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Oriental Lady's Thumb

About Oriental Lady's Thumb

Oriental Lady's Thumb is a relatively rare houseplant 🌿 that needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Oriental Lady's Thumb likes soil that is good at retaining moisture. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Persicaria longiseta

Genus

Persicaria

Family

Polygonaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

Also known as

Oriental lady's thumb, bristly lady's thumb, Asiatic smartweed, long-bristled smartweed, low smartweed, Asiatic waterpepper, bristled knotweed, bunchy knotweed and tufted knotweed

How to care for Oriental Lady's Thumb

💦 Water

How often to water your Oriental Lady's Thumb

Oriental Lady's Thumb needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Oriental Lady's Thumb in your home

Oriental Lady's Thumb love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Oriental Lady's Thumb does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Oriental Lady's Thumb in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Oriental Lady's Thumb

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Oriental Lady's Thumb: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Oriental Lady's Thumb after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Oriental Lady's Thumb prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Oriental Lady's Thumb Water Frequency →

Oriental Lady's Thumb Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Oriental Lady's Thumb requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Oriental Lady's Thumb Light Requirements →

Oriental Lady's Thumb Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.

If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.

🪴 Soil

Oriental Lady's Thumb is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

Best Soil Mix for Oriental Lady's Thumb →

When and How to Successfully Repot Oriental Lady's Thumb →

💩 Fertilizer

Oriental Lady's Thumb should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.