Ruellia makoyana (Monkey plant) care

Light

Ruellia makoyana is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Bright, indirect light keeps the velvety foliage richly coloured and encourages flowering. It tolerates medium light but blooms less; avoid direct sun, which scorches and bleaches the soft leaves. An east-facing window or filtered light is ideal. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water ruellia makoyana when the top 2 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 4-6 days in summer. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Keep the soil consistently moist during growth, as it wilts readily when dry, but do not let it sit in water. Reduce watering somewhat in winter. Use tepid water and water at the base to avoid spotting the velvety leaves.

Soil and pot

Ruellia makoyana grows best in rich, moisture-retentive, free-draining mix. A peat-free houseplant mix with added compost and perlite holds moisture while draining freely. Slightly acidic to neutral pH suits it. Drainage holes are essential to prevent the roots rotting in this moisture-loving species. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Ruellia makoyana sits happiest at around 60-80% humidity and 18-27°C (64-81°F). A true humidity lover that browns and crisps in dry air; it thrives in terrariums, bottle gardens, and warm, humid rooms. Use a humidifier or pebble tray and keep it away from heating vents and cold drafts. If you keep the room above 18 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed ruellia makoyana sparingly. Feed every 2-4 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half strength to support foliage and flowering. Stop feeding in winter when growth slows. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on ruellia makoyana in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Crispy brown leaf edges — Low humidity is the usual cause for this dry-air-sensitive species. Raise humidity with a tray or humidifier, or grow it in a terrarium.
• Sudden wilting — The plant collapses quickly if the soil dries out. Keep soil evenly moist and check moisture frequently, especially in warm rooms; it usually recovers if rewatered promptly.
• Leggy stems and few flowers — Too little light produces sparse, stretched growth. Move to brighter indirect light and pinch tips to promote a fuller, more floriferous habit.
• Spider mites — Dry conditions invite spider mites, seen as stippling and fine webbing. Increase humidity, rinse the foliage, and treat with insecticidal soap or neem if needed.

Propagation

Very easy from stem cuttings, which root readily in water or moist mix; trailing stems also self-layer where nodes touch soil. Take 8-10 cm tips, remove lower leaves, and root in a warm, humid spot at 21-24°C. Roots typically appear within 1-2 weeks. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Ruellia makoyana is mildly toxic to pets. Ruellia makoyana is not individually listed on the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database, and the genus is not ASPCA-classified (some non-authoritative sources disagree on Ruellia toxicity, which underlines the uncertainty). Treat its pet-safety as unconfirmed, keep away from cats and dogs, and verify with a vet rather than assuming it is safe. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Ruellia makoyana deep-dive guides

Every aspect of ruellia makoyana care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Ruellia makoyana watering schedule
• Ruellia makoyana light requirements
• Best soil mix for ruellia makoyana
• Ruellia makoyana fertilizing guide
• When to repot ruellia makoyana
• How to propagate ruellia makoyana
• Ruellia makoyana growth rate & size
• Ruellia makoyana cold hardiness
• Ruellia makoyana temperature & humidity
• Is ruellia makoyana toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is ruellia makoyana toxic to cats?
• Is ruellia makoyana toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Ruellia makoyana qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best houseplants to propagate in water — Houseplants that root from a cutting in a glass of water — the easiest, cheapest way to turn one plant into many.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Ruellia makoyana is also commonly called Monkey plant or Trailing velvet plant.

• Monstera care — light, water and common problems
• Pothos care — light, water and common problems
• Fiddle leaf fig care — light, water and common problems
• All 5561 plant care guides in the Growli library