Grow Mickey Mouse plant in a pot that drains, in bright sun, and water when the top of the mix is dry.
Grow it in a pot that drains, in bright sun
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Pot | A container with open drain holes, two to four inches wider than the root ball | Do not use a cachepot that holds standing water |
| Mix | A potting mix with grit or perlite so water leaves | Do not pack it in heavy garden soil that stays wet |
| Light | Bright sun outdoors in the growing season | Do not keep it in a dim room all summer |
Mickey Mouse plant does well in a container, which is how you keep a frost-tender shrub on a patio and still move it when cold is coming. [1] It can live in a pot as a feature, not only as a hedge in the ground. Mix in grit or perlite so the roots do not sit wet. Outdoors, set it in bright sun. [2] Choose a pot with real drain holes. Step up only two to four inches wider and deeper than the root ball so the mix does not stay wet in the extra space. A clay pot dries faster than plastic, which helps in a wet climate and needs closer watching in heat. [3] A dim indoor corner all summer makes thin growth, so treat the pot as an outdoor plant until frost is close. After a cutting has rooted, pot it on in the same draining mix before you set it out. [4] The freeze move itself is on Overwintering Mickey Mouse Plant.
Can I grow Mickey Mouse plant as a houseplant all year?
It is happier outdoors in sun, then moved to a bright, cool room for winter. A warm dim room year-round makes thin growth.
How to water a potted Mickey Mouse plant
Water when the top of the mix is dry, then let the extra run out of the holes. A pot dries from the rim inward, so check the mix, not the look of the leaves alone.
- Press a finger into the mix. If the top inch is dry, water until it runs from the holes.
- Empty the saucer. Do not leave the pot standing in that runoff.
- In heat, check more often. In cool weather, wait. Growth slows, so the mix stays wet longer. Hold off on fertilizer at planting time, until new roots take.
Use a pot that drains, keep it in sun, and water when the top of the mix is dry.
FAQ
Will a potted Mickey Mouse plant flower?
Yes, if it has bright sun and a winter rest that is cool and bright, not a dark warm corner.
How often should I repot Mickey Mouse plant?
When roots fill the pot and water runs straight through. Step up one size, and keep the mix draining.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] SANBI PlantZAfrica -
https://pza.sanbi.org/ochna-serrulata - [2] San Marcos Growers -
https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3227 - [3] Gardener's Path -
https://gardenerspath.com/plants/ornamentals/grow-mickey-mouse-plants/ - [4] Gardening Know How -
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/mickey-mouse-bush/mickey-mouse-plant-propagation.htm
This note is part of Ochna Guides.
More container notes by plant live in Container Growing Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors