Polka Dot plants are small beautiful plants that have unique foliage. They have many colors, but they are mostly seen in a color combination of pink with green spots. Polka Dot plants are pretty easy to grow if the conditions are favorable, and the best time to plant is in spring. These annual plants have a moderate growth rate and do very well when planted in pots and kept indoors.
The lifespan of these plants is around two years, which is also around the time they start flowering. Polka dot plants can also begin to flower for other reasons such as improper watering, rough repotting, poor fertilization, etc. In this post, we will provide you with all the reasons your plant might start flowering.
Why Polka Dot Plant Flowers?
Flowering is a natural process for all plants as its ingrained in their DNA. Polka Dot plants flower because it is a method for creating new seeds. But for them to continue the process, a few conditions must be met. Those conditions are proper watering, care, lighting, and temperature.
The flowering of polka dot plants also means that their lifecycle has run its course, and it’s time to die. This lifecycle lasts about two years but can be extended by letting the plant, not flower. In the below section, we have provided the steps following which you can avoid polka dot plants from flowering.
Trimming off the dead parts of plants is also necessary. If don’t can lead to a diminished growth rate of the plant. To know how to prune plants’ dead parts, read How To Trim Dead Plant Leaves (do it the right way!)
How To Avoid Polka Dot Plant Flowering?
There are a few methods through which you would be able to avoid polka dot plants from flowering. These methods have been listed below.
Move Polka Dot Plant Too Much Cooler Location
One of the best methods to stop your polka dot plants from spiking and starting to produce flowers is to change the positions of the plant. Just move your plant to a cooler place in comparison to the place it’s currently in. Polka dot plants do pretty well in a bit warmer temperatures.
After moving the plant to a cooler location, keep an eye on the lighting conditions of the plant. This is because polka dot plants tend to become tall and leggy when kept in poor lighting conditions. Due to this, there is a chance that the plant might start growing flowers.
Pruning
Pruning is beneficial in keeping your Polka dots from flowering. To prune your Polka dot plants, you need to observe them during their flowering season closely. Whenever you see any spikes appear on the plant, prune them.
You can use a set of clean scissors for pruning, but the best way to do it would be to pinch them off. Polka Dot plants are such kinds of plants that don’t get affected when their flower is destroyed. Instead, they focus on using that energy to grow their leaves and roots.
Pruning of plants is essential, but they need to be carried out correctly. To know more about the pruning process of polka dot plants, read How To Prune Polka Dot Plants (The RIGHT Way)
Using Covers to Get Rid of Polka Dot Plant Flowering
Covering your polka dots can significantly help you in keeping them from flowering. When left under direct sunlight, their growth is abrupt and likely to flower way faster.
Covering your plants can be done by simply putting a cloth shade over them. You can also transfer them to a pot and bring them indoors. But for that, make sure not to damage any part of the plant. The plant may start producing flowers if the transfer to the pot is rough.
Watering
Polka dot plants don’t need much water, but it is critical to keep an eye on them when the temperature rises. Thoroughly watering the plant will prevent dehydration and wild growth. Keep a check on the bedded plants’ leaves. They will curl and become floppy as they dry. Spray them in the early morning before the sun comes up.
Polka Dot Potted Plants should let their growing medium dry slightly between waterings. If the soil becomes too moist, they may suffer root rot. During the growing season, the top quarter-inch of soil should be dry. Allow it to dry out further when the temperature cools and water when the top half-inch is dry.
Proper Fertilization
Proper fertilization helps the plant in growing. So, when you move the plant, and supposedly its roots get damaged, the plant focuses on flowering. If proper fertilization is done, the plant uses this extra nutrition to focus more on its flowers. Poor fertilization is the way by which you would be able to stop the plant from flowering.
Apple cider vinegar is a beneficial ingredient for plants. To know how to use apple cider vinegar in your garden, read Why You Should Use Apple Cider Vinegar on Plants?
What to do if Polka Dot Plant Flower?
If your polka dot plants start to flower, the best thing to do would be to prune the plant. You can start that by pinching the flower spikes of the plant or trimming them using a scissor. There isn’t much that can be done to avoid that. Just make sure you observe the plant closely to prevent it from flowering.
Wrap Up
So, there you have it. You can follow these steps to stop your polka dot plant from flowering. Ensure to take care of your plants properly; otherwise, they will start flowering and slowly wither away. We hope that this has been of help to you. If you know of any other process to keep polka dots from flowering, share them with us below.
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