Strobilanthes ‘Persian Shield’ Plant Care Tips

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Strobilanthes dyerianus – Persian Shield Lighting & Position

Persian shield will do best in bright indoor light, and will tolerate a medium amount of direct or dappled sunlight but prolonged exposure may result in leaf burn. 

Strobilanthes dyerianus – Persian Shield Watering

It’s important to keep up a regular watering routine. In summer you want to keep the soil moist but not soggy. To monitor this, you can use your finger to poke into the top 5 cm of potting mix and feel the soil moisture level before watering. If it feels particularly wet, let it dry out for longer. Over watering can lead to fungal issues or root rot. Try watering once or twice a week, but always testing the soil first to see if watering is necessary. During winter, when the plant isn’t in an active growing phase you should reduce watering frequency and use tepid/room temperature water. 

As with all plants, drainage is essential. Ensure that whatever vessel your plant is in, there are sufficient holes in the bottom to allow excess water to freely drain from the pot and away from the plant’s roots. 

Hailing from the humid forests of Myanmar, these plants don’t do well with long periods of dryness, they express this through dry, brown leaf tips and margins, rolled up or limp leaves. They also experience moisture stress from a lack of regular watering, they express this through yellowing leaf tips. Keep monitoring them to ensure the happy balance of moisture within the soil.

Strobilanthes dyerianus – Persian Shield Humidity

Persian shield will do best with a high level of ambient humidity. Keep them clear of heaters, aircon or draughty windows and door in the house – this dries out the air and can quickly damage their leaves. Some tips for increasing humidity include grouping plants together, placing pots on a pebble tray, or – if you want to go all out – buy a small humidifier online and place it in amongst your rainforest friends! 

N.b. misting with a spray bottle will only improve humidity temporarily, and if done excessively can lead to fungal issues. Misting should only be done occasionally and is most effective as part of your leaf cleaning routine (mist and then gently wipe leaves with a cloth to clear away dust from the leaf surface).

Strobilanthes dyerianus – Persian Shield Fertiliser

Feed with liquid fertiliser fortnightly over the warm, growing period and not at all over the cooler winter months.

We recommend using our Plant Food available here. 

Strobilanthes dyerianus – Persian Shield Tips

To encourage lateral branching and bushier growth, periodically prune your plant to just above a node. (A node is the spot on a stem where leaves emerge).It’s completely normal for older leaves, lower down on the stem of the plant, to fade in colour and brown off as they age. Prune off any damaged or dying leaves using a sharp pair of scissors or secateurs so that the plant can put more energy into the newer, healthier growth.

Strobilanthes dyerianus – Persian Shield Toxicity

Generally speaking, members of the Acanthaceae family are non-toxic. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the sap of Persian Shield may be irritating to skin.

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