Ugni (Chilean guava) care

Light

Ugni needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Best fruiting comes in full sun, though it tolerates light dappled shade. In hot climates afternoon shade prevents scorch; in cool maritime climates give it the warmest, sunniest spot available. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.

Watering

Water ugni when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, about every 5-7 days. 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 evenly moist, especially in summer and in containers; it dislikes drying out, which causes leaf and flower drop. Mulch the root zone and avoid waterlogging in winter.

Soil and pot

Ugni grows best in moist, well-drained acidic to neutral soil. Prefers humus-rich, slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5-6.5); like other myrtles it resents lime. Use ericaceous or neutral compost in pots and add grit for drainage. 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

Ugni sits happiest at around 50-70% humidity and 5-25°C (41-77°F). Suits the moderate humidity of cool maritime climates and does not need extra humidity outdoors. Indoor plants tolerate average household air if not kept too hot and dry. If you keep the room above 5 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 ugni sparingly. Feed in spring and early summer with a balanced or ericaceous slow-release fertiliser; a fruit feed or seaweed tonic supports berry set. It is not a heavy feeder, so avoid high-nitrogen products that promote leaf at the expense of fruit. Stop feeding by late summer. 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 ugni in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Drought stress — Containers and shallow-rooted plants drop leaves and fruit if allowed to dry out; keep evenly moist and mulch to conserve moisture.
• Lime-induced chlorosis — Yellowing leaves on alkaline soil because this myrtle dislikes lime; grow in acidic to neutral conditions and use ericaceous feed.
• Poor fruiting — Too much shade or cold, dull summers reduce berry set; site in full sun in a sheltered, warm position.
• Frost damage to young growth — Hardy to roughly -5°C but tender new shoots can be nipped by late frost; shelter from cold winds and protect young plants.

Propagation

Easily propagated from semi-hardwood cuttings taken in summer, which root readily with high humidity; it also layers naturally and can be grown from seed, though cuttings are faster and true to type. 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

Ugni is mildly toxic to pets. Ugni molinae is not individually listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database, so its status for cats and dogs is unverified. Some non-ASPCA sources call it pet-safe, but treat it as uncertain and verify with a vet; even non-toxic foliage can cause mild stomach upset if chewed. 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.

Ugni deep-dive guides

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

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Ugni qualifies for 3 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
• Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Ugni is also known as Chilean guava, Ugni, and Murta.

• 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