Chenille Fire Tail

Chenille Fire Tail is a very demanding plant. It does not have any tolerence for wilting and it is a very thirsty plant that likes a lot of light.

Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispidia), also called Foxtails and Red-hot Cat's Tail, is actually a shrub in its native habitat — the Pacific islands. Grown as a houseplant for its unusual six-inch long red "tassels" of chenille-like flowers, the mature plant has leaves similar to Poinsettia. Fact is, they're related (both are in the family: Euphorbiaceae). They are easy plants to grow, especially when provided the right conditions.

Started in early spring, Acalyphas can easily top seven-feet by autumn and will be a large, bushy shrub. Yearly pruning will be necessary to maintain a more manageable three- to four-foot height.

Bright light is needed to develop their characteristic dark green leaves but they must not be subjected to direct sunlight, cold night time drafts or excessively-dry humidity. Such unkindnesses will cause leaf-scorch, wilting and dropping of foliage. A good indicator of the conditions it prefers is its origin - the warm, humid, tropical landscape of New Guinea. Therefore, the trick here, in addition to bright light, is warmth (consistently above 70 degrees Fahrenheit), high humidity, ample moisture and a rich, humusy soil. Feeding is required every 14 days with any good liquid houseplant fertilizer (Peters® 10-30-20 is one which I prefer).

In the Fall, when growth slows and flower tassels look tattered, decrease plant height to about half, and re-pot in fresh high-compost soil if necessary. Reduce watering and fertilizer and maintain a temperature of about 60-65 degrees (F).

You can take cuttings during February, leaving a little "heel" on five- to six-inch current-season stems. They'll readily root in half-sand, half-peat if kept moist, humid and shaded. Pot up into individual clay (if you have them) containers, let them catch their breath for a few days then treat them like grown-ups.

Chenille plants have only one serious pest: two-spotted red spider mites. If you allow your plant to remain dryer than it would like or put it in bright, hot sun, mites will move in, multiply, and probably kill the plant. Daily misting is recommended. If you see signs of the little pests, go for the Safer's^® insecticidal soap...fast!

One final tip: flower tassels will last quite a long time but it's a good idea to remove them at first sign of "going by." Dead-heading spent flowers will encourage formation of a continuous parade of soft, fuzzy tassels.