Mexican Foxglove Tetranema roseum

Water

To maintain a healthy Mexican Violet, water it deeply once a week, allowing the soil to slightly dry out between waterings. If the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, it's time to water again. Provide approximately 16 to 24 onzes of water for potted plants, ensuring that excess water can drain to prevent root rot. During hot, dry periods, you may need to water more frequently, and less often during the winter months when the plant is not actively growing.

Light

Mexican Violet thrives in bright, indirect light, making it ideal for placement near a window with a sheer curtain or an eastern-facing window where it can receive gentle morning sunlight. Protect the plant from harsh direct afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves and compromise health.

Temperature

The Mexican Violet prefers a warm environment with temperatures ranging between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It can tolerate a minimum temperature of around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but avoid exposure to temperatures below this as it can lead to plant stress and damage. The ideal temperature range ensures healthy growth and flowering.

Pruning

Prune your Mexican Violet to remove dead or yellowing leaves and to shape the plant for a more attractive appearance. Pruning is best done in the spring or immediately after flowering to encourage new growth and improve air circulation. Typically, pruning once a year suffices, and it also stimulates the production of more blooms during the flowering season.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

Mexican Violet prefers a well-draining soil mix with components like peat, coarse sand, and perlite to promote root health. The ideal soil pH for Mexican Violet is slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 6.0 to 7.0.

Repotting

Mexican Violet should be repotted every 2-3 years to ensure it has enough room to grow and to refresh the soil. These plants do not have extensive root systems, so frequent repotting is not necessary.

Humidity & Misting

Mexican Violet thrives in moderate to high humidity levels, ideally between 50-70%. It benefits from occasional misting or a humidifier if the indoor air is dry.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Place Mexican Violet in bright, indirect light and keep soil moist.

• Outdoor

  Grow in partial shade; shelter from strong winds and frost.

• Hardiness zone

  9-11 USDA

Life cycle

Tetranema roseum, commonly known as Mexican Foxglove, begins its life cycle with seed germination, which occurs in moist, well-drained soil in partial to full shade conditions. Seedlings develop into a rosette of leaves, and as the plant matures, it produces upright stems with lance-shaped leaves. The Mexican Foxglove then enters its flowering stage, boasting tubular rose-pink to purple flowers that attract pollinators such as hummingbirds and bees. After pollination, flowers develop into small capsules containing numerous seeds. When the seeds are mature, they are dispersed by wind or water, or fall near the parent plant to begin the cycle anew. The Mexican Foxglove is a perennial, so it may enter a period of dormancy during colder months before regrowing from its rootstock in the spring.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring

• Propogation: Tetranema roseum, commonly known as Mexican Violet, is best propagated from cuttings. The ideal time for propagation is late spring to early summer when the plant is actively growing. To propogate by cuttings, one should cut a healthy stem 3 to 4 inches long, just below a leaf node. It's crucial to strip the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and then dip the cut end into a rooting hormone for enhanced root development. The cutting should then be placed in a well-draining potting mix, moistened, and covered with a plastic bag to maintain humidity. The pot can be placed in indirect sunlight and the soil should be kept slightly damp. Roots typically form within 4 to 6 weeks, at which point the new Mexican Violet can be transplanted into a permanent container or garden location.