender' is a fast-growing perennial shrub that's fast becoming a favorite house plant.

 

This shade-lover is an exciting new cultivar that's perfectly suited to growing indoors. Few other plants bloom so dependably indoors, for so many months, and fewer still are as easy to grow as "Mona."

Upright stems are densely covered with dark-green ovate leaves with toothed edges. The glossy leaves are evergreen with purple undersides, making this a beautiful house plant year-round.

Just when most plants are slowing down in autumn, this flowering beauty sends up tall spikes of tubular lavender flowers spotted with purple. It's the shorter daylight hours that trigger blooming, so don't put it under artificial lights. You'll likely enjoy flowers right through the winter and into spring.

Pinch and prune. Pinching off new stem tips will promote branching and keep the plant compact. (Don't toss them out -- you can easily propagate them for more plants.) Flowers grow at the tips of new branches, so you'll get more blooms this way. Also, cut off flower spikes when flowers have faded to encourage more blooms.

Repot in spring after flowering is over. Move up to a pot only 1 size larger to give it a little room to grow. Use a pot with drainage holes to prevent soggy soil, which leads to root rot.

Problems with this plant are few. Hot, direct sun and dry soil will kill it. If you move it outdoors for the summer, keep it in full shade and well-watered.

'Mona Lavender' Care Tips

Origin: Tropical South Africa

Height: 2 ft (60 cm)

Light: Bright indirect light.

Water: Water thoroughly, then allow the top 1 in (2.5 cm) to dry out between waterings.

Humidity: Average room humidity.

Temperature: Average room temperatures (65-80°F/18-27°C) suit this tropical plant just fine. Aim to keep it warm year-round. If you put 'Mona Lavender' out on the patio for the summer, bring it back in when the temperature drops. It won't tolerate frost.

Soil: Peat moss-based potting mix.

Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half.

Propagation: Take 4 in (10 cm) stem tip cuttings in spring or summer. They'll root easily in moist potting mix or water. Sow seeds in spring.