persian shield care

Persian Shield Growing Instructions

Wonderfully adaptable, Persian shield grows in sun or shade. When grown in full sun, especially in hot climates, it needs regular watering to keep it from wilting. Make growing Persian shield easier by spreading a 3- to 4-inch-deep layer of mulch over the soil around the plant.

How often should I water my Persian shield?

Persian shield plants require constant moisture. Water them thoroughly and evenly twice a week. The top six inches of soil should be constantly moist. If you notice the soil getting dry between waterings, increase how much you water it.

Why is my Persian shield dying?

Your plant will wilt quickly if it has too little water, and it’s immediately obvious. If this happens, increase your frequency of watering to compensate, being sure to keep the soil moist and humidity up around the plant. It bounces back quickly even when it bad shape.

Is Persian shield a houseplant?

As a tender perennial, the Persian shield grows outdoors in warmer, tropical climates and as an annual in temperate regions. Persian shield also thrives as a stunning easy-care houseplant. Its exotic silvery metallic foliage makes this plant an eye-catching feature.

Is Persian shield drought tolerant?

Needing very little care, it is drought-tolerant, heat-loving, and relatively pest-free. Not hardy beyond Zone 10, so it may be cut back hard in late fall, potted up, and brought inside.

How do you plant Persian shields outside?

You can grow Persian shield outdoors in warm climates and plant them in the ground as part of a border display. In cool zones, however, treat the plant as an annual or bring it inside at the end of summer.

What plants look good with Persian shield?

You can make great combinations with the Persian Shield. The purple foliage plays off the yellow-green stalks of the large bananas in our gardens. Another great choice would be to use lilac-colored impatiens as companions, although pink also would work well.

Should I mist my Persian shield?

Persian Shield plants require high humidity. Leaves dry up and fall off in low humidity. You can mist the leaves to increase the humidity, but use rain water or distilled water. Misting the plant with water containing chemicals such as chlorine or water that has passed through a softener puts marks on the leaves.

How cold can Persian shield tolerate?

Persian Shield Temperature Needs

They do best from 60-75 °F (16-24°C) yet can shrug off short dips below this range. They tend to get leggy in hotter weather. Outside, they are hardy in USDA Zones 10 and up, though anecdotal reports claim Strobilanthes are becoming perennial in Zones 8 and 9.

Why is my Persian shield crispy?

Brown crispy leaves are caused by dry air. This tropical native wants moist air to look its best. Don’t worry, there are easy ways to raise the humidity around it. I often use pebble trays with water or a cool-mist room humidifier.

Why are the tips of my Persian shield turning brown?

If the surrounding saturation is too low or the heat too high, its leaf-tips may start to brown over and curl, especially in direct sunlight. Gently hose the foliage down from time to time to hydrate the leaves and keep the dust levels down.

Is Persian shield toxic to dogs?

For the most part, Persian Shield is a safe choice for properties and households with kids, pets and livestock.

Why is my Persian shield turning green?

It will sunburn and bleach if given too much, so just a little more light and not too much. Stress may help it color up more too. You can do this by not fertilizing it and let it completely dry between watering. Let it go fairly dry, but not too dry that it damages leaves.

How big does Persian shield get?

Persian shield languishes when the weather is cool, but grows quickly under hot and humid conditions to form a large, bushy, mounded plant. This soft-stemmed herbaceous shrub can grow up to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide, but typically remains much smaller when grown in containers or in cooler climates.