All About Variegated Indoor Plants
Variegated indoor plants are among the most desirable plants in every houseplant community especially as they are considered rare plants. But the thing to notice here is what makes variegated plants a great fascination for plant lovers and how to keep their distinctive variegation alive? Often, a plant will develop leaves with white or cream blotches in regular or irregular patches; that's called variegation. However, this type of variegation is like an unexpected opportunity and happens infrequently. The variegated word comes from the Latin term variegatus, meaning made of various colours.
Below you’ll find all about variegated indoor plants!
Why Are There Only a Few Variegated Houseplants Available?
Sometimes the variation in plants is unstable. Due to this, few species like Philodendron pink princess comes with great variation in their variegation. Some of its leaves are completely pink, some are a combination of pink and brown, and some leaves are exclusively brown. Often the juvenile leaves don't have strong variegation, but some will develop pinker leaves as they grow big. The more stable and traditional way to get variegation is to take some cuttings of your plant's branches that contain blotchy variegation in its leaf instead of all white form. Keep developing these plants, and always remember that it will take longer to produce volume.
How To Get Their Different Colors?
Variegated indoor plants growing tips carry the DNA code. These special cells are called meristems that can transfer the code to particular cells in the leaf, altering its ability to develop chlorophyll. For more high-tech, chimeral variegation is another variegation. It's a random mutation where plants carry two sets of DNA codes, which indicates it's harder to get a stable form. The ideal way to have more stability is to perform vegetative cuttings, and that's still hard to have chimeras thrive true to develop even utilizing tissue culture. The variegated monstera deliciosa plant is the best example of one such chimera.
Why Do Variegated Plants Revert?
You'll notice variegated plants that can develop a single green branch with time. It is called reverting, which indicates returning to the original plant. The plants can use this method as a survival technique, a protective way that enables the plants to adapt or turn to a more strong, successful form. Waterlogged indoor plants can also return and often develop more new, fresh, greener shoots.
How To Keep Your Indoor Plants Variegated?
Every variegated indoor plant will have different variegation intensity based on light levels. Some indoor plants respond well to darker conditions, whereas others develop more intense colors in brighter conditions. However, it won't make any difference if your plant doesn't contain the variegation gene. As hopeful plant parents, you need to watch every leaf slowly unravel to discover its unique colours and patterns. So imagine how a person would feel who has a lovely green plant happily thriving in their backyard notices a new leaf develops and has beautiful blotches of white. A fresh, new rare indoor plant has developed, and it's all yours.