Alternanthera ficoidea has many cultivars with colors ranging from orange, red, copper, or purple. Our 'Party Time' cultivar is especially attractive with its green leaves painted with hot pink streaks and blotches. Some leaves are entirely pink and others entirely green, making this plant a showstopper year-round.
This plant is usually used to brighten a garden but can be used as a container plant indoors. Here are some care tips: Light: bright indirect light. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants.
If you grow Joseph's coat or calico plants outdoors in the ground, feed them at the start of spring with 2 pounds of a 12-6-6 slow-release fertilizer per 100 square feet of planted area, and feed them again two or three times during summer and early fall, using a lighter, 1/2 to 1 pound application of this fertilizer per 100 square feet.
It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will suffer if left to grow in standing water. The surface of the soil shouldn't be allowed to dry out completely, and so you should expect to water this plant once and possibly even twice each week.
To rejuvenate older plants and stimulate overall new growth, prune plants back to within 3 or 4 inches of the ground. Do this only when warm weather is expected, in early spring if you have cool winters or in late winter if you live where winters are mild and usually frost-free. To discourage spread of plant disease, disinfect your cutting tools between cuts by wiping them with rubbing alcohol.
Toxicity. Not known to be poisonous when consumed by pets and humans. Party Time Alternanthera is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect. This is a relatively low maintenance plant.
