A while ago, I found a tiny bloodleaf plant at my local nursery. I had never seen one before, and didn’t know what it was. It was labelled as a ‘Bloody Mary Plant’. After some googling, I really couldn’t find any information about Bloody Mary plants. I eventually did a reverse image search, and it matched with the bloodleaf plant! This lovely plant seems to go by different names, and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of information out there about it. I’ve had one for a while now, and it is thriving, so I’ve put together this guide outlining how to care for a Bloody Mary plant.

How much water do Bloody Mary plants need?

Bloody Mary plants need lots of water. If you underwater it, the Bloody Mary plant will ‘faint’ pretty dramatically. It looks bad, but the good news is, if you catch it soon enough, a good water will bring it right back to life pretty quickly. I would recommend keeping the soil pretty consistently moist. This way you will avoid fainting! Avoid letting the plant sit in water though- empty out any extra water that comes out of the drainage holes. Keeping the plant properly watered is the most important important piece when it comes to how to care for a Bloody Mary Plant.

How much light do Bloody Mary plants need?

The Bloody Mary plant can do pretty well in low light. I’ve had mine in front of a North facing window, and it grew like crazy all spring and summer long. That being said, I also had it in under a grow light for a while, and it grew even faster. If you don’t have a grow light or much sunlight, don’t worry! Your plant will still be okay.

Do I need to fertilize my Bloody Mary plant?

Your Bloody Mary plant should be okay without fertilizer, but if you really want to ensure it has enough nutrients, you can fertilize sparingly in spring and summer. If the plant isn’t growing, don’t fertilize it!

Can you propagate a Bloody Mary plant?

Yes, you can propagate a Bloody Mary plant. To propagate this plant, take a cutting with at least one node. Place the cutting in water, making sure that the node is beneath the water. Once roots have grown from the node, you can plant the cuttings in soil. Make sure to keep them moist after you plant them!