Purple Waffle

Purple Waffle (Strobilanthes alternata)

The Purple Waffle, also known as Red Ivy is a beautiful plant that can be grown indoors and out. I have heard that some people are able to grow this plants as a perennial, seems like a tropical climate is required for this. Our experience so far in zone 7a has taught us that this plant thrives in heat and humidity. As conditions vary so will the conditions of the plant.

With plenty of sun, moderately moist soil, high humidity, and average temps 85/95F the shiny puckered leaves will have a rich green or purple top, and a deep purple underside. When these conditions turn to the opposite the coloration seems to pale.

LIGHTING:

Partial/filtered to full sun. A few hours with direct sun will do this plant well. We get a few hours of full sun in the morning hours and then have an afternoon filtered through an oak canopy. They seem to grow well in these conditions.

SOIL:

Garden soil or your standard potting soil mix works fine for these plants. You want a soil that will hold moisture but not so much that it will eventually drown your roots. If you go 4-5 days with no watering it should be starting to dry out. like many plants keeping the roots in a soggy muck is a sure way to rot the them and kill the plant.

PROPAGATION:

Find a hearty stem and shear it just below a nodule. If you have a fancy aero propagator put it in to get get some good starting roots coming out of that nodule. If not, one tried and true method we found is to stick the cutting directly into a small pot with your regular potting soil. Keep the soil moist and keep the cutting in partial sun. It will spent a few days a bit over dramatic, as if it is melting away. Keep that soil moist and it should liven up after about day 5.