Everything You Need To Know About The Lollipop Plant
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The Earth Laughs In Flowers,” and we agree! Beautiful blooms and gorgeous blossoms are heartfelt messages sent by nature to our doorsteps in the form of greenery. And honestly, no garden is complete without the introduction of the prettiest flowers found in the local climates. Moreover, a flower’s magnificence increases even more when it carries a unique disposition to its personality, and one such interesting species is called the lollipop plant. Let’s dive deep into the nuances of growing and maintaining these peculiar blooms in our home gardens!
What Is A Lollipop Plant?
The lollipop flower plant is an exotic addition to any ambiance due to its whimsical personality. Known as Pachystachys Lutea in the scientific world, the plant borrows its name from its glowy appearance and lollipop-like shape. It imitates the shape of a lollipop or candle and grows with bright yellow or gold-colored bracts with attached white flowers. Although it is native to Peru, it is a fast-growing plant in tropical and subtropical landscapes worldwide.
Also called the golden shrimp plant, it blossoms with vibrant blooms year-round, but especially in the hot months of the year. The plant is not that hardy, so it requires shifting to a warmer space if the temperatures turn freezing. In warm and tropical climates, it can mature up to three to six feet, but the primary reason for lollipop-plant propagation is the ornamental value of its blooms! Its shiny yellow bracts and glowy green foliage are enough to uplift any ambiance.
How To Care For Golden Lollipop Plants?
The lollipop-plant scientific name might be a bit tricky, but its care essentials are not! Growing lollipop plants will get easy with the best lollipop plant care tips, specially catered for you:
1. Lighting Requirements
The first point of consideration for caring for an lollipop plant is to ensure your local weather stays tropically warm. Secondly, it is better to propagate it in the outdoor area where the plant stays shaded from the direct gaze of the sun. The lollipop plant family seeks indirect sunshine in an outside setting for about four to six hours every day.
2. Soil Essentials
The plant soil used for propagating this plant must be a rich variety that drains well and retains most nutrients for future growth. Create an excellent mix of soil, combining it with organic matter such as vermicompost, etc., to ensure proper airflow and maintain porosity.
3. Hydration Timing
The yellow lollipop plant craves moist-laden soil throughout its growing cycle, so continue pouring water using a watering can whenever you catch the soil drying up more than required. However, overwatering will also hamper the plant’s well-being by leading to rotten roots, so our suggestion lies in balancing the watering regime with drip irrigation. Also, restrict the hydration supply during the cold months of the year while ensuring the plant is regularly misted to keep it wrapped in humidity.
4. Fertilizers & Boosters
Like most flowering plants, the lemon lollipop plant also asks for cheat days when it can devour delicious treats in the form of balanced chemical fertilizers. Pampering the plant through fertilization will surely lead to bushy foliage and enchanting blooms. Also, you can add garden manure to the soil at the time of propagation so that the plant always stays satisfied in terms of nourishment.
5. Pruning Schedules
It is a myth that a plant only flourishes when provided with expensive nourishment, for the purple lollipop plant will show signs of thriving growth after you start pruning its foliage! If you witness any leggy stems, faded flowers, and overly long branches, it is time to pick your branch cutter and snip off any decayed growth. Regularly trimming the plant will result in abundant growth, more vibrant flowers, and a neat appearance.
6. Potting & Repotting
As your lollipop ginger plant adds years to its life, you will catch it becoming leggy with each passing day. Don’t worry; this is not an issue but rather a sign from the universe to re-pot the plant in bigger floor planters. One may also change the soil composition every year to encourage more prominent growth.
7. Pests & Diseases
Although the lollipop rose plant has a strong immune system, it can still host spider mites in drastic phases of loneliness. At such times, spray the plant with insecticidal soaps or neem oil using a spray bottle. It will be enough to get rid of any pests residing in the beautiful abode of this plant.
8. Winter Protection
As we mentioned above, the red lollipop plant is not an aficionado of the cold weather, so when exposed to temperatures lower than ten degrees Celsius, there are chances that the plant will give up on its life. As it is easier to overwinter plants growing in containers, a good idea is to propagate your lollipop plant similarly. However, if that’s not possible or preferable, shield it with protective covers easily available in the markets.
How Can I Propagate The Lollipop Plant At Home?
You can purchase the lollipop plant for sale from any offline or online nursery near your location and then plant it in your garden. However, this plant can also be grown through cuttings that carry at least four leaflets. The process entails taking the eligible cuttings and inserting them in the soil. The next step will be to water the plant enough to maintain a moisturized layer on the topsoil but not too much so that the plant almost drowns in the pot. Wait for about one to two months for the plant to grow robust roots and grow gracefully!
What Is The Lollipop Plant Usage In India?
Although the plant does not experience propagation to let people use it in the culinary, cosmetic, or medicinal industries, here are some of the lollipop plant benefits for which most Indians prefer growing it at their home:
➤ Decoration Value
The lollipop plant is widely planted across the nation for its charming beauty that can never go unnoticed! It looks surreal in any atmosphere, with beautifully vibrant blossoms and rich-green foliage. When grown in containers, the plant portrays a picture of serenity and gorgeousness with every glance.
➤ Air Detoxifier
Certain gardening researchers suggest that the lollipop plant is also an excellent air purifier lent by nature to humans. Although its name doesn’t come up that often when talking about air-purifying plants, it does fall in the same category. So, one may also grow it for its brilliance of clearing the atmosphere from toxins.
Conclusion:
The lollipop plant is not that ubiquitously known across the Indian subcontinent due to no fault of its own. This plant is supremely beautiful and blesses every ambiance with cleaner air to breathe. Also, its eye-catchy blooms are enough to stop every bypasser in his tracks, so growing it in the home garden is a great idea. Further, its easy availability across the nation makes it more convenient for people to purchase it from any corner of India. Both offline and online gardening stores like Plantlane keep this plant under the favorites list and offer it for sale through the convenience of delivery to the customer’s doorstep. So, wait no more, and grab your phones or rush into the closest gardening store to dress your surroundings with the beauty of this mesmerizing plant! Happy gardening!
FAQs About The Lollipop Plant In India
Ques: Is The Lollipop Plant A Perennial Or An Annual?
Ans: This plant acts as an annual when the climate gets against its warmth-loving personality and as a perennial in tropical and subtropical locations.
Ques: Can I Grow Lollipop Plants Directly In The Ground?
Ans: Yes, you can grow the golden shrimp plant directly in the landscape of your backyard. However, following a container-based approach is more viable in areas receiving cold drafts and low temperatures.
Ques: Can I Grow Lollipop Plants Indoors?
Ans: One may settle the lollipop plant inside the home when the temperatures outside drop. Otherwise, it is better to let the plant take an outdoor vacation, receiving bright indirect sunshine.
Ques: Where Can I Buy Lollipop Plants In India?
Ans: You can shop for lollipop plants at reasonable prices from Plantlane in India.
Ques: Will My Lollipop Plant Be Delivered Safely?
Ans: Hundred percent! Most online stores parcel every plant with ample care, ensuring the plant’s safety and health. So, you will receive your lollipop plant package in a secured parcel.