By Jennifer Poindexter
Lantana is a plant beloved by many. However, it’s considered invasive due to its ability to adapt to different growing conditions, ability to spread with ease, and also its toxicity to animals.
Combine these factors, and you have a plant that’s beautiful but very difficult to control when grown outdoors. However, there’s a solution. If you love lantana and don’t want to part ways with it, grow it in a container. Even better, grow it in a container indoors.
Growing lantana indoors is a simple process. Plus, lantana is a low-maintenance plant that produces vibrant colors whether grown indoors or out. Yet, it can be grown indoors year-round if preferred.
If you’d like to introduce this plant to the inside of your home, follow the information provided below to give lantana the greatest chance to thrive in this different growing environment.
Here’s what you should know when growing lantana indoors:
Growing Conditions for Lantana Indoors
When growing lantana indoors, there are two methods. The first method is to bring the plant indoors overwinter.
The second method is to grow this plant indoors year-round. Should you grow lantana outdoors, it’s only a perennial in planting zones seven and higher.
In all other areas, it’s considered an annual and will need to be brought indoors when the temperatures drop below 50-degrees Fahrenheit.
When growing lantana indoors year-round, it needs a growing location with six or more hours of direct light per day. During some parts of the year, it may require grow lights to meet this need.
You should also select a growing container that’s sturdy and drains adequately. Lantana can grow as tall as six feet. The planter needs to be able to withstand a plant this size.
Lantana must be planted in well-draining soil within the growing container and kept evenly damp as this plant can’t survive when its roots are constantly wet.
One final note on growing lantana indoors. If you only bring the plant indoors over the winter, it needs to be provided with bright indirect light and growing conditions above 50-degrees Fahrenheit but kept in a cooler location in your home.
This is because the plant will go dormant once moved inside. You don’t want to keep the plant in overly warm growing conditions as it might draw it out of dormancy and into another period of growth.
These are the items you should take into consideration when growing lantana inside your home.
How to Plant Lantana Indoors
There are two methods for growing lantana indoors. The first method is to grow lantana from cuttings. If you have a mature lantana plant, during the spring, remove a four inch cutting from the plant.
Remove any leaves from the bottom of the cutting and dip it into rooting hormone. Shake away any excess and plant the cutting in a container that drains adequately and is filled with well-draining soil.
Be sure to mist the soil with water and wrap the container in plastic. Check the container daily to ensure the soil never dries out.
This cutting should begin to develop a root system in approximately one month. From there, place the cutting in an area with bright light and provide adequate care to the plant until it’s ready to be transplanted to a larger container and placed in its permanent growing location.
The other method for propagating lantana is from seed. Fill a well-draining container with a growing medium which drains adequately as well.
Plant two seeds per container approximately 1/8 inch deep. Dampen the soil and place in a warm growing location, with temperatures around 75-degrees Fahrenheit, until the seeds germinate. This can take up to a month or longer to occur.
Wrap the containers in plastic to provide a greenhouse effect and check the soil daily to ensure it never fully dries out.
When the seeds sprout, pick the stronger plant from each container and remove the weaker. Provide bright lighting, adequate water, and warmth for the plant until it becomes stronger.
Once the plants outgrow the container they were started in, transplant them to a larger container and move them to their permanent indoor growing location.
These are a couple of methods to start growing lantana. If you grow lantana from a cutting, it’s more likely to look just like the parent plant. With seeds, however, there’s a greater chance of variation in the plants.
Pick the method that best suits your needs and start growing your own lantana inside your home.
Caring for Lantana Indoors
When growing lantana indoors it will need adequate care to thrive. The first thing this plant needs from you is water.
Place the container that holds the lantana in your sink or shower (depending upon the size of the growing container).
From there, water the plant until it’s flowing from the bottom of the container. Allow the container to drain fully before putting the plant back in its growing location.
For plants grown indoors year-round, be sure to test the soil prior to having another watering session.
Do this by inserting your finger into the soil to test for dampness. If it’s dry to your first knuckle, apply more water.
For plants grown indoors over the winter, test the soil the same way. However, only water the plant when it’s dry to your second knuckle. Since the plant should be dormant, it won’t require as much water.
When watering indoor lantana, you may also want to place the growing container inside a dish filled with small rocks and water.
This will allow the plant to absorb moisture from below. It also helps keep the humidity up around the plant which is a necessity for lantana being grown strictly indoors.
The next thing you should do is ensure you rotate the lantana plant on a weekly basis. This keeps the plant from leaning.
You should fertilize lantana twice per month during its typical growing season. Be sure to use an all-purpose fertilizer and dilute it by 50% prior to application.
Finally, be mindful of where you place lantana as it’s toxic to pets if grazed upon regularly. You should also prune lantana to keep it an appropriate size for its growing location. This could also help keep it away from pets as well.
These are the steps you should take to care for lantana. By providing a little extra care, your lantana should remain happy, healthy, and vibrant when grown around your home.
Pests and Diseases Which Can Impact Lantana Indoors
The last thing we must discuss when growing lantana inside your home is the pests and diseases which could impact it.
White flies are the main concern as far as pests go. These insects should be treated with an insecticide to eradicate the issue.
The main disease to impact this plant is powdery mildew. This occurs when the plant is being oversaturated and has poor airflow.
You should ensure the planter and soil the lantana is growing in are well-draining. Plus, it’s wise to prune your plant to encourage better airflow.
Powdery mildew can also be treated with a fungicide. These are the few threats you should be aware of when growing lantana inside your home.
You now know how to grow lantana indoors. It involves providing adequate growing conditions, choosing a propagation method, providing adequate care, and remaining alert to potential issues.
Should you provide everything lantana needs when growing inside your home, this plant should create beautiful blooms and remain healthy over the years.
More About Growing Lantana
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/lantana/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lantana-camara/
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/lantana/
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