Acalypha hispida (Chenille Plant) Care Indoors and Common Problems with Solutions

Last updated on October 23 2024

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Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida) grows best in bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, well drained soil that is rich in organic matter coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing period.

Acalypha hispida is one of the popular flowering plants on account of its pendulous, brilliantly colored, furry flowers which are magnificient in a hanging basket or on a pedestal.

It bears large, bright-green, heart-shaped leaves with toothed margins on sparsely branched upright to arching stems.

Acalypha hispida has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit because of its attractiveness and brilliantly colored, furry flowers.

Red Hot Cat Tail are tropical perennial plant which cannot not tolerate cold temperatures. It is not cold hardy, therefore, it is best grown as indoor plants in the cold temperate climates.

In climates with harsh winters, Monkey Tail can be grown outdoors as container plants during spring and summer which are brought inside when the temperatures drop to about 15⁰C in fall.

Botanical name: Acalypha hispida
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Common names: Chenille Plant, Philippine Medusa, Red Hot Cat Tail, Monkey Tail, Foxtail

Origin

Acalypha hispida is native to Malesia and Papuasia and has become naturalized to United States, Mexico, Nicaragua and Belize. The species name, 'hispida' is Latin for 'bristly', which refers to the pendant flowers which vaguely resemble brushes. The common name, 'Chenille' is French for Caterpillar.

Size

The stems in Chenille Plant can grow upto 5-8 feet long which places it among the best flowering plants hanging baskets.

Flowers

Red Hot Cat Tail is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are on different plants. The female flowers consist of a simple row of pistils covered in downy catkins and can grow up to 18 inches long. The male flowers are not showy, plants offered as ornamentals are all females.

Varieties

Apart from the basic Acalypha hispida with red inflorescence, other cultivars are available. They include a white cultivar, ‘Alba’, ‘White Margined’ with cream colored flowers and creamy white teeth on the leaf margins and a dwarf form, Acalypha pendula, which grows only 3-7 inches tall.

Related: Copperleaf Plant (Acalypha wilkesiana) Indoor Care and Common Issues

Toxicity

Chenille Plants are non-toxic to humans and pets as outlined by ASPCA. They are not toxic to cats and dogs. They are safe to grow in the home.

Where to Buy

If you would like to acquire Red Hot Cat Tail Plants, you may obtain them online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).

Chenille Plant Care Indoors

Chenille Plant thrives in bright indirect light (filtered light), average warmth of 18-28⁰C, humidity of 55-70%, and moderately moist, fertile, well drained, all purpose soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.

Acalypha hispida care requires regular pruning to control growth. Repotting is only needed when the plant becomes potbound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Watering

Water Chenille Plant thoroughly during the growing season when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out and keep the soil moderately moist through out.

Reduce watering during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time and maintain the soil slightly moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and drain excess water from the catch plate or saucer to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot and death of the plant.

Light Requirements

Chenille Plant grows best in bright indirect light away from direct sunlight. A spot infront of a brightly-lit window is ideal for this plant.

Acalypha hispida can also be grown under grow lights where the natural light is not adequate. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.

Regularly turn the pot to ensure the plant receives adequate light on all sides to promote even growth and prevent the plant from getting leggy.

You can move the Philippine Medusa outdoors in summer for some sun but acclimate it gradually to prevent scorching. Ensure to bring it back inside in fall when temperatures begin to drop, it can tolerate a temperature of 15⁰C.

Temperature and Humidity

Chenille Plant prefers average warmth within the range of 18-28⁰C. Keep it away from cold and hot drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, air conditioning units, hot air vents and others to prevent sudden changes in temperature which may lead to leaf drop and reduced growth.

Acalypha hispida flourishes in humidity of 55-70%. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to increase humidity for the plant where the air is too dry.

Regularly clean the leaves with a soft brush to get rid of dust as well as discourage pest infestations. Ensure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal infestations.

Fertilizer (Feeding)

Feed Chenille Plant every 2-3 weeks during the growing season with a phosphorus-rich, water-soluble fertilizer to boost blooming and healthy growth of the plant.

Withhold feeding in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time and feeding the plant at this time can lead to fertilizer burn and death of the plant.

To flush out accumulated chemicals (salts) from the soil, occasionally run a stream of water through the soil. Allow the stream of water to run for some time and repeat the process several times.

Potting Soil

The best potting mix for Chenille Plant should be rich in organic matter to provide the required nutrients and at a PH of 6-7.5 for the optimum growth of the plant. A well-drained, all purpose potting mix is recommended to avoid getting soggy soil which can lead to root-rot and death of the plant.

Repotting

Repot Chenille Plant at the beginning of spring only when it becomes extremely pot-bound as it blooms best when slightly pot-bound. Do not repot a plant that is in flower as it can shorten the flowering period.

Repot into a pot 1 size larger than the current one that has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy to prevent root-rot and eventual death of the plant. Check out these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.

Slip the plant out of its pot, shake off the old potting mix and trim the dead roots with clean and sterilized scissors. Place the plant in the center of the new pot and refill with fresh, free-draining potting mix.

Wet the soil thoroughly until water comes out through the drainage hole, empty the saucer and place the plant infront of a brightly-lit window.

Pruning

Pruning Chenille Plant involves removal of dead leaves and flowers to keep the plant neat and discourage pests and diseases. To control growth and encourage a more compact growth, cutback the stems after flowering with a sharp, clean pair of pruning scissors to about 12 inches above the soil. This will also boost blooming in the next season.

Chenille Plant Care Outdoors

Chenille Plants are tropical plants which require warm and humid conditions to thrive. They are not cold hardy, therefore, they are best grown as houseplants in the temperate climates.

However, in climates with harsh winters, Red Hot Cat Tail can be grown outdoors as container plants during spring and summer which are brought inside when the temperatures drop to about 15⁰C in fall.

Cutback the plant to about 12 in. above the soil and place it in a warm, humid place where it can receive bright light and reduce watering to keep the soil slightly moist but do not let it dry out completely.

Do not feed the plant at this time as growth is reduced and ensure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal infestations.

Once the temperatures warm up to 15⁰C in spring, move the plant outdoors under bright sunlight but shield it from hot direct sunlight to prevent scorching.

Ensure that the soil remains moderately moist but not soggy by watering when the top 2-3 in. of soil feels dry and feed the plant every 2-3 weeks with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer to boost blooming.

Propagation

Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida) can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season (spring) from stem cuttings. The stem cuttings can be rooted in water or in soil.

Check out our guide on How to Propagate Chenille Plant | 2 Ways of Acalypha hispida Propagation.

How to grow Chenille Plant from seeds

Spread Chenille Plant seeds evenly on moist free-draining soil and cover lightly with some soil. Cover the set up with a plastic sheet to create a greenhouse effect.

Place the set up in a warm, brightly-lit place and maintain the soil moist through out by light misting the soil surface until the seedlings are well established.

When the seedlings have true leaves formed and are a reasonable size, transplant them into individual pots.

Position the pots in a warm, well-lit spot and maintain the soil moist until the new plants are well established after which you can begin normal routine care.

Chenille Plant Problems with Solutions

Chenille Plant problems include lack of blooms, yellow leaves, leaf drop, leggy growth, pests among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to solve them.

Pests

The common pests in Chenille Plant are mealybugs, whiteflies and spidermites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the rest of the plants and treat it with neem oil or insecticidal soap as directed by the manufacturers.

Lack of blooms

Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida) is a prolific bloomer but it may fail to bloom due to cultural faults in lighting, watering, feeding, temperatures, humidity, pruning, soil among others.

Here are 10 Reasons Why Chenille Plant is Not Blooming and How to Fix Them.

Plant dying

Chenille Plant may die from wrong growing conditions like incorrect watering, improper feeding, little light, wrong temperatures, poor quality soil, root-rot, pest infestations among others.

Check out our post on 10 Reasons Why Chenille Plant is Dying and their Remedies.

Yellow leaves

Chenille Plant leaves may turn yellow and die due to poor lighting, poor soil quality, low light, low humidity, pest infestations, root-rot, poor feeding, improper watering among others.

Read more on 12 Reasons Why Chenille Plant Leaves are Turning Yellow & Dying with Solutions.

Leaf drop

Leaf drop in Chenille Plant is caused by two possible reasons. One possible reason is incorrect watering; either underwatering or overwatering. Maintain the soil consistently moist during the growing season. Reduce watering in the cold season but do not let the soil dry out completely.

Ensure that pot has a drainage hole and the soil is loose, free-draining to prevent from getting soggy as it can result in root-rot which can result in loss of leaves. Read more on how to water houseplants the right way.

The second possible reason for leaf drop in Red Hot Cat Tail is pest infestation. These sap-sucking insects will cause dehydration of the plant leading to wilting and leaf drop.

Leggy growth

Leggy growth in Chenille Plant is caused by too little light which means that the plant is not getting adequate light for making food needed for growth and development.

In a bid to get enough light, the plant stretches towards the light source which results in leggy growth; pale, undersized leaves, thin stems and wide spaces between the leaf nodes.

Place the plant in a brighter spot as it grows best in bright light with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not sufficient. Learn more on understanding light for houseplants.

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