Plectranthus ciliatus ‘Mona Lavender’ is an ornamental plant known for its vibrant purple flowers and dark green foliage, often with purple undersides. This hybrid offers significant visual appeal for both indoor and outdoor settings, making it a popular choice for gardeners due to its striking presence and ease of care.
Essential Growing Conditions
‘Mona Lavender’ thrives in bright, indirect light, which is crucial for maintaining its rich foliage color and encouraging abundant blooms. While it can tolerate some morning sun, direct afternoon sun, especially in hot climates, can cause leaf scorching and stress the plant. Indoors, an east or south-facing window typically provides ideal light exposure.
This plant requires consistent moisture; the soil should remain moist but not waterlogged. It is considered a thirsty plant, so water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Avoiding extremes of drought or excessive watering is important to prevent issues like root rot or wilting.
A well-draining soil rich in organic matter provides the best foundation for ‘Mona Lavender’. Good drainage is paramount to prevent water from accumulating around the roots, which can lead to root rot. For container planting, a peat moss-based potting mix with added perlite or vermiculite ensures adequate drainage and aeration. A slightly acidic pH, ranging from 5.6 to 6.5, is generally preferred.
During its active growing season, ‘Mona Lavender’ benefits from regular fertilization with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer. Applying fertilizer every six to ten weeks is sufficient to support healthy growth and flowering. It is advisable to reduce or cease fertilization during its blooming period in fall and winter, as excessive feeding can promote foliage growth at the expense of flowers.
‘Mona Lavender’ prefers year-round temperatures between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (15-27°C). It is sensitive to frost and will not tolerate temperatures consistently below 50°F (10°C). In colder climates, bringing it indoors is necessary to protect it from frost. Moderate humidity, around 40-50%, is beneficial, and methods like pebble trays or humidifiers can increase humidity for indoor plants, especially in dry winter conditions.
Pruning and Maintenance
Regular pruning is beneficial for ‘Mona Lavender’ to encourage a bushier growth habit and more abundant flowering. Pinching back the growing tips of young plants helps promote branching and maintains a compact, fuller shape. More significant pruning can be performed on leggy stems to rejuvenate the plant and prevent it from becoming sparse.
Deadheading spent flowers encourages the plant to produce more flowers and extends its blooming period. This practice directs the plant’s energy towards new flower production rather than seed development. A light trim after flowering can also help maintain a neat appearance.
Overwintering Mona Lavender
In regions with cold winters, ‘Mona Lavender’ can be overwintered indoors to ensure its survival, as it is tender and not frost-tolerant in zones below USDA 9-11. Before the first frost, container-grown plants should be brought inside and placed in a bright, cool location. Reduce watering during this period, keeping the soil just barely moist, as the plant’s growth slows down. Maintaining cooler indoor temperatures, ideally between 55 to 60°F (13-16°C), allows the plant to rest and conserve energy. If outdoor plants are too large to move, taking stem cuttings in the fall is an effective way to propagate new plants that can be grown indoors over winter and returned outside in spring.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Yellowing leaves on ‘Mona Lavender’ often indicate watering imbalances, such as overwatering or underwatering. Overwatering leads to root rot, where roots drown and cannot absorb nutrients, causing leaves to yellow and potentially wilt. Conversely, underwatering also causes yellowing as the plant pulls moisture from older leaves. Adjusting watering frequency to ensure the top inch of soil dries out between waterings can resolve these issues.
Lack of blooms is commonly attributed to insufficient light or excessive nitrogen fertilizer, which promotes leafy growth over flowering. Providing ample bright, indirect light and adjusting fertilizer application to a balanced formula can encourage more flowers. Leggy growth, especially indoors, often signals insufficient light, which can be remedied by moving the plant to a brighter location.