How to grow Portulacaria afra so it turns red? Care tips shared

Portulacaria afra is a common indoor flowering plant, usually able to produce beautiful flowers by May, but for beginners it is very difficult to get it to bloom, so how do you grow Portulacaria afra so it turns red?

1. How do you grow Portulacaria afra so it turns red?

1. The day-night temperature difference must be large

Portulacaria afra originates from India and other high-temperature countries; the high-temperature environment of India, with its large day-night temperature difference, is the most suitable growing environment for Portulacaria afra. However, most regions of our country have a relatively warm environment, and large day-night temperature differences are rare. The best solution to the question of how to grow Portulacaria afra so it turns red is to change its growing environment to one with a larger temperature difference; as long as such an environment is maintained, after one month the Portulacaria afra will turn red.

2. Light must be sufficient

Portulacaria afra is a light-loving plant, and we must ensure that it gets sufficient sunlight. When Portulacaria afra receives sufficient light, you will find that a layer of red color appears on its leaves. If the light is insufficient, the plant's leaves will turn green and grow thin, long and weak.

3. Watering must be appropriate

Portulacaria afra suits a high-temperature environment, but its water requirement is not high. A moderate amount of watering can make the plant grow more vigorously, but excessive watering will turn Portulacaria afra's originally pink and tender leaves emerald green. If by this time the amount of watering is still not reduced, the leaves will also turn yellow and fall off. In spring and autumn, water once every 3-4 days; in summer, water once every 1-2 days; in winter, water once every 7 days.

4. The variety must be chosen correctly

Sometimes you have already paid attention to the large day-night temperature difference and maintained sufficient light and watering, yet your Portulacaria afra still will not turn red. At this point you should check whether you chose the wrong variety. The variety of Portulacaria afra whose leaves are red is called “Yale Zhi Wu” (Portulacaria afra 'Medio-picta'); if you did not choose the right variety, even if you grow it for 10 years it will not turn red.

2. What are the precautions for growing Portulacaria afra?

During the growing period, the disease that occurs most often is mainly the harm of anthracnose; this disease is very harmful, and at this time it must be controlled by spraying thiophanate wettable powder, so in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, windows should be opened in time to strengthen ventilation, so as to reduce the breeding of pathogens and the harm of pests and diseases.

Overall, if you want Portulacaria afra to turn red, you just need to control the temperature and moisture well and choose a good variety.