Color-leaf grass is a warm-season plant known for its strong adaptability. It thrives in temperatures that don’t drop below 10°C during winter and prefers partial shade in summer, but still needs sufficient light to keep its leaves vibrant and colorful.
This plant grows best in humus-rich, well-drained sandy soil. When potting, it’s recommended to use bone meal or compound fertilizer as a base. During the growing season, apply organic liquid fertilizer every 10 to 15 days, but stop during the hot summer months. Be careful not to let the fertilizer touch the leaves, as this can cause burning. Insufficient light can lead to lighter leaf color and weaker growth. In addition to keeping the soil moist, regularly mist the leaves with clean water to remove dust and maintain their shine. During the seedling stage, pinch back the growing tips several times to encourage bushier growth and a fuller plant.
After flowering, you can leave 2–3 nodes on the lower part of the branches and cut off the rest to promote new growth. The ideal temperature for growth is around 20°C. During cold periods, move the plant indoors where temperatures stay above 10°C. Keep the soil consistently moist, but avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot.
Potted plants are usually small, starting with an inner pot diameter of about 10 cm. After 20–30 days of care, they can be moved to a 15 cm pot. Place them near a south-facing window indoors to ensure enough light. Maintain moderate humidity, good air circulation, and a clean environment. Outdoors, provide shade during the summer. Apply a diluted liquid fertilizer three times a year. If the main stem becomes too tall, prune it promptly. If the plant starts forming a flower spike, remove it early, as this can make the plant look leggy and reduce its ornamental value. In early October, move the plants to a greenhouse for wintering. At this time, you can also trim old plants and repot them. The largest pot size should not exceed 14 cm, as larger pots may be inconvenient to manage.
Once the colored leaf seeds mature, they tend to fall off naturally. However, they are vulnerable to strong winds, so it’s best to cut the bracts when they turn yellow and carefully thresh the seeds. Although some seeds may germinate, they lack cold resistance and aren't suitable for natural propagation.
To preserve the desired traits of the variety, sowing is typically used. However, some varieties cannot be maintained through sowing and require vegetative propagation via cuttings.
In a high-temperature greenhouse, sowing can be done all year round, but it's most common in March. Mix well-rotted humus with sand in the seedling pots, then soak the pots in water before sowing. Use the method for small seeds, lightly cover them with fine soil, and place them on a glass plate. You can also cover them with plastic film to keep the soil moist. Germination occurs best between 25°C and 30°C, taking about 10 days. Once the seedlings emerge, transplant them once or twice before moving them into pots. The leaf colors may vary at this stage, which is normal and often beneficial.
Cuttings can be done throughout the year and have a high survival rate. They can also be taken during pruning or topping. Cut 10 cm sections of healthy shoots, remove the lower leaves, and insert them into clean, disinfected river sand. Ensure the cuttings are shaded and kept moist. Rooting happens faster in warmer conditions, but avoid overly wet soil to prevent root rot. It usually takes about 15 days for roots to develop. Alternatively, you can propagate in water: use cooled boiled water in a half-cup, place 2–3 upper stems (removing the lower leaves), and wait until white roots grow to 5–10 mm before planting them in a pot.
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