The beautiful foliage of Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf is well-known; as it reaches maturity, it turns into a velvety dark green. Please make sure to read all the way to the conclusion because, regrettably, many gardeners have problems maintaining this plant. Discover at homegardenartful.com!
What Is A Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf?
A tiny, epiphytic tropical plant with red leaves, Dischidia hirsuta, is indigenous to Southeast Asia. It belongs to the milkweed family and produces a milky sap that is poisonous if consumed, just like other members of this family. The plant is famous for its stunning, dark-green leaves that have a distinctive texture from being covered in soft, velvety hairs. The Dischidia hirsuta red leaf also contains tiny, vivid red leaves that appear from the stem and make a lovely contrast to the green foliage.
How much does it cost to get Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf?
Depending on plant size and maturity, you’re looking at a price range of $70-$220 right now.
A good, established plant with numerous leaves can cost up to several hundred dollars, but you should expect to pay at least $70 for a cutting.
How to Take Care of Red Dischidia Leaf
We advise only trying this if you have prior experience caring for indoor plants, especially aroids, as Southern philodendron kinds are more difficult to maintain than Northern variants (which is part of why they are so pricey!).
Position and lighting
One of the most crucial aspects of caring for Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf is lighting properly because, without chlorophyll, the plant will require more sunshine to convert into energy through photosynthesis. The absence of chlorophyll, however, also makes the leaves more photosensitive and vulnerable to burning.
Ezoic
The line is thin! Dramatic variegation doesn’t happen frequently in the wild because of this lighting issue, among other things. It might be challenging to find the ideal lighting conditions!
Therefore, be sure to give your Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf lots of bright yet filtered sunshine. This is quite significant. The sun should not be directly shining on the leaves; but, a little early morning sun is usually acceptable. You want the strongest light you can get.
Your best option is usually a window that faces east. If you use a sheer curtain to block the sunshine from a south or west-facing window, it may help. If you give it a try, keep a close eye on your plant to look out for burning.
A full-spectrum grow light can be useful if you are unable to give enough natural sunshine. A minimum of 8 hours of bright light per day should be provided for your plant.
Thermodynamics and Humidity
These plants thrive in somewhat warm and humid environments because they are tropical and live in the jungle.
The ideal temperature range for Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf is between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures are often maintained indoors, so you probably won’t need to adjust the thermostat in any unusual ways to make your Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf happy. Simply keep it away from any drafty doors, windows, heaters, as well as air conditioning vents that could dry, burn, or freeze the leaves.
For your Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf, try to maintain humidity levels of around 40% to keep the leaves soft and flexible.
You might need to establish a more humid atmosphere for your Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf if you reside in an area with arid weather or if you frequently use indoor temperature control. You can position your plant near a humidifier, put it in a well-lit kitchen or bathroom (which are frequently the moistest rooms in a home), combine it with other plants (which can boost adjacent humidity as the plants breathe), or put a smaller Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf on a moistened tray.
You can also make your own by placing the plant on top of a shallow tray that has been filled with water and rocks. When the water evaporates, this will produce some upward humidity (just make sure the soil and roots aren’t in contact with the water!).
Water
Another essential component of caring for your Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf is giving it the right amount of water. These plants prefer continually moist soil, yet they don’t enjoy drying out or spending an extended period of time in soggy soil.
Water when a moisture meter reads 3–4 or when the top 2-3 inches of the soil feel dry to the touch. Because it will provide you with a far clearer image of what’s going deeper in the pot, we strongly advise utilizing a meter. After all, the root ball may still be wet despite the top layer of the potting mix being bone-dry, depending on how well-aerated your soil is.
Ideally, you should water your Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf every 7 to 10 days if your soil is healthy and it is receiving enough light. But rather than sticking to a tight schedule, inspect the soil every few days and follow your plant’s lead. This will be especially helpful as the seasons change, since many indoor plants, including Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf, may require varying amounts of water at various points during the year as a result of shifting growth patterns and lighting conditions.
When it’s time to water your Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf, slowly pour water into the soil, allow the pot to completely drain, and then quickly empty the drainage tray. However, if you choose to water this way, be sure to refill the water every third or fourth time to flush out extra nutrients left over from feeding the soil. This plant also reacts well to bottom watering (typically—each plant is an individual!).
Soil Conditions
Make sure to plant your Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf in a peaty, well-draining soil with a pH level of 5.5-7 that is also well-aerated and peaty. These plants prefer a lot of airflow around their roots because they are epiphytic and don’t actually need a lot of soil to grow in nature. If the potting substrate is excessively damp or the soil is too dense, the roots could easily drown or suffocate.
Fertilizer
The soil in which they are rooted and even the surface they are growing on provide plants in nature with all the nutrients they require. Only the nutrients present in the potting soil are accessible to your potted Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf, and a growing plant can easily use all of the nutrients within a few months. This implies that in order for your plant to continue to grow and perform at its best, you will need to add nutrients to the soil.
Pruning
To manage the growth and shape of your Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf or to get rid of any damaged parts, you might need to prune it every now and then.
In the spring, when your plant grows rapidly and will recover more readily, is the ideal time to prune.
Before making any cuts, we advise laying them out and marking them using colored tape or string. When you’re prepared to cut, lay down a towel and tarp to protect your furniture and floor, and put on gloves to shield your hands from the stinging sap of the Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf. To stop transmitting viruses to your plant, use sterilized shears.
Conclusion
Therefore, take into account including lovely Dischidia Hirsuta Red Leaf in your collection if you’re looking for an eye-catching and low-maintenance houseplant. Happy gardening!
