The Bloody Mary Plant – A Comprehensive Guide to Growing

A hard-to-miss houseplant with bright red leaves, the Bloody Mary plant (Brugmansia sanguinea) is more than just decorative. Prized for its easy-going nature, this houseplant has become one of the most popular foliage plants for indoors, making it impossible to miss with new plant parents and gardeners of all skill levels. Native to the dry regions of South America, the Bloody Mary plant is a relatively new addition to the houseplant world, but one that is quickly taking it by storm. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Bloody Mary plant, including where it comes from and everything you need to learn about caring for it, from seedling to harvest, and everything in between.

 

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What Is the Bloody Mary Plant?

Photo supplied by the authorThe Bloody Mary plant is one cultivar among hundreds in the Philodendron genus of plants, a collection known for its tropical aesthetic and general natural neediness. Philodendrons are native to Central and South America, where they grow as epiphytes: that is, they cling and climb trees and drape themselves over the forest floor. Bloody Mary in particular is revered because it carries the dark red foliage that many Philodendron species lack. And so, like any epiphyte, it is nature’s way of growing like ivy.

Thanks to this plant’s eye-catching appearance, Bloody Mary is a popular houseplant that adds a pop of colour to any room. The fleshy leaves of the Bloody Mary plant are typically heart-shaped and a shiny, glossy hue that helps highlight their rich colour. As theer red colour and can even begin to resemble a piece of living art.

Origins and History of the Bloody Mary Plant

The Bloody Mary plant is one of the newest additions to the world of houseplants, but it’s made a splash fast. While its origins are a little fuzzy, Bloody Mary appear to be the result of intentionally selectively breeding various other Philodendron species. House plant lovers wanted a plant that would produce stunning red coloured foliage, that adapted well indoors, so the combination of variegation and colour seemed the perfect match.

More numerous still is the philodendron, a genus with a long history of cultivation (some species from this genus were popular plants in Victorian-era gardens and conservatories), and whose apparent indifference to low light levels, combined with low maintenance requirements, is a boon to those who would keep plants in their home or office. The Bloody Mary is part of a recent trend in foliage houseplants, which marries the easy-care (and often mundane) characteristics of the conventional philodendron with a sculptural, decidedly modern aesthetic.

Key Characteristics of the Bloody Mary Plant

The Calla’s popularity is largely due to its dramatic red foliage. Nothing else in the garden exhibits the profound blood red of the Bloody Mary’s leaves. Depending on the light and growing conditions, the colour can range from a deep burgundy to a bright crimson, yet whatever the spectrum, it looks like it could have come from a cocktail. It is surely that intense, deep red that led horticulturalists to choose Calla pure shelter for the plant’s scientific (Latin) name.

Aside from the attractive colouration, the Bloody Mary plant is also quite vigorous, reaching heights of nearly three feet in height when grown indoors, with a spread of approximately two feet across. The stems of the plant are also red. The leaves, often very large and with a heart-shaped outline, are also reddish and glossy in their appearance, providing a remarkably beautiful effect.

Another important attribute of the Bloody Mary philodendron is its ability to grow well in a variety of indoor environments. It can tolerate low to moderate light levels, which makes it a great option for those rooms that do not get direct sunlight in your home. It is also moderately drought-tolerant, so it won’t need much watering until the top inch of soil becomes dry.

Growing Conditions for the Bloody Mary Plant

Making it possible for your Bloody Mary to thrive requires a few key information: It is an easy-care plant but you can do a lot of good for this plant by providing it with the right conditions.

Light Requirements

Bloody Mary is relatively adaptable when it comes to light. It will grow in bright, indirect light and will thrive with bright indirect light. Direct exposure to sunlight will cause the leaves to burn and turn brown and crispy at the edges. Too little light will cause the red to fade and will turn the leaves green and dull. Place your Bloody Mary by a window where it can receive bright, indirect light all day long. East or north-facing windows are usually the best choice.

Should you be without a suitable window, Bloody Mary can also grow under artificial light. A fluorescent light or LED grow light will also work well for this purpose. Position the plant at a distance, so the light doesn’t overheat.

Watering and Humidity

Another positive characteristic of the Bloody Mary is that it is a relatively low-water plant. Most Philodendrons like to dry out slightly before you water again. Overwatering will typically cause root rot, which is a common problem for many indoor plants. Let the top inch or so of earth dry out before watering again. When you do water, try to soak well and let the water drain out the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.

Humidity is the other factor to respect when Bloody Mary care. Remember, she is a tropical plant that prefers a certain level of humidity, 60-80%, which in a hot and rainy area is normal. However, if you live in a dry area or you might want to raise the humidity around your plant to its proper limit. You can do this by misting the leaves regularly, by installing a humidifier or, more simply, by setting your plant on a tray filled with pebbles and water.

Soil and Potting

Bloody Mary likes a well-draining potting medium that remains moist but does not become waterlogged. Almost any store-bought houseplant potting mix is sufficient. Or you can make your own with a mix of one part peat moss to one part vermiculite to one part perlite. This combination will provide good drainage to prevent waterlogging while at the same time retaining enough moisture to keep the plant adequately hydrated.

Use a pot with drainage holes in the bottom, so the water can escape and not sit around the bottom; Bloody Mary does not require repotting often, but repot the plant in fresh potting mix when it gets roots bound and perhaps every two to three years.

Fertilizing

You should fertilise Bloody Mary plants about every six weeks when they’re actively growing- so, from spring till early summer. Dilute a general purpose, balanced, water soluble fertiliser with water – a low rate of 50 per cent is fine- and just apply it directly into the soil when watering. Don’t over do it or you will risk nutrient burn.

For example, when the plant slows down in growth in fall and winter, instead of fertilising on a monthly basis, you can cut down on feeding or stop totally until the next growing season starts.

Common Problems and Solutions

The Bloody Mary plant can get a few diseases like any other house plant, but most problems are easily treated with care and attention.

Yellowing Leaves

Blood-coloured leaves are often yellowed by overwatering, as is a constantly moist soil, and reining in the watering schedule might be in order. On the other hand, yellowing cultivar stems can be a sign of a lack of fertiliser, and it would be wise to fertilise the plant if it hasn’t been fed for a while.