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Indian head
Indian head
Indian head
Indian head
Indian head
Indian head
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.
Hardiness Zones
Hardiness Zones
10 to 12
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Key Facts About Indian head

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Attributes of Indian head

Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Shrub
Flower Color
Pink
Red
Orange
Leaf type
Evergreen
Ideal Temperature
20 - 38 ℃

Scientific Classification of Indian head

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distribution

Distribution of Indian head

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Distribution Map of Indian head

Indian head is primarily found in tropical regions of Central and South America. Its original habitat spans across several major regions within these continents, thriving in diverse environmental conditions. Additionally, indian head has been introduced in parts of South Asia and the Caribbean, indicating a wider cultivation range beyond its native realms.
distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
habit
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Questions About Indian head

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Watering Watering Watering
Sunlight Sunlight 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.
Read More more
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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More Info on Indian Head Growth and Care

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Basic Care Guide
Lighting
Partial sun
Indian head thrives under moderate sun exposure, but it also endures low light settings. Originating from environments where sun exposure is filtered through other plants, indian head can manage successfully without an abundance of light. Yet, an optimal amount of sun ensures healthy growth, while excess or deficiency can cause growth issues.
Best Sunlight Practices
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Bush clockvine
This tropical, evergreen shrub grows erect and blooms with bold dark blue or purple flowers through both summer and autumn, making it a lovely choice for hedges, borders, and walls. Though bush clockvine most commonly grows as a bush, it can be 'trained' to grow like a vine (as implied by the name).
Vegetable hummingbird
Vegetable hummingbird
Vegetable hummingbird (Sesbania grandiflora) is a fast-growing tree, reaching an average height of up to 4.5 m. It is grown both as an ornamental tree to provide shade and as a method to recolonize degraded or eroded soils. Interestingly, gum from vegetable hummingbird is used to make fishing cord more durable.
Bismarck Palm
Bismarck Palm
Bismarck Palm (Bismarckia nobilis) is a palm species native to Africa. Bismarck Palm grows well in clay soil in full sunlight. This species is often cultivated as an ornamental palm for landscaping.
Pong-pong
Pong-pong
Pong-pong (Cerbera odollam) is also known, somewhat dramatically, as the suicide tree because its fruit contains a toxin, cerberin, which is highly poisonous to humans. Despite this, this plant is grown in many gardens as hedging. The seeds are used industrially to make insect repellents and rat poisons.
Native fuchsia
Native fuchsia
Native fuchsia (Correa reflexa) is a shrub that is endemic to Australia where it primarily grows on the southeast coast of the continent. Native fuchsia flowers intermittently throughout the year but its primarily blooming season is spring through fall. The flowers are green-yellow to crimson pendulous tubular and slightly flared at the opening.
King protea
King protea
The king protea is a shrub with a flower that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale. The large, globe-shaped buds resemble giant artichokes before they open. The Latin name *Protea cynaroides* is reminiscent of the Greek sea-god, Proteus, who was known to change shapes, suggesting the diversity found in this unique bloom.
Cape jasmine
Cape jasmine
Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.
Golden pothos
Golden pothos
The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.
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Indian head
Indian head
Indian head
Indian head
Indian head
Indian head
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.
Hardiness Zones
Hardiness Zones
10 to 12
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Key Facts About Indian head

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Attributes of Indian head

Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Shrub
Flower Color
Pink
Red
Orange
Leaf type
Evergreen
Ideal Temperature
20 - 38 ℃
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Scientific Classification of Indian head

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distribution

Distribution of Indian head

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Feedback
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Distribution Map of Indian head

Indian head is primarily found in tropical regions of Central and South America. Its original habitat spans across several major regions within these continents, thriving in diverse environmental conditions. Additionally, indian head has been introduced in parts of South Asia and the Caribbean, indicating a wider cultivation range beyond its native realms.
distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
question

Questions About Indian head

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Feedback
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Watering Watering Watering
Sunlight Sunlight Sunlight
What is the best way to water my Indian head?
more
What should I do if I water my Indian head too much or too little?
more
How often should I water my Indian head?
more
How much water does my Indian head need?
more
How can I tell if i'm watering my Indian head enough?
more
How can I water my Indian head at different growth stages?
more
How can I water my Indian head through the seasons?
more
What's the difference between watering my Indian head indoors vs outdoors?
more
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More Info on Indian Head Growth and Care

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Basic Care Guide
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Plants Related to Indian head

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Lighting
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Requirements
Partial sun
Ideal
About 3-6 hours sunlight
Full shade
Tolerance
Less than 3 hours of sunlight
Watch how sunlight gracefully moves through your garden, and choose spots that provide the perfect balance of light and shade for your plants, ensuring their happiness.
Essentials
Indian head thrives under moderate sun exposure, but it also endures low light settings. Originating from environments where sun exposure is filtered through other plants, indian head can manage successfully without an abundance of light. Yet, an optimal amount of sun ensures healthy growth, while excess or deficiency can cause growth issues.
Preferred
Tolerable
Unsuitable
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Artificial lighting
Indoor plants require adequate lighting for optimal growth. When natural sunlight is insufficient, particularly in winter or in less sunny spaces, artificial lights offer a vital solution, promoting faster, healthier growth.
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Indoor plants require adequate lighting for optimal growth. When natural sunlight is insufficient, particularly in winter or in less sunny spaces, artificial lights offer a vital solution, promoting faster, healthier growth.
1. Choose the right type of artificial light: LED lights are a popular choice for indoor plant lighting because they can be customized to provide the specific wavelengths of light that your plants need.
Full sun plants need 30-50W/sq ft of artificial light, partial sun plants need 20-30W/sq ft, and full shade plants need 10-20W/sq ft.
2. Determine the appropriate distance: Place the light source 12-36 inches above the plant to mimic natural sunlight.
3. Determine the duration: Mimic the length of natural daylight hours for your plant species. most plants need 8-12 hours of light per day.
Important Symptoms
Symptoms of Insufficient Light in %s
Indian head is a versatile plant that thrives in full sunlight but can tolerate partial shade. While it can adapt to different light conditions, when grown indoors with insufficient light, subtle symptoms of light deficiency may arise.
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(Symptom details and solutions)
Small leaves
New leaves may grow smaller in size compared to the previous ones once they have matured.
Leggy or sparse growth
The spaces between leaves or stems of your Indian head may become longer, resulting in a thin and stretched-out appearance. This can make the plant look sparse and weak, and it may easily break or lean due to its own weight.
Faster leaf drop
When plants are exposed to low light conditions, they tend to shed older leaves early to conserve resources. Within a limited time, these resources can be utilized to grow new leaves until the plant's energy reserves are depleted.
Slower or no new growth
Indian head enters a survival mode when light conditions are poor, which leads to a halt in leaf production. As a result, the plant's growth becomes delayed or stops altogether.
Lighter-colored new leaves
Insufficient sunlight can cause leaves to develop irregular color patterns or appear pale. This indicates a lack of chlorophyll and essential nutrients.
Solutions
1. To optimize plant growth, shift them to increasingly sunnier spots each week until they receive 3-6 hours of direct sunlight daily, enabling gradual adaptation to changing light conditions.2. To provide additional light for your plant, consider using artificial light if it's large or not easily movable. Keep a desk or ceiling lamp on for at least 8 hours daily, or invest in professional plant grow lights for ample light.
Symptoms of Excessive light in %s
Indian head thrives in full sun exposure but can adapt to partial shade. Although sunburn symptoms occur occasionally, they are generally tolerant of different light conditions due to their resilience.
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(Symptom details and solutions)
Chlorosis
Chlorosis is a condition where the plant's leaves lose their green color and turn yellow. This is due to the breakdown of chlorophyll from excessive sunlight, which negatively affects the plant's ability to photosynthesize.
Sunscald
Sunscald occurs when the plant's leaves or stems are damaged by intense sunlight exposure. It appears as pale, bleached, or necrotic areas on the plant tissue and can reduce the plant's overall health.
Leaf Curling
Leaf curling is a symptom where leaves curl or twist under extreme sunlight conditions. This is a defense mechanism used by the plant to reduce its surface area exposed to sunlight, minimizing water loss and damage.
Wilting
Wilting occurs when a plant loses turgor pressure and its leaves and stems begin to droop. Overexposure to sunlight can cause wilting by increasing the plant's water loss through transpiration, making it difficult for the plant to maintain adequate hydration.
Leaf Scorching
Leaf scorching is a symptom characterized by the appearance of brown, dry, and crispy edges or patches on leaves due to excessive sunlight. This can lead to a reduction in photosynthetic capacity and overall plant health.
Solutions
1. Move your plant to the optimal position where it can receive abundant sunlight but also have some shade. An east-facing window is an ideal choice as the morning sunlight is gentler. This way, your plant can enjoy ample sunlight while reducing the risk of sunburn.2. It is recommended to trim off any completely dehydrated or withered parts of the plant.
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