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Native to Central America and Mexico, bat face cuphea plant (Cuphea llavea) is named for its interesting little bat-faced blooms of deep purple and bright red. The dense, bright green foliage provides a perfect backdrop for the masses of colorful, nectar-rich flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Bat face cuphea reaches mature heights of 18 to 24 inches (45-60 cm.) with a spread of 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm.). Read on for helpful information about growing a bat faced cuphea flower.
Cuphea is perennial only in the warm climates of USDA plant hardiness zone 10 and above, but you can grow the plant as an annual if you live in a cooler climate. If you have a bright window, you may be able to bring the plant indoors for the winter.
The bat faced cuphea, also known by its scientific name Cuphea llavea, is an eye-catching tropical plant admired by gardeners for its unique flowers resembling little bats. With proper fertilization, these plants can thrive indoors or outdoors, producing lush foliage and prolific blooms during their growing season. This comprehensive guide will explore tips for choosing the right fertilizer, proper timing, application methods, and signs of over-fertilization to help your bat faced cuphea flourish.
Native to Mexico and Central America, the bat faced cuphea is a fast-growing subshrub that can reach 1-3 feet tall and 1-1.5 feet wide. It flourishes in zones 10-11 as a perennial but can be grown as an annual in cooler climates. This plant prefers organically rich acidic soil with excellent drainage and does best in full sun to partial shade depending on your climate.
Like all plants, the bat faced cuphea requires essential macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, represented as NPK on fertilizer labels. A balanced ratio of these nutrients encourages healthy green foliage, strong root development and continual flowering from late spring until frost. The plant also needs secondary nutrients like calcium, magnesium and sulfur plus micronutrients such as iron and manganese.
As a moderate feeder, fertilizing every 4-6 weeks during the active growing season provides a periodic nutrient boost to support the bat faced cuphea’s vigorous growth and flowering habits without overfeeding
Choosing the Right Fertilizer for Bat Faced Cuphea
Selecting Organic vs Synthetic Fertilizer
Both organic and synthetic fertilizers can be effective options for the bat faced cuphea. Organic fertilizers like compost, manure or plant-based mixes release nutrients slowly over time as they break down, improving soil structure and providing long-term fertility. Synthetic fertilizers offer rapid nutrient uptake but don’t provide the same soil enrichment benefits.
Liquid, Granular or Slow-Release
Liquid fertilizers deliver a fast nutrient boost while granular options provide steady feeding when watered in. Slow-release fertilizers are a set-it-and-forget-it choice, gradually releasing nutrients for several months. Any of these can suit the needs of the bat faced cuphea as long as directions are followed to avoid burn.
Targeting the Proper NPK Ratio
Choose a balanced fertilizer with an NPK ratio similar to 10-10-10 or 10-15-10 to provide sufficient nitrogen for healthy leaves, higher phosphorus to stimulate blooms and flowering, and adequate potassium for disease resistance. Or opt for a formula specifically for flowering plants.
When to Fertilize Bat Faced Cuphea
Spring Through Fall Growing Season
Apply fertilizer when new growth emerges in early spring and continue feeding every 4-6 weeks from spring through fall during the active growing season. Avoid fertilizing in winter when the plant is dormant.
Flowering Cycle
Time applications to complement the blooming cycle. Fertilize when flower buds appear, then taper off as blooms fade to avoid excessive growth. Resume again once flower buds reemerge.
How to Fertilize Bat Faced Cuphea
Application Method
Dilute liquid fertilizers to the recommended strength and water into the soil around the base of the plant, avoiding contact with foliage. For granular fertilizer, scatter evenly around the plant and water in thoroughly. For container plants, liquid feeding every 2-4 weeks prevents nutrients from leaching out quickly.
Potted vs In-Ground Plants
Potted plants are prone to quicker nutrient depletion, so feed more frequently with reduced strength fertilizer. In the garden, a monthly feeding routine with slow-release granular fertilizer can suffice. Adjust as needed based on individual plant’s response.
Tips to Avoid Over-Fertilization
Apply only as directed and reduce frequency if signs of excess appear. Over-fertilization can cause leaf burn, yellowing, wilting, or root damage. Flush soil with water to remove excess salts if over-fertilized.
Signs Your Bat Faced Cuphea Needs Fertilizer
Here are indicators your bat faced cuphea would benefit from fertilization:
- Reduced flowering
- Lackluster foliage color
- Slow growth
- Leaf drop
- Leaf discoloration
Signs of Excess Fertilizer
Monitor for these signs of possible over-fertilization:
- Wilting, curled, or burned leaves
- Leaf drop
- Brown leaf tips
- White crusty mineral deposits on soil
- Stunted growth
Key Takeaways
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Fertilize bat faced cuphea every 4-6 weeks during active growth with balanced liquid or slow-release fertilizer.
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Time applications to the spring through fall growing season and flowering cycle.
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Avoid over-fertilizing which causes leaf burn and root damage.
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Address signs of deficiency but also excessive fertilizer.
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Adjust approach for potted vs in-ground plants.
With the proper fertilization regimen tailored to your individual plant and growing conditions, you can have your bat faced cuphea thriving and blooming beautifully within its favored habitat. Pay attention to visual cues from the plant itself to recognize both when fertilizer is needed and if you have overdone it. A little trial and error goes a long way. Enjoy nurturing these charming bat faced blooms!
Bat Face Plant Care
Caring for bat faced plants isnt complicated. Water the plant regularly until the roots are well established. At that point, the plant will do fine with less water and will tolerate occasional periods of drought. Feed cuphea monthly during the growing season, using a high quality, all-purpose fertilizer. Alternatively, provide a slow-release fertilizer in spring. Pinch the stem tips when the plants are 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm.) tall to create a compact, bushy plant. If you live in a borderline climate of USDA zone 8 or 9, you may be able to overwinter bat face plant by protecting the roots with a layer of mulch – such as dry, chopped leaves or bark chips. The plant may die down, but with protection, it should rebound when temperatures rise in spring.
Growing a Bat Face Cuphea Flower
The easiest way to grow cuphea flowers is to purchase bedding plants at a nursery or garden center. Otherwise, start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last hard frost in your area. Plant bat face cuphea in full sunlight and the plant will reward you with color throughout the season. However, if your climate is extremely hot, a little afternoon shade wont hurt. The soil should be well drained. Dig in a few inches (7.5 cm.) of manure or compost before planting to accommodate cupheas need for rich organic matter.
Bat Face Cuphea Plant (Cuphea llavea) And Cutting Propagation
FAQ
What is the best fertilizer for Cuphea?
How do you care for bat-faced Cuphea?
How to keep Cuphea blooming?
How often should you water Cuphea?
How do you grow a bat face Cuphea?
The easiest way to grow cuphea flowers is to purchase bedding plants at a nursery or garden center. Otherwise, start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last hard frost in your area. Plant bat face cuphea in full sunlight and the plant will reward you with color throughout the season.
How do you care for a bat faced Cuphea?
For best results, provide plants with: Organic soil. Full sun or part shade, depending on where you live. Regular water. All-purpose fertilizer. Bat-faced cuphea is fairly low maintenance. You can perform some light tip pruning or pinching if plants become too leggy.
What is a bat face Cuphea plant?
Native to Central America and Mexico, bat face cuphea plant (Cuphea llavea) is named for its interesting little bat-faced blooms of deep purple and bright red. Read this article for helpful informatio
How big does a bat face Cuphea grow?
The dense, bright green foliage provides a perfect backdrop for the masses of colorful, nectar-rich flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Bat face cuphea reaches mature heights of 18 to 24 inches (45-60 cm.) with a spread of 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm.). Read on for helpful information about growing a bat faced cuphea flower.