Ruellia makoyana (Trailing Velvet Plant) Care Indoors; Watering, Light, Propagation, Problems

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Ruellia makoyana commonly called Trailing Velvet Plant or Monkey Plant is one of the favored flowering plants and features long, flared, trumpet-shaped flowers and velvety, oval-shaped leaves, tinged with purple and veined in silver.

The flowers are about 2 inches long while the stems are about 2 feet long and droop gracefully making Monkey Plant ideal for a hanging basket.

Trailing Velvet Plant is an evergreen perennial plant whose decorative, hairy, silver-veined, dark-green leaves qualifies it for a permanent spot in any space.

Botanical name: Ruellia makoyana
Family: Acanthaceae
Common names: Trailing Velvet Plant, Monkey Plant

Origin

Ruellia makoyana is native to the rain forests of Brazil where the growing conditions are warm, moist and humid.

Size

Ruellia makoyana grows to a height of 12-18 inches with trailing stems that can extend 24-36 inches long. Regular pruning helps to control size and maintain a compact, attractive shape.

Is Ruellia makoyana toxic to pets?

No, Trailing Velvet Plant is non-toxic to both humans and pets. Ruellia makoyana is safe for cats, dogs and other pets.

Invasiveness

Ruellia makoyana can be invasive if not properly controlled. Take care to destroy any plant remains and avoid growing it in the ground.

How to Care for Ruellia makoyana Indoors

To care for for Ruellia makoyana indoors, give it bright indirect light, warmth of 18-24⁰C, humidity of 60-70% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.

Trailing Velvet Plant requires regular pruning to keep it neat, to encourage a bushy growth and to rejuvenate growth. Repotting is only necessary when it becomes pot-bound. Keep reading for more on the best growing conditions for this plant and how to achieve them.

Watering

How often should I water my Trailing Velvet Plant?

Do not water on a schedule. Water Trailing Velvet Plant thoroughly in spring and summer when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out. Keep the soil consistently moist but avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, mushy stems, yellowing, leaf loss and fewer blooms.

Lessen watering in fall and winter to maintain the soil slightly moist since growth is less at this time. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely as it can lead to wilting and drooping leaves, flowerbud drop, lack of blooms and leaf drop.

Use tepid (room temperature) water to prevent cold shock which can result in stunted growth and leaf loss. Only use chlorine-free water like rainwater to prevent browning of leaf edges.

Avoid wetting the foliage to minimize fungal diseases. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent waterlogging which can lead to root-rot and eventual plant death.

Light Requirements

How much light does a Trailing Velvet Plant like?

Trailing Velvet Plant thrives in bright indirect light (filtered light); position it infront of a bright, sunless window. Do not expose it to direct sunlight as it can lead to scorching of the leaves (brown, dry leaf spots).

Too little light for Ruellia makoyana will result in slow, leggy growth and fewer blooms. If the natural lighting is too low, use a grow light to increase it.

Monthly, give the pot a quarter turn, to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for even growth and to prevent unbalanced growth.

Temperature & Humidity

Trailing Velvet Plant prefers a warmth of 18-24⁰C with a minimum of 10⁰C as it is not cold-hardy. Avoid exposing the plant to drafts from AC units, open doors, windy windows, heat sources, stoves, hot air vents among others, to prevent temperature flactuations which can lead to reduced growth, leaf curl, leaf drop and flowerbud drop.

Ruellia makoyana flourishes in a humidity of 60-70%. Low humidity will lead to poor flowering and brown leaf tips and edges. To elevate humidity, group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Do not mist the leaves and maintain good air circulation to minimize fungal diseases.

Fertilizer

Feed Ruellia makoyana with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer to enhance flowering. Avoid Nitrogen-rich fertilizers as they promote foliage growth at the expense of blooms.

Do not feed in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time and may result in fertilizer burn and death of the plant.

Occasionally, leach out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it drains through the drainage hole.

Potting Soil

The best potting soil for Ruellia makoyana should be a well-draining, nutrient-rich soil. A mix of 50% potting soil, 30% peat moss or coco coir and 20% perlite or sand is ideal for this plant.

Repotting

Repot Trailing Velvet Plant at the beginning of the growing season into a pot one size larger, only when pot-bound. Use a pot that has a drainage hole and free-draining soil to avoid sogginess as it can lead to root-rot and eventual plant death. Check out these self-watering pots on Amazon.

Pruning & Grooming

Pruning Ruellia makoyana involves:

• Removal of dead blooms and leaves to keep the plant neat and reduce pest and disease infestations.


• Pinching off the growing tips to encourage a bushy growth and to keep the plant compact.


• Trimming leggy stems to rejuvenate growth and to keep the plant healthy and flourishing.

Occasionally clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and also discourage pest and disease infestations.

Ruellia makoyana Propagation

Trailing Velvet Plant propagation is best done from stem cuttings or by plant division, at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer) for faster establishment. Propagation from stem cuttings is the easiest method.

1. Ruellia makoyana propagation from stem cuttings

1. Take stem cuttings of about 4-6 inches from a healthy plant. Ensure that each cutting has 2-3 leaf nodes.


2. Strip off the lower leaves and dip the lower cut end of the cutting in a rooting hormone to hasten rooting.


3. Select a 6 or 8 inches pot and ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy to avoid rotting.


4. Fill the pot with well-drained, potting mix and moisten the soil slightly.


5. Make a hole in the center of the pot and ensure it is wider that the base of the cutting.


6. Insert about 2 inches of the lower cut end of the cutting in the hole made above.


7. Cover the set up with clear polythene to create a greenhouse effect to promote rooting.


8. Place the set up in a warm, brightly lit spot away from direct sunlight.


9. Maintain the soil slightly moist until you observe new growth which indicates rooting. Rooting should occur in about 4-6 weeks.


10. Allow the plant to be well established before transplanting into a pot one size larger after which you can begin routine care.

2. Ruellia makoyana propagation by plant division

1. Water the plant thoroughly one day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment.


2. Carefully, slip the plant out of its pot, remove excess soil, disentangle the roots and cut away any dead roots.


3. With a clean, sharp pair of pruning scissors or knife, carefully divide the plant into several sections.


4. Select a 6 or 8 inches pot with a drainage hole to prevent rotting.


5. Fill the pot with well-draining medium and moisten the soil slightly.


6. Make a hole in the center of the pot. Ensure that the hole is slightly wider than the root base of the section.


7. Place the section in the previously made hole and lightly firm the soil around the base; maintain the section at the same soil level it was in the previous pot.


8. Wet the soil thoroughly until the water drips through the drainage hole.


9. Cover the pots with the clear polythene sheet or bag to create a greenhouse effect to hasten establishment.


10. Position the pots in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.


11. Keep the soil moist until the new plants are well established.


12. Once well established, over a period of two weeks, gradually remove the polythene to acclimate the new plants to ordinary growing conditions.


13. Repot the new plants into a pot 1 size larger than the current one in well-drained soil.


14. Place the new plants in a warm spot in bright indirect light and begin routine care.

Ruellia makoyana Problems & Solutions

Trailing Velvet Plant problems are leaves curling, lack of blooms, flowerbud drop, wilting and drooping leaves, brown leaf tips and edges, leaf spots, pests among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and their remedies.

Leaves curling

Why are my Ruellia makoyana leaves curling?

Leaves curling on Ruellia makoyana is caused by temperature stress, underwatering or pests infestations.

How to fix it

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts to maintain a warmth of 18-24⁰C.

Underwatering: Water the plant when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely for too long.

Pests infestations: Regularly inspect the plant for these pests and carry out timely control measures.

Lack of blooms

Ruellia makoyana is not blooming due to too little light, inconsistent watering, soggy soil, dry air, temperature stress or nutrients deficiency.

How to fix it

Too little light: Position the plant in a brighter spot or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate light in your home.

Inconsistent watering: Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out and do not leave the soil to dry out compeletely.

Soggy soil: Use a pot that has a drainage hole and free-draining soil.

Dry air: To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a cool mist humidifier or group the plants together.

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, hot air vents, windy doors, drafty windows, heat sources among others.

Nutrients deficiency: Feed monthly with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer in the growing season. Avoid Nitrogen-rich fertilizers as they promote foliage growth at the expense of flowers.

Flowerbud drop

Flowerbud drop off Trailing Velvet Plant is due to inconsistent watering, soggy soil, low humidity or temperature stress.

How to fix it

Inconsistent watering: Keep the soil consistently moist and slightly moist in the cold season but never allow the soil to dry out completely.

Soggy soil: Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil.

Low humidity: To maintain a high humidity, use a cool mist humidifier, set the pot on a wet pebble or group the plants together.

Temperature stress: Place the plant way from drafts coming from AC units, windy doors and windows, heat sources, hot air vents among others.

Wilting & drooping leaves

Wilting and drooping leaves on Ruellia makoyana are caused by underwatering, extreme temperatures, direct sunlight or dry air.

How to fix it

Underwatering: Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Extreme temperatures: Keep the plant away from both hot and cold drafts to avoid temperature changes.

Direct sunlight: Position the plant in a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light or use a grow light if the natural light is not adequate.

Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mits humidifier to raise humidity.

Brown leaf tips & edges

Brown leaf tips and edges on Ruellia makoyana are due to low humidity or salts buildup.

How to fix it

Low humidity: Group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to upscale humidity.

Salts buildup: Flush out accumulated salts from the soil every 2-3 months by running a stream of water through the soil until it drains through the drainage hole.

Brown, soft leaf spots

Brown, soft leaf spots on Trailing Velvet Plant are caused by overwatering or soggy soil.

How to fix it

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

Soggy soil: Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-draining.

Brown, dry leaf spots

Brown, dry leaf spots on Ruellia makoyana are sunscorch marks due to exposure to direct sunlight. Keep the plant away from direct sunlight or use a light curtain to diffuse the sunrays.

Pests

Common pests of Trailing Velvet Plant are spider mites, scale insects and aphids infestations which are common in dry conditions.

How to fix it

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


2. Treat the affected plant with an insecticidal soap or a neem oil. Make sure to follow the directions on the label.


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


4. Maintain the plant well pruned to discourage the pests.


5. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or group the plants together to raise humidity to reduce the pests infestations.

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