How to Grow and Care for Basket Plant
A practical guide to *Callisia fragrans* care. Learn to provide the right balance of light and water to encourage full, compact growth and a healthy plant.
A practical guide to *Callisia fragrans* care. Learn to provide the right balance of light and water to encourage full, compact growth and a healthy plant.
The Basket Plant (Callisia fragrans) features rosettes of waxy, green leaves that can develop a purplish hue in bright light. The main plant sends out long, trailing stems, or runners, that develop new plantlets at their tips. This cascading effect makes it well-suited for hanging baskets. Under the right conditions, it produces small clusters of fragrant white flowers, which is the source of its name, fragrans.
This plant thrives in bright, indirect sunlight. An east-facing window that provides gentle morning sun is an ideal location. Intense, direct sunlight will scorch the leaves, so filtered light is best. Insufficient light causes the plant to become leggy, with elongated stems and sparse leaves as it stretches toward a light source.
Water thoroughly once the top one to two inches of soil feel dry. To prevent the roots from sitting in standing water, discard any excess that collects in the pot’s saucer. Using non-calcareous water, such as filtered or rainwater, can also contribute to the plant’s overall health.
A well-draining soil mix is required to prevent moisture retention around the roots. Standard potting mixes should be amended to improve drainage. Incorporate materials like perlite, coarse sand, or orchid bark to create a lighter, more aerated medium.
The Basket Plant prefers warm and humid conditions, growing best in indoor temperatures from 60-75°F. It tolerates average household humidity, but occasional misting is beneficial. Protect the plant from cold drafts and sudden temperature drops to prevent stress and foliage damage.
During the spring and summer growing season, the Basket Plant benefits from regular feeding. Apply a balanced, water-soluble 10-10-10 fertilizer every four to six weeks, diluted to half-strength. In the fall and winter, reduce or stop fertilization as the plant’s growth slows.
Regular pruning manages the fast-growing Basket Plant and encourages a compact, bushy form. Trimming its long, trailing stems prevents the plant from looking sparse. This stimulates new growth from the nodes just below the cut, resulting in a denser appearance.
Prune with clean, sharp scissors or shears. To encourage branching, make cuts on the trailing stems just after a leaf node. You can trim the plant as needed during the growing season to maintain its shape, and the cuttings can be used for propagation.
Callisia fragrans is easy to propagate from the stem cuttings removed during pruning. This process can be accomplished by rooting them in water or planting them directly into soil. Both methods have a high success rate due to the plant’s natural tendency to root from its stems.
For water propagation, place a stem cutting in a glass of water, ensuring at least one leaf node is submerged. Position the glass in bright, indirect light and change the water every few days to keep it fresh. Once a healthy root system develops, the new plant can be transferred to a pot with soil.
Alternatively, cuttings can be planted directly into a well-draining potting mix. Insert the cut end into moist soil with at least one node buried. Placing several cuttings in the same pot can create a fuller-looking plant from the start. Keep the soil consistently moist until the cuttings establish roots and show new growth.
Leggy growth, characterized by long, sparse stems, results from the plant not receiving enough light. To fix this, move the plant to a location with brighter, indirect sunlight. Prune the elongated stems to encourage bushier growth.
Yellowing leaves are a symptom of overwatering. If you notice yellowing, allow the soil to dry out more thoroughly between waterings. Ensure the pot has proper drainage and is not left sitting in excess water.
Brown, crispy leaf tips can indicate either underwatering or low humidity. Check the soil moisture to see if it is too dry. If the air is arid, occasional misting can help raise the humidity around the plant.
The Basket Plant can attract pests like mealybugs or scale insects, often found on the undersides of leaves or at stem joints. Treat them by wiping affected areas with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Applying a gentle insecticidal soap is also effective.