The pocketbook plant (Calceolaria) with its gorgeous flower display makes it a favorite in households across the country.
It’s a hardy annual plant with thick, pouch-like flowers.
Due to the rounded shape of the flowers, the plant has received several common names, including:
- Lady’s purse
- Pocketbook plant
- Pocketbook flower
- Slipper flower
- Slipperwort
Calceolaria pronounced [kal-ke-oh-lar-ee-uh] includes over 380 plant species of various shrubs and herbs from the genus Calceolaria (Calceolariaceae).
Perennial and annual varieties are found in native Chile, South America.
Most of the commonly cultivated varieties are annual hybrids from the Chilean species Calceolaria crenatiflora or Calceolaria Herbeohybrida group.
These Chilean flowers are often sold just before flowering, as growing Calceolaria seeds is a bit tricky.
While this plant is annual, careful care can increase its bloom.
Calceolaria Pocketbook Plant Care
Size and Growth
Most varieties of calceolaria are small, compact little plants. They produce large green leaves and may reach about 6″ to 8″ inches tall with an equal spread.
Flowering and Fragrance
The pocketbook plant blooming time is in early spring or summer.
The unusual flowers may reach about 2″ inches, with a rounded shape that looks like small pouches or balloons.
Calceolarias are available in a variety of colors. Some of the most popular varieties feature yellow, red, and brown.
When the plant is in full bloom, the large green leaves are mostly covered by the flowers.
When the flowers start to die out, the plant is near the end of its life.
Light and Temperature
The plant grows best in USDA hardiness zones 10 to 11. As an annual, It’s typically discarded after the flowering season.
If the plant is purchased just before the flowers arrive, place it in a north-facing window to limit exposure to heat.
Keeping it at 60° to 65° degrees Fahrenheit encourages fuller blooms.
After the flowers arrive, keep the plant in bright light but not full sun.
It can be brought outside or kept on a porch in partial shade. Just make sure that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
The fresh air is good for the plant, but it should be kept in a spot away from frequent drafts or exposure to strong winds.
Watering and Feeding
Don’t allow the plant to dry out, as this causes the flowers to droop.
Overwatering the pocketbook flower can be equally devastating causing root rot.
Frequent misting is also recommended. Lightly mist the plant every few days and add plant food each week.
These steps should promote a longer flowering season.
Moist Soil and Transplanting
The plant is often available for sale potted, with many nurseries offering healthy plants between January and April.
As an annual, the plant doesn’t need transplanting and shouldn’t need a fresh potting mixture.
Simply keep it in the container that it came home in.
If you would prefer to place it in a different pot, transplant it as soon as you get it home.
Use a quality potting mix with good drainage and keep it moist, but not saturated.
Grooming and Maintenance
If any of the leaves or flowers start to die or turn dark brown, trim them off.
Trimming the withered leaves and flowers can help extend the flowering season. The stems can also be trimmed back slightly.
How to Propagate Calceolaria?
Propagation is incredibly difficult. The cuttings are unlikely to survive the winter unless you purchase a perennial variety.
Propagating by seed is also a challenge, but possible. The seeds can be obtained from the seed pods after the flowers dry out.
Unfortunately, the plants that are grown from seed may not look like the mother plant or produce an attractive bloom.
Nurseries often select the healthiest plants for sale, increasing the chances of full bloom.
To try growing from seed, follow these steps:
- Sow in June or July
- Use a planting tray with a transparent lid
- Add regular potting soil with some peat moss and a little coarse sand
- Place the seed directly on the soil
- Keep the soil moist
The plants should take two to three weeks to germinate. Try to keep the tray at about 65° degrees Fahrenheit.
When the seedlings reach the lid, transplant them to individual pots. The young plants must be kept at about 43° degrees Fahrenheit throughout the winter.
When temperatures reach 50° degrees Fahrenheit, the plants can be moved outdoors. Hopefully, they should bloom in spring or early summer.
Calceolaria Pests or Diseases
Overwatering can be a problem for the calceolaria flowers. If the base of the plant starts to turn brown, crown rot can be the issue. Scale back the watering.
If a flowery deposit appears on the leaves, the plant may be suffering from a fungus.
Ensure that the plant is in a spot with good ventilation and remove the infected leaves.
Sticky or deformed leaves are signs of aphids infestation, spider mites, and whiteflies. Treat this problem with insecticide before it spreads.
More on Controlling and Killing Aphid Infestations
If the infestation can’t be treated, the plant will likely need to be tossed.
Suggested Calceolaria Uses
As an annual, calceolaria should be placed in a spot where its flowers can be on display.
Set it in or near a window on a shelf or stand, but make sure that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.