Caricature Plant

Caricature Plant Care

Graptophyllum pictum

What is the plant

Commonly grown as an ornamental plant, Caricature Plan is low-maintenance and drought-resistant. Its foliage is famous for its distinctive coloring, which can be different shades of green, pink, and white.

The Caricature Plant is a tropical evergreen perennial plant native to Southeast Asia that belongs to the Acanthaceae family of plants. Its leaves are the most distinctive identification features – typically ovate to elliptical and can be various shades of green, pink, and white while growing to be up to 4 inches (10 cm) long and 2 inches (5 cm) wide. Also, they are arranged in a rosette pattern on the stem, which can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall. Further, Caricature Plant produces small, white, tubular flowers about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long that are arranged in spikes but not particularly showy. Note that the plant is toxic if ingested and may cause skin irritation, so handle it with attention and keep it away from pets.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

10°C - 20°C

Hardiness zone

10 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
The Caricature Plant is drought tolerant, so it does not require frequent watering. Keep the soil moist and don’t overwater it, and use filtered or distilled water, as tap water may contain fluoride. It prefers humid environments, so using a humidifier will go a long way.
Pruning
Nothing major needed here. Just be sure to remove any leaves that look like they’ve seen better days, especially those hanging around close to the ground.
Fertilizer
Feed this plant every 4-6 weeks from spring to fall, but let it take a break during winter. Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer with an equal mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, like a 20-20-20 fertilizer. Just follow the instructions on the fertilizer packet to make sure you’re not overdoing it.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
Prefers bright indirect light but can tolerate full sun to partial shade. Avoid direct sunlight.
Soil
It likes soil that drains well and has a good dose of organic material. You can use a mix that drains well, like a potting mix, or concoct your own with equal parts peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. If you want to give it an extra boost, adding some compost or well-rotted manure to the mix will help keep it happy.
Propagation
Expanding your Graptophyllum family is pretty simple. Grab a stem cutting that’s about 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) long and has 2-3 healthy leaves. If you’re feeling extra helpful, dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder to speed things up. Pop it in a mix of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite, keep it moist (but not soaking), and place it in a warm, bright spot, but not in direct sunlight. Give it a few weeks, and you should have some new roots ready for their own pot.

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Temperature
The sweet spot for this plant is between 60-85°F (15-29°C). It’s a bit of a trooper and can handle temperatures ranging from 40-90°F (4-32°C), but don’t expect it to thrive outside of this cozy range.
Container
Can be planted in a variety of container types, as long as they have good drainage. Choose a container that is the appropriate size for the plant.
Fun fact
Called” The Caricature Plant” because its markings resemble the profile of a human face.