Polka dot plant care: light, water, and pet safety

Hypoestes phyllostachya

Care table

Light	Bright indirect light. Bright indirect. Colors fade in low light.
Water	Likes evenly moist soil. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
Humidity	Prefers 40 to 50 percent or more
Repotting	Pinch tips often. Replace or restart from cuttings every year or two.

Winter care

Keep soil lightly moist and the plant bright. It gets leggy in winter; pinch it back.

Pet safety

Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA). ASPCA entry: Polka Dot Plant

Pet safety comes from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list. The list is not exhaustive, and a plant marked non-toxic can still upset a pet stomach. If a pet eats a plant and you are worried, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list.

Common problems

Long bare stems, small leaves: Not enough light.
Collapse: Soil went fully dry.

How to check the soil

Finger test: push a finger into the soil up to the first knuckle, about an inch. Dry and crumbly means that layer is dry. Cool or damp means wait. For deeper checks use a wooden skewer: it comes out clean when the soil is dry.

All houseplants and the Light and Water tool