Ruellia makoyana (Trailing Velvet Plant) Indoor Care, Propagation and Problems with Remedies
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Ruellia makoyana (Trailing Velvet Plant) grows best in bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Trailing Velvet Plant also called Monkey Plant is one of the best flowering plants bearing 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.
Ruellia makoyana 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.
Toxicity
Trailing Velvet Plant is non-toxic to both humans and pets. It is safe to grow in the home. However, it can be invasive if not properly controlled. Take care to destroy any plant remains and avoid growing it in the ground.
Trailing Velvet Plant Care Indoors
Trailing Velvet Plant blossoms in bright indirect light (dappled light), average warmth of 18-240C, above average humidity of 60-70% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Ruellia makoyana care 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
Water your Trailing Velvet Plant thoroughly during the growing season when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out to maintain the soil moist through out.
Lessen watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely as it can lead to wilting and leaf drop.
Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot and death of the plant.
Light Requirements
Trailing Velvet Plant grows best in bright indirect light (filtered light). Do not expose the plant to direct sunlight as it can result in sunscorched leaves (brown dry leaf spots).
You may also grow Monkey Plant under a grow light if the natural lighting is inadequate as too little light may lead to reduced growth and leaf drop. Take a look at these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Regularly turn the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for even growth and to prevent lopsided growth.
Temperature and Humidity
The best temperature for Trailing Velvet Plant is average room temperature of 18-240C. Keep it away from cold drafts as it is not cold-hardy. It should be protected from temperatures below 100C to prevent leaf curl and leaf drop.
Ruellia makoyana grows best in humid conditions to thrive, a humidity of 60-70% is ideal for this plant. Low humidity will lead to brown leaf tips and edges. To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.
Occasionally clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and also minimize pest and disease infestation. Maintain good air circulation to minimize fungal diseases.
Feeding
Feed your Monkey Plant monthly with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season but do not feed in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time.
Potting Mix
The best potting mix 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 all purpose potting mixes are ideal for the plant.
Repotting
Repot Trailing Velvet Plant at the beginning of the growing season in a pot one size larger than the current one only when the plant becomes pot-bound.
Make sure that 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 the plant. Check out these self watering pots available on Amazon.
Pruning
Prune Trailing Velvet Plant by removing dead blooms and leaves to maintain the plant neat and reduce pest and disease infestations. Pinch off the growing tips to encourage bushy growth and to keep the plant compact.
Propagation
Ruellia makoyana propagation can be done at the beginning of the growing season from stem cuttings. Below is an outline of the Trailing Velvet Plant propagation from stem cuttings.
Trailing Velvet Plant propagation from stem cuttings
Take stem cuttings of about 4-6 inches from a healthy Trailing Velvet Plant. Ensure that 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 away from direct sunlight. Rooting should occur in about 4-6 weeks.
Allow the Ruellia makoyana to be well established before transplanting after which you can begin routine care.
Trailing Velvet Plant Common Problems
Trailing Velvet Plant (Ruellia makoyana) problems include flower bud drop, wilting, drooping leaves, leaf spots, curled leaves, lack of blooms, pests and diseases among other. Keep reading for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Pests
The common pests in Trailing Velvet Plant are spider mites, scale insects and aphids. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat it appropriately for the pests. Learn how to identify and get rid of pests in houseplants.
Leaf curl and leaf drop
Leaf curl and leaf drop in Ruellia makoyana is due to too cold temperatures. Keep it away from cold drafts and maintain warm temperatures of 18-240C. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Brown leaf tips and edges
Brown leaf tips and edges in Monkey Plant are due to too low humidity especially where the temperatures are very high. To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. You may also grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen, laundry area and other moist areas in the home. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Lack of blooms
There are three possible reasons why Trailing Velvet Plant is not blooming. One possible reason is too little light. Position the plant in a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate light in your home. Check out this post on understanding light for houseplants.
The second possible reason why Ruellia makoyana is not blooming is feeding it with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer which promotes vegetative growth at the expense of blooms. Feed it monthly with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season to promote flowering. Learn how to feed houseplants.
The third possible reason why Monkey Plant is not flowering is underwatering. Water the plant thoroughly and maintain the soil consistently moist during the growing season. Reduce watering in the cold season but do not let the soil dry out compeletely. Learn more on how to water houseplants the right way.
Flower bud drop
Flower bud drop in Trailing Velvet Plant is due to underwatering resulting in dry soil (little moisture in the rootzone). Water the plant liberally and maintain the soil consistently moist during the growing season. Cut down on watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Wilted and drooping leaves
Wilted and drooping leaves in Ruellia makoyana is due to underwatering resulting in very little moisture in the soil. Water the plant thoroughly and maintain the soil consistently moist during the growing season. Decrease watering in the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Brown soft leaf spots
Brown soft leaf spots in Trailing Velvet Plant are due to overwatering or too wet soil (soggy soil). Cut down on watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist. In addition, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-drained to prevent it from getting soggy.
Brown dry leaf spots
Brown dry leaf spots in Ruellia makoyana are due to exposure to direct sunlight. These are sunscorch marks, therefore, shield the plant or keep it away from direct sunlight to avoid sunscorch on the leaves.
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