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Add to My Garden Indian head
Aphelandra scabra
Indian head has the unusual habit of opening only one flower per day to prevent self-fertilization. When flowers open, they readily attract hummingbirds that drink the nectar, while the upper flower petal drops pollen on their head to transport to other flowers to pollinate them.
10 to 12
Hardiness Zones
More Info
Flower Color
Pink
Red
Orange
Scientific Classification
Find your perfect green friends.
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Distribution Map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
Questions About Indian head
Watering 
Sunlight What is the best way to water my Indian head?
Your Indian head will not be too picky about how you choose to water it. As such, you can use just about any common watering tool to moisten this plant’s soil. Watering cans, hoses, and even cups will work just fine when it is time to water your Indian head. Regardless of which watering tool you use, you should typically apply the water directly to the soil. In doing so, you should ensure that you moisten all soil areas equally to give all parts of the root system the water it needs. It can help to use filtered water, as tap water can contain particles that are harmful to plants. It is also beneficial to use water that is at or slightly above room temperature, as colder or hotter water can be somewhat shocking to the Indian head. However, the Indian head usually responds well to any kind of water you give it.
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What should I do if I water my Indian head too much or too little?
For outdoor plants, especially newly planted plants or plant seedlings, they can be prone to lack of watering. Remember that you need to keep watering enough for a few months when the tree is small or just planted. This is because once the roots are established, Indian head can rely on rain most of the time.
When your Indian head is planted in pots, overwatering is often more likely to.When you accidentally overwater your Indian head, you should be prepared to remedy the situation immediately. First, you should stop watering your plant right away to minimize the effect of your overwatering. After, you should consider removing your Indian head from its pot to inspect its roots. If you find that none of the roots have developed root rot, it may be permissible to return your plant to its container. If you do discover signs of root rot, then you should trim away any roots that have been affected. You may also want to apply a fungicide to prevent further damage. Lastly, you should repot your Indian head in soil that is well-draining. In the case of an underwatered Indian head, simply water this plant more frequently.
Underwatering is often an easy fix. If you underwater, the plant's leaves will tend to droop and dry out and fall off, and the leaves will quickly return to fullness after sufficient watering. Please correct your watering frequency as soon as underwatering occurs.
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How often should I water my Indian head?
Most plants that grow naturally outdoors can be allowed to grow normally with rainfall. If your area lacks rainfall, consider giving your plants adequate watering every 2 weeks during the spring and fall. More frequent watering is needed in summer. In winter, when growth becomes slower and plants need less water, water more sparingly. Throughout the winter, you may not give it additional watering at all. If your Indian head is young or newly planted, then you should water more frequently to help it establish, and mature and grow up to have more adaptable and drought tolerant plants.
For potted plants, there are two main ways that you can determine how often to water your Indian head. The first way is to set a predetermined watering schedule. If you choose this route, you should plan to water this plant about once every week or once every other week. However, this approach may not always work as it does not consider the unique conditions of the growing environment for your Indian head .
Your watering frequency can also change depending on the season. For instance, a predetermined watering schedule will likely not suffice during summer when this plant's water needs are highest. An alternative route is to set your watering frequency based on soil moisture. Typically, it is best to wait until the first two to four inches of soil, usually ⅓ to ½ depth of the pots, have dried out entirely before you give more water.
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How much water does my Indian head need?
When it comes time to water your Indian head, you may be surprised to find that this plant does not always need a high volume of water. Instead, if only a few inches of soil have dried since your last watering, you can support healthy growth in the Indian head by giving it about five to ten ounces of water every time you water. You can also decide your water volume based on soil moisture. As mentioned above, you should note how many inches of soil have dried out between waterings. A surefire way to make sure your Indian head gets the moisture it needs is to supply enough water to moisten all the soil layers that became dry since the last time you watered. If more than half of the soil has become dry, you should consider giving more water than usual. In those cases, continue adding water until you see excess water draining from your pot’s drainage holes.
If your Indian head is planted in an area that gets plenty of rain outdoors, it may not need additional watering. When the Indian head is young or just getting established, make sure it gets 1-2 inches of rain per week. As it continues to grow and establish, it can survive entirely on rainwater and only when the weather is hot and there is no rainfall at all for 2-3 weeks, then consider giving your Indian head a full watering to prevent them from suffering stress.
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How can I tell if i'm watering my Indian head enough?
Overwatering is a far more common problem for the Indian head, and there are several signs you should look for when this occurs. Generally, an overwatered Indian head will have yellowing leaves and may even drop some leaves. Also, overwatering can cause the overall structure of your plant to shrivel and may also promote root rot. On the other hand, an underwatered Indian head will also begin to wilt. It may also display leaves that are brown or brittle to the touch. Whether you see signs of overwatering or underwatering, you should be prepared to intervene and restore the health of your Indian head.
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How can I water my Indian head at different growth stages?
When the Indian head is very young, such as when it is in a seedling stage, you will need to give it more water than you would if it were at a mature age. During the early stages of this plant’s life, it is important to keep the soil consistently moist to encourage root development. The same is true for any Indian head that you have transplanted to a new growing location. Also, the Indian head can develop showy flowers and fruits when you give them the correct care. If your Indian head is in a flowering or fruiting phase, you will likely need to give a bit more water than you usually would to support these plant structures.
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How can I water my Indian head through the seasons?
The seasonal changes will affect how often you water your Indian head. Mainly, during the hottest summer months, you will likely need to increase how much you water this plant, especially if it grows in an area that receives ample sunlight. Strong summer sunlight can cause soil to dry out much faster than usual, meaning that you’ll need to water more frequently. By contrast, your Indian head will need much less water during the winter, as it will not be in an active growing phase. During winter, you can get by with watering once every 2 to 3 weeks or sometimes not at all. For those growing this plant indoors, you should be somewhat wary of appliances such as air conditioners, which can cause your plant to dry out more quickly, which also calls for more frequent watering.
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What's the difference between watering my Indian head indoors vs outdoors?
In some cases, your Indian head may not need any supplemental watering when it grows outside and will survive on rainwater alone. However, if you live in an area of little to no rain, you should water this plant about every two weeks. If you belong to the group of people who live out of this plant's natural hardiness zone, you should grow it indoors. In an indoor setting, you should monitor your plant's soil as it can dry out more quickly when it is in a container or when it is exposed to HVAC units such as air conditioners. Those drying factors will lead you to water this plant a bit more often than if you grew it outdoors.
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About
More Info
Distribution
Care FAQ
Related Plants
Related Articles
Add to My Garden Indian head
Aphelandra scabra
Indian head has the unusual habit of opening only one flower per day to prevent self-fertilization. When flowers open, they readily attract hummingbirds that drink the nectar, while the upper flower petal drops pollen on their head to transport to other flowers to pollinate them.
10 to 12
Hardiness Zones
More Info
Flower Color
Pink
Red
Orange
Scientific Classification
Find your perfect green friends.
Plan your green oasis based on your criteria: plant type, pet safety, skill level, sites, and more.
Download the App
Distribution Map
Map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
Questions About Indian head
Watering Sunlight What is the best way to water my Indian head?
What should I do if I water my Indian head too much or too little?
How often should I water my Indian head?
How much water does my Indian head need?
How can I tell if i'm watering my Indian head enough?
Show More ![more]()
Get tips and tricks for your plants.
Keep your plants happy and healthy with our guide to watering, lighting, feeding and more.
Download the App
Related Plants
Related Articles
Most Common Shrub
# Useful Tips
Best Perennial Plant to Grow
# Useful Tips
Best Perennial Plant to Grow
# Useful Tips
Most Common Shrub
# Useful Tips
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