How to Grow & Care for Joyweed (Joseph's Coat)

If you are looking for a unique addition to your garden, you might like a fast-growing eye-catcher like joyweed. This plant comes in a wide variety of colors and sizes, and its variegated foliage is the real star of the show. The dark green leaves feature pink, orange, red, yellow, copper, or purple splotches. Some are multiple colors dappled into one plant. They flower, but the blooms are small and act as accents to an already vibrant plant.

Start growing these plants indoors in late winter and transplant them outdoors after the last frost date. Some varieties of joyweed make a great ground cover, while others can grow as tall as three feet. They can be kept inside, adding to the appeal of this tropical plant that acts as an annual in northern climates.

Joyweed Care

Caring for joyweed is a breeze, and they are easy to propagate from too. This plant is a low-maintenance species, as long as it’s growing in well-draining soil in full sunlight in a hotter climate. It is pretty pest-resistant too.

Light

These plants come from hot, sunny climates, so they thrive in a lot of light. Joyweed is known for its bright foliage colors, but these eye-catching hues only shine in full sun. These plants can tolerate partial shade, but they may lose some of their coloring and take on a leggy or lanky look.

Soil

Joyweed loves rich, fertile soil. Not only does this give the plant the nutrients it needs to stay healthy, but it also allows crucial drainage. Before adding joyweed to your garden, be sure to amend the soil with plenty of organic matter or compost.

Water

Joyweed needs a lot of water to stay happy. Give it at least an inch per week. Soggy soil can kill joyweed, and drought can too. Keep soil moisture consistent to help you to avoid any problems. Let the first inch of the soil dry out before watering to avoid overwatering. If you forget to water, you may notice that your joyweed is quick to wilt, but don’t panic. These plants spring back quickly with a good drink.

In the winter, whether outside or inside, your joyweed will not need as much water as it does in its active growing months. So hold back and give your plant a drink when the top 2 to 3 inches of the soil is dry.

Temperature and Humidity

Since joyweed is native to warm, humid climates, it cannot survive freezing temperatures. Therefore, in zones 10 to 11, it can be kept outside year-round as a perennial. However, these plants are annuals in most other USDA zones.

Joyweed is native to humid areas. This makes keeping a regular watering schedule very important. In addition, adding a layer of mulch to your outside plants will help maintain the needed moisture in the soil.

Fertilizer

If planted in rich soil, joyweed does not require much fertilizer. Too much fertilizer can burn and kill the plant. However, in poor soil, your joyweed would do well with liquid fertilizer, such as fish emulsion during the summer months.

Fertilize in-ground plants every two months. For plants in containers, every two or three weeks is best. During the winter, you will want to withhold fertilizer. This will allow the plant to rest during its naturally slow-growing season.

Types of Joyweed

The Alternanthera genus has hundreds of varieties. They have a wide range of colors and sizes. Some are green or gold, while others are deep maroon. Some make a great ground cover and reach up to 1 foot in height, while others can grow as tall as 3 feet. Here are some popular varieties:

• Alternanthera 'Partytime': Vibrant pink, green, and yellow leaves
• Alternanthera 'Gail’s Choice': Grow as tall as 3 feet; boasts deep purple foliage
• Alternanthera 'Little Ruby': Great ground cover; showy ruby and burgundy foliage

Pruning

Your joyweed may need to be pruned during the summer to keep it from getting leggy. This is a perfect opportunity to use the trimmings to create more plants.

Propagating Joyweed

Propagating your joyweed is easy and can be done by cuttings or division. If you do not want to reduce the size of your original plant, propagating with cuttings is the way to go. The cutting can be placed in water until roots form, and then it can be transferred to moist soil.

Potting and Repotting Joyweed

Joyweed grows wonderfully in containers. They make beautiful, vibrant hanging baskets and can be kept inside. When choosing a pot, be sure to find one with drainage holes. Soggy soil can quickly kill your plant, so good drainage is a must.

Overwintering

Joyweed grows well in a pot, thus keeping this plant in a container is a great option for those living in areas with harsh winters. Move it inside as the temperatures drop as this plant will not survive cold winters outdoors.