Cat’s Whiskers Plant

Cat’s Whiskers Plant Care

Orthosiphon Aristatus

What is the plant

Orthosiphon aristatus is a herbaceous perennial and member of the family Lamiaceae (Labiatae), more commonly known as the mint family. It is a medicinal herb found in many places across the globe including China, South East Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the tropical regions of Australia.The plant is quite tall and can reach a height of around 40″ inches. This herb grows in the form of shrubs and the whiskers are only visible up close. It may spread out to cover an area of around 12″ – 36″ inches. Some variations of the plant also yield bluish-violet or white flowers. The variant with the white flowers has red stems and visible leaf veins and is known to have higher potassium content (better diuretic properties). The ovate leaves are characterized by long stamens (whiskers) hence the name cat’s whiskers.The flowers are tube-shaped with the petals sticking out like ears.

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Humidity

High

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

min 4°C

Hardiness zone

9a - 11

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

Toxicity

Poisonous

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Water the plant regularly, ensuring the soil remains moist but doesn’t contain too much water.
Pruning
As the plant grows, some leaves and flowers may start to wilt. To encourage healthy plant growth, snip off the wilted parts of the plant and remove any fallen leaves
Fertilizer
O. Aristatus needs to be fed with fertilizer once a month to ensure healthy growth. Many gardeners opt for 12-6-6 fertilizer which has high nitrogen content.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Cat’s whiskers thrive under the full sun in mild climates but will also to grow with filtered light. It does, however, need some amount of time daily under the sun in order to survive.
Soil
The soil should ideally be in a ratio of 50% organic matter (apply mulch before planting) and 50% soil. Additionally, the soil needs to be moist, but well-drained.
Temperature
The plant prefers mild climates so if you’re living in a region too hot, it is better to grow it in a shaded space.The plant is semi-deciduous and becomes sparse in the winter, but not completely bare.