Cat's Whisker Plant Care

Location

• A native of tropical East Asia, cat's whiskers is a frost-sensitive plant that may be cultivated as a perennial in USDA zones 9 to 11. For best results, plant in a bright, full-sun location. According to Alabama Cooperative Extension, the plant will grow in a location that offers a combination of filtered sunlight and direct sunlight. Plants grown in shadier situations will produce fewer blooms and may be leggier than those grown in full sun.

Soil

• Cat's whiskers requires a fertile, well-draining soil to thrive. Ordinary garden soil can be made more fertile by working in 3 to 4 inches of organic matter such as well-rotted manure or leaf mold into the soil at a depth between 6 to 8 inches. Soil can be further improved at time of planting by mixing in a slow-release 12-6-6 fertilizer. Use about a pound per 100 square feet.

Maintenance

• Cat's whiskers require consistently moist soil to flourish. Water heavily on a regular basis, never allowing the soil to become "bone dry" to the touch. The plant will quickly start to wilt if its thin leaves lose water. For maximum growth and flowering, fertilize monthly during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Water the soil thoroughly before fertilizing, as the fertilizer may burn the plant's roots.

Considerations

• Cat's whiskers is easy to propagate by seed and cuttings. Stems often fall off at the base of the plant and begin to root. These starts may be dug up and moved elsewhere, or left in place. Cuttings will root in a glass of water or directly in the ground, provided they are watered sufficiently. A tea, known in Asia as java tea, may be made from the leaves of the plant to provide relief from kidney problems, diabetes and arthritis. All other parts of the plant, however, are poisonous.