Medinilla Speciosa

Medinilla Speciosa Care

Medinilla Speciosa

What is the plant

Medinilla speciosa is a perennial epiphytic plant in the genus Medinilla of the family Melastomataceae. Medinilla speciosa reaches on average a height of 45–60 centimetres (18–24 in). This evergreen shrub has woody branched stems and opposite leathery green leaves (up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) long and 15 centimetres (5.9 in)wide, with prominent veins.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Shade

Temperature

min 16°C

Hardiness zone

10 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
As a succulent, Medinilla does not need to be watered often, usually just thoroughly once a week. It does enjoy being misted by water often, especially in the dry winter months. If you have Medinilla as a houseplant, you may need to run a humidifier in the home during winter. Also, be sure to keep Medinilla plants away from air ducts and drafty windows.
Pruning
Indoor potted Medinilla plants can be kept at a manageable size by pruning down the branches immediately after the plant flowers.
Fertilizer
The Medinilla is a light feeder, and excessive nitrogen will cause the plant to produce lush foliage at the expense of the blossoms. An occasional feeding with liquid compost will give the plants all the nutrients they need and help keep the soil in the optimal mildly acidic pH range.

Disease diagnosis

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Soil
Medinillas grow well in an orchid potting mix with some peat moss mixed in
Temperature
This is a tropical plant that needs warm temperatures. This doesn't mean Medinillas crave triple-digit temperatures: the ideal growing temperature is 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures below 50 degrees may cause the plant to yellow or drop its leaves.
Additional
In fact there is no reported poisonings by any species of Medinilla, and only leaves of few species (climbing bushy species) from those that I have tried (40+), was without nice sour taste.