Homalomena rubescens ‘Maggy’

Cultivation history and natural range of Homalomena rubescens ‘Maggy’

‘Maggy’ is an established cultivar of Homalomena rubescens and has been in commercial horticulture since at least 2002.

Homalomena rubescens occurs naturally from Sikkim through Assam and Bangladesh to Myanmar in wet tropical regions.

Care for Homalomena rubescens ‘Maggy’

• Water: Larger plants may need watering more often. Rewater as the surface starts to dry, soak the potting mix thoroughly and let the container drain completely.
• Light: Give medium to bright filtered light. Turn the pot occasionally if one side receives much more light than the other.
• Potting mix: Use a rich, airy mix with bark, perlite or pumice so it stays loose around the roots as the plant fills a larger pot.
• Temperature and humidity: Keep the plant warm with average to moderately high humidity.
• Feeding: Feed lightly while the plant is producing new leaves. Feed less often when growth slows.
• Pot and repotting: Choose a stable container for the long petioles and broad crown. Repot into a slightly larger pot once roots fill the container or new shoots become crowded.
• Propagation: Divide rooted shoots from the base of an established plant, keeping a healthy root system with each section.

Problems to watch for on Homalomena rubescens ‘Maggy’

• The plant droops and the mix is dry: Water thoroughly and water before the mix becomes this dry again.
• Lower leaves yellow while the pot stays wet: Check root health and drainage. Remove soft rotten roots back to firm healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard the damaged material and repot in fresh, airy potting mix.
• Cottony clusters or hard bumps gather around the bases of the leaf stalks: Mealybugs or scale may be present. Isolate the plant, remove visible pests and use a treatment labelled for the pest, repeating it at the interval stated on the label.
• Leaf edges turn dry and brown across the plant: Check for repeated drying of the potting mix, hot airflow or very dry room air. Correct whichever condition applies.

Homalomena rubescens ‘Maggy’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

How the name Homalomena rubescens came about

Homalomena combines Greek homalos, meaning flat, with mene, meaning moon. Rubescens means becoming reddish and refers to the red-toned petioles.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Homalomena in 1832 in Meletemata Botanica, page 20.

William Roxburgh first described it as Calla rubescens in 1832 in Flora Indica, 1832 edition, volume 3, page 515. Karl Sigismund Kunth later placed it in Homalomena as Homalomena rubescens in 1841 in Enumeratio Plantarum, volume 3, page 57.