Copperleaf Plant (Acalypha wilkesiana) Care Indoors; Watering, Soil, Common Problems

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Copperleaf Plants are easy-care, vibrant tree-like plants and exhibit attractive leaf colors making them great accent plants in any space. Their leaves are broad, ovate to heart-shaped, serrated leaves and can range from red, copper, bronze to pink, green and white, giving them a beautiful vibrant appearance. The leaves can grow quite large and can reach up to 6-8 inches in length and 4-6 inches in width upon maturity.

Acalypha wilkesiana is grown both outdoors in warm climates and indoors as an ornamental houseplant. Copperleaf Plant is a popular choice for gardens and landscapes in the warm climates which makes it perfect for USDA zones 10-12. In the cooler regions it is successfully grown as an indoor plant or in containers which can be brought indoors during winter.

Botanical name: Acalypha wilkesiana

Synonyms: Acalypha tricolor, Acalypha amentacea

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Common names: Copperleaf Plant, Jacob's Coat, Fire Dragon Plant

Origin: Acalypha wilkesiana is native to South Pacific region, specifically the islands of Fiji and New Caledonia. It is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Size: Copperleaf Plant is an evergreen shrub which can grow upto 9.8 feet high and upto 6 feet in diameter when given the right growing conditions. However, the size can be controlled through proper pruning.

Lifespan: Acalypha wilkesiana can live for 3-5 years when given optimal conditions.

Flowers: Jacob's Coat bears separate male and female flowers on the same plant. The male flowers are in long spikes which hang downwards while the female flowers are in short spikes.

Varieties: Acalypha wilkesiana comes in several cultivars which exhibit a range of colors, patterns and leaf shapes. Some of the common varieties include;

• Acalypha wilkesiana 'Marginata' which features green leaves with red margins.


• Acalypha wilkesiana 'Godseffiana' with narrower leaves compared to others and often with a combination of green and creamy-white colors.


• Acalypha wilkesiana 'Louisiana Red' featuring deep red to burgundy leaves.


• Acalypha wilkesiana 'Macrophylla' bears large leaves and has bronze-green foliage with pink to red veining and edges.


• Acalypha wilkesiana 'Musaica' with a mosaic pattern of red, green, and bronze on its leaves.


• Acalypha wilkesiana 'Firestorm' which bears fiery red foliage.

Related plants: Acalypha wilkesiana is closely related to Acalypha hispida (Chenille Plant) which features pendulous, brilliantly-colored, furry flowers and large, bright-green, heart-shaped leaves with toothed margins on sparsely branched upright to arching stems.

Medicinal Benefits: As indicated by Wikipedia, Acalypha wilkesiana has been used in traditional medicine for treating mycoses (skin conditions and wounds). The leaves have been used as poultices to soothe skin irritations.

Toxicity: Copperleaf Plants are toxic to humans and pets. If ingested it may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea while in severe cases, it may cause more serious gastrointestinal distress. Keep the plant away from the reach of children and pets.

Contact with the clear sap can cause severe dermatitis in some individuals. Always wear gloves when handling the plant and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Overview on Copperleaf Plant Indoor Care

Caring for Copperleaf Plant indoor entails;

• Light: Providing bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight; keep it away hot midday sunshine to prevent scorching. Place it near a large, bright window which receive some morning or afternoon sunshine. Too little light may result in dull leaf colors and legginess.


• Watering: Allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy to prevent yellowing, rotting and leaf loss. Decrease watering in fall and winter to maintain the soil slightly moist.


• Temperatures: Give it a warmth of 18-27⁰C; keep it away from sources of drafts to prevent reduced growth, yellowing, wilting and leaf fall.


• Humidity: Maintain a humidity of 55-70%; use a cool mist humidifier or a wet pebble tray. Too little humidity may result in stunted growth and brown leaf tips and edges.


• Soil: Use a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0), rich, well drained soil. A mix of 50% potting soil, 30% peat moss or coco coir and 20% perlite or sand.


• Feeding: Apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer fortnightly in spring and summer. Withhold feeding in fall and winter to prevent fertilizer burn.


• Pruning: Regularly remove dead and yellow foliage to keep the plant neat and to minimize pests and diseases infestations. Pich off the growing tips to encourage a bushier plant. Cutback the large plants by half at the beginning of the growing season to control growth.


• Potting & repotting: Use a pot with a drainage hole to prevent waterlogging. Repot into a pot one size larger at the beginning of the growing season, only when potbound.


• Propagation: Propagate at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer), from stems cuttings which you can root either in water or in soil.


• Common issues: Loss of leaf color, leaf drop, root-rot, mealybugs, aphids and spidermites.
  

How do you care for Copperleaf Plant indoors?

Watering

Water Copperleaf Plant thoroughly in spring and summer when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out to keep the soil evenly moist. Avoid overwatering to prevent yellowing, rotting and leaf drop.

Decrease watering in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time and maintain the soil slightly moist. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely as it may result in wilting and leaf drop.

Use water that is at room temperature to avoid cold shock which can result in stunted growth and leaf drop. Ensure that the water is free of chlorine and other dissolved chemicals to prevent browning of leaf edges and tips.

Confirm 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

Copperleaf Plant flourishes in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunshine; position it infront of a brightly-lit window which receives morning or afternoon sunlight. Keep it away from hot midday sunshine to avoid scorching the leaves.

Too little light causes dull leaf colors and leggy growth. If the light in your home is not adequate, you may use grow lights to supplement it.

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.

During summer, you may move the plant outdoors 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 & Humidity

Copperleaf Plant prefers a warmth of 18-27⁰C. Keep it away from sources of drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, AC units, hot air vents and others to prevent temperature flactuations which can lead to reduced growth and leaf drop.

Acalypha wilkesiana requires a humidity of 55-70% to thrive. Low humidity may result in brown leaf tips and edges. Therefore, to upscale humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a humidifier. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal infestations.

Fertilizer

Feed Copperleaf Plant every 2-3 weeks during the growing season with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to boost healthy growth of the plant.

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

Potting Soil

The best potting mix for Copperleaf Plant should be a well-draining, fertile soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0). A mix made up of 50% potting soil, 30% peat moss or coco coir and 20% perlite or sand is ideal for this plant.

Repotting

Repot Copperleaf Plant every 1-2 years at the beginning of spring only when it has become pot-bound. Use a pot 1 size larger that has a drainage hole to prevent rotting. Check out these ceramic pots with drainage hole on Amazon.

Slip the plant out of its pot, shake off the old potting mix and trim the dead roots with clean, sterilized scissors.

Place the plant in the center of the new pot and refill with fresh, quality, 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 well-lit window.

Pruning & Grooming

Pruning Copperleaf Plant involves:

• Removal of dead leaves and flowers to keep the plant neat and discourage pests and diseases infestations.


• Regular pinching off the growing tips to control growth and encourage a more compact growth.


• Cutting back the large plants by half at the beginning of the growing season. Use a sharp, sterilized pruning scissors for clean cuts and also to prevent fungal diseases.

Occasionally clean the leaves with a damp soft cloth to get rid of dust as well as minimize pest infestations.

Copperleaf Plant Care Outdoors

Copperleaf 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 cold climates.

However, in climates with harsh winters, Acalypha wilkesiana 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 by half, 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 midday sunlight to prevent scorching of the leaves.

Keep the soil moderately moist but not soggy by watering when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry and feed the plant every 2-3 weeks with a balanced fertilizer to encourage foliage growth.

Copperleaf Plant Propagation

Acalypha wilkesiana is best propagated from stem cuttings which can be rooted either in water or in soil. The best time to propagate Acalypha wilkesiana is at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer) for faster establishment. Learn how to propagate Copperleaf Plant (Acalypha wilkesiana) in 2 easy ways.

How to grow Copperleaf Plant from seeds

1. Spread the seeds evenly on moist free-draining soil and cover lightly with some soil.


2. Cover the set up with a plastic sheet to create a greenhouse effect to hasten germination.


3. Place the set up in a warm, brightly-lit place away from direct sunlight.


4. Maintain the soil moist through out by light misting the soil surface until the seedlings are well established.


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


6. 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 routine care.

Copperleaf Plant Problems & Solutions

Acalypha wilkesiana common problems are loss of leaf color, leaf drop, pests among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Loss of leaf color

Loss of leaf color on Copperleaf Plant is caused by too little light, overwatering or nutrients deficiency.

How to fix it

Too little light: Place the plant infront of a large, brightly-lit window with some morning or afternoon sunshine or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not sufficient.

Overwatering: Water only when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry. Do not water on a schedule.

Nutrients deficiency: Feed the plant every 2-3 weeks in the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.

Leaf drop

Leaf drop on Copperleaf Plant is caused by incorrect watering, soggy soil, low light or pest infestations.

How to fix it

Incorrect water: Maintain the soil evenly moist and never allow the soil ball to dry out completely.

Soggy soil: Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil. Always empty the saucer after watering.

Low light: Position the plant in a brighter spot or use a grow light.

Pest infestations: Regularly inspect your plant for these pests and carry out timely control measures.

Pests

Common pests of Copperleaf Plant are mealybugs, aphids and spidermites especially in dry conditions.

How to fix it

1. Seperate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants.


2. Treat the affected plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturers recommendations.


3. Regularly check underneath and between the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.


4. Maintain the plant well pruned and increase humidity to discourage the pests.

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