How to grow and care for Ruellia makoyana (Trailing Velvet Plant) Indoors
Some links in this post may be affiliate links
Botanical name: Ruellia makoyana
Family: Acanthaceae
Common names: Trailing Velvet Plant, Monkey Plant
Ruellia makoyana Description
Ruellia makoyana commonly called Trailing Velvet Plant bears velvety oval-shaped leaves tinged with purple and veined in silver. The flowers are long flared trumpets.
The flowers in Ruellia makoyana are 2 in. long. The stems, about 2ft long droop gracefully making it ideal for a hanging basket.
Ruellia makoyana is an evergreen perennial plant whose decorative leaves qualifies it for a permanent houseplant. The leaves are hairy, dark-green with silvery veins.
Traling Velvet Plant adapts to indoor growing conditions but it needs warm and moist conditions inorder for it to thrive.
Ruellia makoyana Origin
Ruellia makoyana is native to the rain forests of Brazil where the growing conditions are warm, moist and humid.
Ruellia makoyana (Trailing Velvet Plant) Care Indoors
Ruellia makoyana (Trailing Velvet Plant) grows best in bright light and consistently moist soil. It thrives in a warm, humid environment.
The best soil for growing Tralining Velvet Plant should be free-draining and rich in organic matter. Continue reading for more on the best growing conditions for Traling Velvet Plant.
Trailing Velvet Plant Light Requirements
Trailing Velvet Plant grows best in bright light away from direct sunshine. It can also grow under a grow light.
Do not expose your Trailing Velvet Plant to direct sunlight as it can result in sunscorched leaves. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
How to Trailing Velvet Plant
Water Trailing Velvet Plant thoroughly during the growing season to maintain the soil moist through out. Reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist.
Do not allow the soil to dry out as it can lead to wilting and leaf drop. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot disease.
Temperature for Trailing Velvet Plant
The best temperature for Trailing Velvet Plant is average room temperature with a minimum of 120C.
Protect your Trailing Velvet Plant from cold draughts as it lead to leaf fall. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Humidity for Trailing Velvet Plant
Trailing Velvet Plant grows best in humid conditions inorder to thrive. To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Regularly clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust. Read more on how to clean houseplants.
Fertilizer (Feeding) for Trailing Velvet Plant
Feed Trailing Velvet Plant monthly with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season.
Withhold feeding during the cold season as growth is minimal. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
How to prune Trailing Velvet Plant
Prune Trailing Velvet Plant by removing dead blooms and leaves to maintain the plant neat and tidy.
Pinch off the growing tips of Trailing Velvet Plant to encourage bushy growth and to keep your plant compact. Read more on how to prune houseplants.
How to repot Trailing Velvet Plant
Repot Trailing Velvet Plant at the beginning of the growing season in a pot one size larger than the previous one only when the plant becomes pot-bound.
Ensure the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining soil to avoid soggy soil. Soggy soil can lead to root-rot disease and eventual death of your plant.
Soil for Trailing Velvet Plant
The best soil for Trailing Velvet Plant should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients.
Most multi-purpose potting mixes are ideal for Trailing Velvet Plant. Buy quality Potting Mix for your Trailing Velvet Plant from Etsy.
Trailing Velvet Plant (Ruellia makoyana) Propagation
Trailing Velvet Plant can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season from stem cuttings. Below is an outline of Trailing Velvet Plant propagation from stem cuttings.
How to propagate Trailing Velvet Plant from stem cuttings
Take stem cuttings of about 4-6 in. from a healthy Trailing Velvet Plant. Ensure each cutting has 2-3 leaf nodes. Strip off the lower leaves.
Dip the lower cut end of the cutting in a rooting hormone to hasten rooting.
Insert the cutting in moist, free-draining soil and cover the set up with clear polythene to create a greenhouse effect in order to promote rooting.
Place the set up in a warm brightly lit spot. Rooting should occur in about 4-6 weeks.
Allow the Trailing Velvet Plants to be well established before transplanting after which you can begin routine care.
Trailing Velvet Plant (Ruellia makoyana) Problems Indoors
Trailing Velvet Plant (Ruellia makoyana) problems indoors are caused by cultural faults in watering, lighting, humidity and feeding among others. Continue reading for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Trailing Velvet Plant flower bud drop
Flower bud drop in Trailing Velvet Plant is due to underwatering resulting in dry soil (little moisture in the rootzone).
Water your Trailing Velvet Plant liberally and maintain the soil consistently moist during the growing season. Reduce watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Trailing Velvet Plant wilted and drooping leaves
Wilted and drooping leaves in Trailing Velvet Plant is due to underwatering resulting in very little moisture in the soil.
Trailing Velvet Plant grows best in consistently moist soil. Water your Trailing Velvet Plant thoroughly and maintain the soil consistently moist during the growing season. Reduce watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Trailing Velvet Plant brown soft leaf spots
Brown soft leaf spots in Trailing Velvet Plant are due to overwatering or too wet soil (soggy soil).
Reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist. Also, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
Trailing Velvet Plant brown leaf spots
Brown leaf spots in Trailing Velvet Plant are due to exposure to direct sunlight. These are sunscorch marks.
Protect your Trailing Velvet Plant or keep it away from direct sunlight to avoid sunscorch on the leaves.
Trailing Velvet Plant brown leaf tips and edges
Brown leaf tips and edges in Trailing Velvet Plant are due to too low humidity especially where the temperatures are very high.
To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Trailing Velvet Plant leaf curl and leaf drop
Leaf curl and leaf drop in Trailing Velvet Plant is due to too cold temperatures. The plant grows best in warm temperatures.
Protect the plant from cold draughts and maintain warm temperatures above 120C.
Trailing Velvet Plant not blooming (flowering)
There are three possible reasons why Trailing Velvet Plant is not blooming or flowering. One possible reason why Trailing Velvet Plant is not blooming or flowering is too little light.
Move your plant to a brighter spot as it grows best in bright light but away from direct sunshine or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate light in your home. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
The second possible reason why Trailing Velvet Plant is not blooming or flowering is feeding it with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer which promotes vegetative growth at the expense of blooms.
Feed your Trailing Velvet Plant monthly with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season to promote flowering. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
The third possible reason why Trailing Velvet Plant is not blooming or flowering is underwatering.
Water your Trailing Velvet Plant thoroughly and maintain the soil consistently moist during the growing season. Reduce watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out compeletely.
Trailing Velvet Plant pests
The common pests in Trailing Velvet Plant are Spider Mite, Scale Insects and Aphids. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other houseplants and treat it accordingly.
Is Trailing Velvet Plant toxic?
Trailing Velvet Plant (Ruellia makoyana) is non-toxic to both humans and pets. It is safe to grow in the home.
However, Trailing Velvet Plant can be invasive if not properly controlled.
