Purple fountain grass is a popular houseplant for many reasons. They are purple, they grow quickly and the purple color also means that these plants can tolerate shade! However, purple fountain grass does require some care to keep it looking good and healthy. In this article, we will go over how to care for purple fountain grass plants as well as common problems encountered with purple fountain grass plants and tips on keeping them happy!
What is Purple Fountain Grass Plant?
Purple fountain grass is a purple-colored variety of the common purple carpet plant. The plant has a purple, spherical inflorescence that rises above its leaves and can reach heights up to three feet tall with an equal spread. A more common purple fountain grass plant is the purple fountain grass.
The purple carpet has a six-inch-long, erect stem that branches out at the top and forms an inflorescence of purple flowers with three leaflet blades in each spike. Its leaves are two to four inches wide and can be up to ten inches long plus they grow from twelve or more purple-colored blades.
The purple fountain grass plant is also called purple velvet and blue carpet, and it’s the state flower of Hawaii. It prefers full sun to light shade in moist soil that has a neutral pH balance. This purple fountain grass will grow well for four or five years before going dormant during dry periods. Generally speaking, purple fountain grass is a purple-colored variety of the purple carpet plant.
Origins of Purple Fountain Grass Plant
The purple fountain grass plant is native to India, and has been used in decoration for centuries. This purple variety of turfgrass was first documented by botanist Robert Brown in his 1837 publication “On New or Rare Indian Plants.” The purple fountain grass originates from a natural hybridization of two other species, Pennisetum purpureum and Pennisetum clandestinum.
The purple fountain grass plant is not just aesthetically pleasing but it also has many benefits for the gardener. Purple fountain grass plants can be used as an accent or focal point in your garden with their purple foliage against green leaves. It can also help prevent soil erosion because of its deep roots that hold onto the soil during heavy rains.
Purple Fountain Grass Plant Care Guide
Millions of people around the world love having purple fountain grass plants in their homes. They are so much fun to watch, and purple fountain grass is known for being a really low maintenance plant that you can grow in the ground or as an indoor houseplant! As with any plant though, purple fountain grass needs some special care attention too. Read on for purple fountain grass care guidelines.
Soil
To care for purple maiden fountain grass plant, you need to start with the soil. The purple fountain grass plant prefers moist (yet not soaking wet) soils that are rich in organic material and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous.
A good way to make sure your purple fountain grass gets the right amount of nutrients is by adding compost or manure to the soil. You can even try a purple fountain grass plant food that’s specially made for purple fountain grass plants!
Light
The purple fountain grass plant is a variety of Pennisetum setaceum, an ornamental perennial that requires more light than most plants. Though the purple coloration will still remain, it won’t last as long in shadier areas or spots where there’s less sunlight. Avoid these places if you want your purple fountain grass to stay purple. It’s recommended that your purple fountain grass gets at least six to eight hours of direct sun each day.
Watering
Create a schedule for your purple fountain grass plant with waterings that are appropriate to the season. For example, in winter it is recommended that you only need to water once every two weeks or so. In summertime, on the other hand, weekly watering should suffice. When deciding when and how often to water purple fountain grass plants keep in mind that purple fountain grass plants like wet soil, but will not tolerate being wet for too long.
Temperature
Purple Fountain Grass plants do best in temperatures between 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
They are sensitive to extreme changes in temperature and prefer moderate, constant warmth. The purple fountain grass plant will not tolerate a freeze or frost at all! If you live where the winters bring snow it is important that your purple fountain grass plant is brought indoors before the first frost.
If you live in an area that is a little warmer, purple fountain grass plants will do well outside year-round. They are pretty hardy and can tolerate some heat as long as it’s not too extreme or prolonged.
To help extend their growing season, consider placing your purple fountain grass plant in an area that receives a little shade during the hottest part of the day.
Humidity
A purple fountain grass plant can do well in a wide range of humidity levels. Too much or too little moisture for your purple fountain grass will cause the leaves to droop and turn brown from being too dry, or develop black spots due to dampness. If you live in an area with high temperatures (over 85 degrees), be extra careful with purple fountain grass. Even if you live in a humid area, purple fountain grass may not like the heat and humidity indoors.
Fertiliser
There are many ways to fertilise purple fountain grass. You can use an organic product that contains nitrogen and phosphorus, such as sheep manure or composted cow manure.
You can also apply commercial products like ironite pellets, liquid fertilizer containing nitrates of potash (N-P) along with other chemicals that will help the purple fountain grass grow.
You can also apply organic fertilizers like blood and bone meal, cow manure pellets or chicken droppings that break down quickly in the purple fountain grass plant’s soil.
Toxicity
Toxicity is a big concern for purple fountain grass plants. They can be toxic to pets and people, so it’s important to keep children away from them or any other part of the plant that has touched water because they might get some on their skin.
If purple fountain grass gets wet in your home (like when someone spills something on it), you should take care to wipe the purple fountain grass plant with a dry cloth.
Toxicity is also an issue when purple fountain grass plants are being eaten by pets or children, so be sure not to leave any part of the purple fountain grass plant where they can get at it and ingest some. If your child has swallowed purple fountain grass, you should call their doctor immediately with the purple fountain grass plant’s location.
Pruning purple fountain grass
The purple fountain grass plant is a popular houseplant because it can tolerate low indoor light and thrives in high humidity. In addition, purple fountain grass looks great with any decor style!
That being said, the purple fountain grass plant does need to be pruned on occasion. The purple fountain grass plant should be trimmed at least every two years; trimming more often will only lead to extra natural growth, which can rob the purple fountain grass of nutrients. Pay special attention to any dead or diseased branches as they should be removed.
Propagation and Growth
The purple fountain grass plant can be propagated by division or from seed. If you want to propagate the purple fountain grass plant with a cutting, take a piece of stem that has at least three joints and put it in moist potting soil until new roots form and the purple fountain grass plant is big enough for transplanting. When choosing which purple fountain grass plant to propagate, look for purple flowers. The purple flower is a sign the purple fountain grass plant has been fertilized and will produce seeds (not all purple plants have purple flowers).
If you want to start your own purple seedlings, simply collect some of the ripened pods from the mature violet-black flowering stalks and sow the purple seeds in moist potting soil.
Repotting
If purple fountain grass is growing in a pot or container, it will need to be repotted eventually. Repotting should happen when the purple fountain plant’s roots are beginning to grow out of its current flowerpot and/or if the purple pond has become too small for your purple fountaingrass.
A purple fountain grass plant can be repotted in the following ways:
- Put a layer of organic potting soil into the new flowerpot. Place purple fountain grass in this and make sure to leave about an inch from top of dirt surface to purple fountain grass stem. Make sure not too bury it or have too much dirt on purple fountain grass.
- Put a layer of organic potting soil onto purple fountaingrass in current flowerpot and press down firmly to tuck purple fountain grass roots into the soil. Make sure not too bury it or have too much dirt on purple fountain grass.
- Place purple fountain plant in a purple fountain grass plant-specific purple container.
Plant Disease
Plant diseases are common in purple fountain grass plants. One of the most common is called leaf spot, which can be treated with a fungicide spray or hydrogen peroxide solution (diluted). If you see any yellowing on your purple fountain grass plant leaves, it may also have spider mites; these pests produce tiny webs and are easy to spot. A purple fountain grass plant that is infested with spider mites needs a hydrogen peroxide treatment followed by more fungicide spray or potassium bicarbonate mixed in water, which will dry out the leaves and kill the pests.
Purple Fountain Grass Plant Variegated
Variegated purple fountain grass plants are one of the most popular houseplants. They can be found in a variety of colors, such as purple, pink and white.
They grow well in full sun. It also needs plenty of water, but should be watered deeply rather than frequently so as not to disturb its roots.
The soil pH for purple fountain grass plant variegated ranges from acid to neutral and has a large tolerance range for soil type.
There are purple fountain grass plant variegated ornamental varieties that you can use in your landscaping, but the purple fountain grass plant typically needs to be planted away from areas of high traffic and off-limits from pets or children.
Common Issues with Purple Fountain Grass Plant
A purple fountain grass plant is a versatile and hardy lawn substitute. They are easy to grow, tough as nails, and perfect for those who don’t have the time or willingness to maintain a flourishing green yard. However, they do have their own set of common issues.
Purple fountain grass plant’s leaves can be prone to browning and curling at the tips when they are under stress or in dry conditions. They need high humidity levels above 60% if possible, without an increase of watering.
The plant’s leaves are sensitive to the presence of too much salt and have a tendency to wilt when they come into contact with it.
They can also succumb to fungal disease if their roots become moist or damp for prolonged periods of time, so make sure you keep them on well drained areas.
Purple fountain grass plant also has a high sensitivity to heat, so try not to keep it in direct sunlight for too long.
Tips for Keeping Purple Fountain Grass Plant Happy
Purple fountain grass is a low maintenance plant that can be grown in ground or as an indoor houseplant. It prefers moist soil and moderate light, but will grow in less-than-ideal conditions. For purple fountain grass care tips, read on!
- Purple fountain grass do not need much water, so it is important to make sure the soil stays moist but not wet. The ground should be damp and also never allow the purple potting soil to get soaked from over watering.
- Purple fountain grass need to be in indirect sun, so purple fountain grass plant should not be placed near a window or any other direct light source.
- The purple potting soil on the purple fountain grass plants can dry out pretty quickly in warmer temperatures. So it might be necessary to water your purple pots more often.
- Purple fountain grass plants need to be fertilized with purple fountain grass plant food once every two weeks during the growing season and monthly in the winter months when not producing new purple flowers or leaves.
- Purple plants can get infested by pests such as aphids, mealybugs, or scale from time to time. If purple fountain grass plants get infested by pests, the purple potting soil and purple fountain grass should be treated with a fungicide to kill off any pest eggs or larvae.
Purple Fountain Grass Plant Frequently Asked Questions
Is purple fountain grass an annual or perennial?
Purple fountain grass is an annual plant that can grow up to three feet in height. It is a popular ornamental choice for those who want something purple but don’t have the time or desire to care for a garden bed year-round.
Does purple fountain grass die back in winter?
Purple fountain grass is not a perennial plant. It dies back in the winter and produces purple flowers in late spring or early summer.
The purple shade of purple fountain grass does fade quite quickly after flowering, so if you want it to stay vibrant all year round, consider sowing some seeds every six months for nice fresh new plants.
Does purple fountain grass need full sun?
A purple fountain grass plant does not need full sun. It prefers a shady area and can even grow in shade most of the day.
Is purple fountain grass fast growing?
Purple fountain grass is a very fast growing plant. purple fountain grass will easily grow at least three times per year in the right conditions.
What happens if you don’t Cut back ornamental grasses?
One of the things that makes purple fountain grass so appealing is its height. However, purple fountains are not meant to be left unattended and allowed to grow out of control; if this happens they may become too heavy or top-heavy for their own stems and topple over!
How do you winterize purple fountain grass?
In the fall, purple fountain grass will serve as a good ground cover. You don’t need to do anything special for it other than wait until time for frost and then rake off any extra leaves that are covering the purple fountain grass plants and mow them down near the base of each plant with some sharp scissors. Then you can mulch them, or just leave them as a ground cover.
Where to buy purple fountain grass you ask?
The purple fountain grass plant can be found in just about all home and garden stores, but it might not always be available. If you are looking for purple fountain grass plants online, they can generally be found at most greenhouses or nurseries that carry them.
Conclusion
This purple fountain grass plant is a unique addition to any corner of your home. We have discussed the history, care, and other interesting facts about the purple fountain grass plant. Hopefully, now you are more knowledgeable about purple fountain grass plants and can keep them happy and healthy! You may find the purple fountain grass for sale here.
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