Grow Buddha Belly Jatropha podagrica Houseplant
The unique shape of Buddha belly tropical succulent makes it a standout in any indoor garden.
The base of the plant is swollen, knobby and gray. The stem narrows towards the top, inspiring another common name, bottle euphorbia. All parts of this plant are toxic and if ingested cause nausea and diarrhea, thus the other common name, Purging Nut.
Grow this plant in a sunny location in a well-drained potting mix. Allow the soil to dry between waterings and water less often in winter.
Buddha Belly grows 2 to 3 feet tall indoors. Lobed gray-green leaves appear on the upper portion of the plant and coral-red flowers appear sporadically throughout the winter.
Green seed capsules may develop and when mature; turn brown, open and expel seeds across the room. Cover the pods with mesh netting to capture the seeds and start new plants.
A bit more information: You can summer your Buddha Belly plant outdoors. Just bring it back inside before cold weather returns. And do not be alarmed if most of the leaves drop as it adjusts to its indoor winter home.
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