Baseball plant care guide

Pets and children

How often to water Baseball plant

Spring–Summer (Mar–Sep)

Every 10 days

A summer grower: as a guide, water until it runs from the pot a few days after the soil has dried through, in the evening in midsummer.

Autumn (Oct–Nov)

Every 14 days

As it cools, stretch the interval to about one or two weeks after the soil dries.

Winter (Dec–Feb)

Every month

Nearly dry: about once a month, wet just the surface on a warm morning, as a guide.

Light and placement for Baseball plant

Bright light and airflow all year, with full sun in spring and fall as a guide; strong midsummer sun can scorch the skin, so use bright partial shade then, and too little light makes the ball stretch tall.

Overwintering Baseball plant

Overwintering guide: 5°C (41°F) or above

Tender: keep it above about 5°C, moving it to a bright window indoors when nights fall under 10°C and resting it dry; pull it back from a cold pane at night.

Fertilizing and repotting Baseball plant

Fertilizer

Very little: diluted liquid fertilizer about monthly from April to September and none after, since overfeeding can bloat or split the body.

When to repot

Spring–Summer (Mar–Sep)

Common problems with Baseball plant

• Overwatered in winter, it rots from the base.
• Too little light stretches it tall, and the round shape does not come back.
• Midsummer sun scorches the skin and leaves brown patches.

Tips for growing Baseball plant

• Plants are male or female, so seed needs at least two.
• Use a fast-draining mix and a pot just big enough for the roots.
• Even in the growing season, waiting for the skin to wrinkle slightly before watering avoids most trouble.

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