African Mask Plant Growing and Plant Care Guide

  • By: admin
  • Date: November 22, 2022
  • Time to read: 8 min.
Spread the love
Alocasia mortfontanensis. African mask plant

What Is African Mask Plant?

African Mask Plant (Acmella Oleracea) is a creeping, herbaceous perennial that forms low mounds with leaves up to 3 ½ inches long and 1 inch wide. It has pure white flowers in spring through summer that form bright yellow seed pods in autumn. These plants are native to tropical areas of Africa but do well as an ornamental in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 through 11. They can be grown indoors as houseplants or outdoors in warm climates.

African Mask Plant Care & Maintenance

These plants are easy to grow and bloom best when they receive at least six hours of direct sunlight per day, making them a great option for containers on patios or decks that get plenty of suns.

African Mask Plants are usually pest-free if planted in well-draining soil where the proper temperatures are provided; however, they may attract mealybugs and scale insects when conditions are too hot or humid and spider mites if there is poor air circulation around the plant.

If you notice these bugs crawling on your African Mask Plant, spray them with insecticidal soap to wipe out the infestation.

African Mask Plant Light Requirements

The African Mask Plant is a sun-loving plant. When grown as an indoor plant, it needs to be placed in a spot where it will receive at least six hours of direct sun each day. This makes the houseplant a good option for patios or decks where it can soak up rays from nearby windows.

African Mask Plants do well outdoors planting in warm climates like California, Texas, and Florida but may perform better if planted in partial shade during the hottest parts of the year.

Make sure you choose a good drainage location and avoid overwatering the plants because this species does not have a robust tolerance for wet roots. The soil should dry out between watering sessions to prevent root rot.

African Mask Plant Water Requirements

Alocasia sanderiana in pot with white background, seen closely. Alocasia sanderiana in pot with white background, seen closely. Alocasia Polly  stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

When watered, the African Mask Plant prefers to be allowed to dry out completely between watering sessions. Keep an eye on the plant and water whenever the soil feels too dry.

Shake off any excess water from your hands after you have finished watering, and avoid getting the leaves wet to prevent foliar diseases from developing.

Fungicides containing sulfur can be used if a problem does occur, but proper drainage is key for preventing root rot that may cause wilting or leaf drop.

Soil Requirements

The African Mask Plant is a hearty plant that can tolerate many different soil types as long as it drains well. A mixture of potting soil, peat moss, and sand or perlite will make an appropriate potting mix for the African Mask Plant when plants are potted up from seedlings.

African Mask Plants do best in a loose soil mixture to allow for adequate drainage, but you also need to consider whether your soil mixture will retain enough moisture to keep your plants happy.

If the soil dries out too quickly after watering, add some extra organic matter like compost to hold more water or add some mulch around the base of the plant’s container.

Temperature and Humidity Requirements

African Mask Plants prefer warm temperatures between 68 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day but can tolerate warmer or cooler temperatures as long as they get consistent sunlight.

These plants are not particularly picky about humidity levels, so they should be fine in a range of 40 to 60 percent relative humidity.

If you notice that condensation is building upon the leaves or if the African Mask Plant starts to wilt, you may need to increase the humidity level around your plant with a humidifier or by placing it close to a steamy shower.

Fertilizing Requirements

The African Mask Plant is a slow-growing plant that prefers low levels of fertilizer.

If you have been growing your plants for an extended period of time and they still look small, apply a fertilizer formula with less nitrogen and more phosphate to help promote the healthiest growth.

Like most other flowering houseplants, African Mask Plants prefer to be fertilized when returning from their resting period during the winter months. During this time, the soil should be allowed to dry out completely in between waterings before applying any fertilizer or water.

Mulching around the base of the plant’s pot is also beneficial because it helps keep moisture in the air around your plants and prevents pests from gaining access to indoor gardens through cracks in sidewalks or patios.

How to Propagate African Mask Plants

Alocasia sanderiana in pot with white background, seen closely. Alocasia sanderiana in pot with white background, seen closely. Alocasia Polly  stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

Like most other flowering indoor plants, African Mask Plants can be propagated by either rooting cuttings or carefully removing a few leaves from the parent plant and sowing them in the soil before placing them on a windowsill for growing new plants.

African Mask Plants usually go through one season of growth followed by a period of rest as they prepare for winter dormancy. Keep an eye on your plant to make sure it is healthy before you begin the process of propagation.

If your plant isn’t looking healthy, wait until spring when it comes out of its resting period to propagate cuttings or leaves because this may introduce insects into your house that will weaken your original plant even further.

Propagating African Mask Plants with Cuttings

There are two ways to propagate an African Mask Plant from a cutting.  One is by rooting the base of the stem in potting soil, and the other is by rooting individual leaves directly in water without soil. Whichever method you choose, be sure to use sharp pruning shears or scissors when taking cuttings to avoid damaging your plant’s limbs during propagation.

Propagating by Rooting Stems When propagating African Mask Plants through rooting stems in potting soil, select healthy shoots that have not yet fully sprouted a flower bud. Cut off a healthy branch about 5 inches long and remove any flowers or buds, so only green branches remain. Then, place the cutting in a plastic bag and seal it airtight before putting it into the refrigerator for 3 to 4 weeks.

This will mimic winter conditions, which is when African Mask Plants naturally rest. When leaves grow out of the stem, transplant them into a pot with regular potting soil mixed with sand and peat moss. To prevent mold from growing on top of your newly grown plant, keep the soil almost dry between waterings until roots develop fully and start to sprout fresh leaves instead.

Propagating by Rooting Leaves Propagate African Mask Plants through rooting individual leaves by carefully cutting off an entire leaf from a healthy-looking branch that has not yet blossomed.

To prepare the leaf for successful propagation, remove any spines along its edges or the entire base of the leaf. You can also remove the veins if you like, but doing so will slow the growth process significantly for your new plant.

After you’ve prepared your leaf by removing spines and veins, please place it in a plastic bag that’s been filled with water until totally saturated. Seal this airtight before placing it into your refrigerator to mimic winter conditions as well as protect your cutting from fungal infections. When roots start to grow out of the bottom of the leaf, transplant it into potting soil with sand and peat moss mixed in.

When transplanting leaves or cuttings from an African Mask Plant into the soil, be sure not to bury them too deep because doing so may suffocate their fragile root system.  The soil level should only be deep enough to cover the base of the cutting or leaf without burying it underground.

Potting and repotting Requirements

Your new plants should receive the same level of water that your African Mask Plant currently receives. Keep in mind that soil and sand added to potting soil naturally dry out faster than regular potting soil alone, so that it will require more frequent watering.

If you are propagating a leaf, keep it partially submerged under water until roots emerge from the bottom. This usually takes 2-3 weeks for African Mask Plants.  Once this happens, submerge your leaf all the way up to its base so it can begin using photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy as well as grow thicker roots.

Expert Insight on How to Propagate African Mask Plants Successfully

How long does it take for leaves or cuttings to grow roots and sprout new leaves?

It takes between 3 to 4 weeks for cuttings rooted in soil to grow roots. Propagated in water, an African Mask Plant leaf will usually take 2-3 weeks to develop roots and start growing fresh leaves.

This length of time may vary depending on the size of your cutting or leaf, so don’t panic if they don’t start sprouting immediately after rooting. Give them a few extra days since it takes slightly longer for larger cuttings than smaller ones. Can you propagate more than one plant from each cutting?

If propagating multiple branches at once, use separate bags to keep each branch isolated from the others until their stems are rooted successfully (you can make sure all branches are still green without any flowers or buds starting to grow) once they are all rooted, transplant each one into separate pots.

African Mask Plant Problems & Common Diseases

If you have a flowering/fruiting branch with flowers or fruit, wait until the time of year when it naturally rests before cutting off a leaf.  Leaves that are removed from branches while in bloom are more prone to disease and may rot before developing roots.

Do not water your newly rooted plant until new leaves emerge from its stem. The stems should start growing new leaves within 1-2 weeks after transplanting into potting soil or just 2-3 days if propagating using water. Be sure to bury your cutting or leaf just deep enough so the soil covers it without being buried underground.  If you’ve buried them too deep, they’ll die naturally as their root system suffocates.

If you’ve noticed yellowing leaves or brown edges, it could be that your new plant is experiencing too much heat or humidity in its environment. Take it out of direct sunlight to decrease the chance of leaf burn while increasing air circulation around it. There are no other signs of illness for African Mask Plants, so if they’re under good care, they don’t face many problems aside from a few pests and diseases that may affect their growth:

Aphids  – Aphids can cause specks to appear on your leaves, as well as small black dots around the base of stems. You can use insecticidal soap spray made foto kill on an African Mask Plant with success successfullyn treating smaller infestations. The soap doesn’t necessarily kill them – it just causes them to fall off.

Common Diseases of African Plants

Many new succulent owners are unaware that they can get sick from their plants as well. In fact, some of their most common diseases are caused by too much water in the soil or improper care! While the tips above should help you avoid diseases related to root rot and under-watering when propagating an African Mask Plant, you may get sick if your plant becomes infected with one of these conditions:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Post

Chinese Evergreen Plant Growing & Care Guide

Next Post

Philodendron Brandi Growing and Plant Care Guide