COMMON NAMES |
Dwarf ixora, flame of the woods, jungle flame |
FAMILY |
Rubiaceae |
TYPE |
Evergreen shrub |
WATERING |
Maintain moist soil |
LIGHT |
Full sun to partial shade |
HEIGHT |
2 feet |
HUMIDITY |
Moderate to high humidity |
TOXIC |
Non-toxic |
PESTS |
Common houseplant pests |
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Watering
This plant likes to have continuously moist soil, and like most flowering plants, it should not be allowed to dry out. Aim to keep the soil moist but not wet by watering it once the top layer of soil has dried out. You can test this by dipping your finger in the soil. Remember that the temperature and light your plant receives will affect its watering needs, as well as whether it is kept in a container or grown directly in the ground.
Temperature
The ideal temperature range for the Dwarf ixora is 65° to 70° F. This type of ixora is known to be one of the hardiest, but it does like warm conditions and will suffer if temperatures drop. Low temperatures will cause this plant to shed its leaves. Interestingly, Dwarf ixora plants with pink or white flowers tend to be more susceptible to damage from the cold, and these especially should be grown in a warm climate.
This plant will react equally badly if it gets too hot, so try to give it some shade during the hottest time of the day to prevent it from overheating. The plant is ideal for keeping as a houseplant as it will be perfectly happy with average room temperatures.
Light
As a natively tropical plant, the Dwarf ixora loves sunlight. If planting outside, it will need to be in a position that benefits from at least a few hours of direct sunlight each day, ideally in the morning. This plant can suffer if it gets too hot, so the perfect lighting scenario would be for the plant to get full sun in the morning and shade in the heat of the afternoon sun.
Soil
This plant is very low maintenance in general, but one area where it is quite fussy is soil. It likes acidic soil, and it will let you know if you have incorrectly planted it in alkaline soil, so save yourself the time and trouble and test the pH of your soil before you plant the Dwarf ixora to make sure it is going to be suitable. It likes the soil to be in a pH range of 5.0 to 6.0.
Pruning
The decision of whether or not to prune your Dwarf ixora depends on what you are trying to achieve. Due to its size, this shrub is very versatile and can be grown in many ways. It typically won’t grow any taller than two feet, so it is ideal to use as a hedge along the border of a footpath. For this purpose, the plant will need to be pruned into shape. This is best done at the end of fall as it will encourage new growth and more abundant blooms next season.
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