{"id":8864,"date":"2023-08-15T03:23:02","date_gmt":"2023-08-15T07:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/?p=8864"},"modified":"2023-08-15T03:26:56","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T07:26:56","slug":"how-to-plant-grow-and-care-for-a-toothache-plant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/2023\/08\/15\/how-to-plant-grow-and-care-for-a-toothache-plant\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Plant, Grow, and Care for a Toothache Plant"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Use these tips to enjoy the unique flowers and edible leaves of toothache plant in your garden.<\/p>

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PHOTO:\u00a0<\/span>

JAY WILDE<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Toothache plant is a small, frost-sensitive perennial that gets its common name from being used as a fast-acting oral numbing agent. In addition to its medicinal uses, the plant\u2019s edible leaves can be used somewhat like\u00a0spinach in recipes, where they’ll cause a tingling sensation\u00a0somewhat like hot peppers.\u00a0A\u00a0relative of daisies\u00a0and\u00a0sunflowers, these plants are generally grown as annuals in most of the United States but can be grown as a perennial in southern climates. If you\u2019re looking to add something unique and useful to your garden, toothache plant won’t disappoint.\u00a0<\/p>

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Toothache Plant Overview<\/h3>
GENUS NAME<\/td>Acmella oleracea, synonym Spilanthes oleracea<\/td><\/tr>
COMMON NAME<\/td>Toothache Plant<\/td><\/tr>
ADDITIONAL COMMON NAMES<\/td>Eyeball Plant, Paracress<\/td><\/tr>
PLANT TYPE<\/td>Herb, Perennial<\/td><\/tr>
LIGHT<\/td>Sun<\/td><\/tr>
HEIGHT<\/td>12 to 15 Inches<\/td><\/tr>
WIDTH<\/td>12 to 20 Inches<\/td><\/tr>
FLOWER COLOR<\/td>Orange, Red, Yellow<\/td><\/tr>
FOLIAGE COLOR<\/td>Blue\/Green<\/td><\/tr>
ZONES<\/td>10, 11, 9<\/td><\/tr>
PROPAGATION<\/td>Seed, Stem Cuttings<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>
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Where to Plant Toothache Plant<\/span><\/h2>

Toothache plants\u00a0require full sun\u00a0(8+ hours per day) and loamy, organically enriched soils to thrive. They can be planted in pots or in the ground.<\/p>

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How and When to Plant Toothache Plant<\/span><\/h2>

Sow toothache plant seeds outdoors\u00a0after the danger of frost has passed. You can also start seeds indoors 6 weeks before your area’s last frost date, then\u00a0transplant them outdoors. For best performance, add an organic granular fertilizer to the soil at planting time.\u00a0<\/p>

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Care Tips for Toothache Plant<\/span><\/h2>

Light<\/span><\/h3>

Toothache plants prefer\u00a0full sun to part shade. Too much shade will cause plants to become leggy and stop producing flowers.\u00a0<\/p>

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Soil and Water<\/span><\/h3>

These plants prefer loamy,\u00a0well-drained soils\u00a0with plenty of organic matter like compost mixed in. Keep plants consistently watered, but avoid soggy soil, which can cause root rot.<\/p>

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Temperature and Humidity<\/span><\/h3>

Coming from the tropics, these plants thrive in warm temperatures and high humidity.\u00a0Frost will damage or kill toothache plant;\u00a0provide protection from freezing temperatures\u00a0to keep plants going in fall.<\/p>

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Fertilizer<\/span><\/h3>

Feed with a\u00a0well-balanced organic fertilizer\u00a0once a week while plants are young. As flower buds begin to appear, switch to a bloom-boosting mix high in phosphorus to encourage continued blooming throughout the growing season.<\/p>

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Pruning<\/span><\/h3>

As flowers begin to age,\u00a0deadhead plants\u00a0regularly to extend their blooming period. These low-growing plants otherwise don’t require any additional pruning.\u00a0<\/p>

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Pests and Problems<\/span><\/h2>

While toothache plants aren\u2019t usually bothered by deer and rabbits, these creatures may still nibble on leaves and flowers. Pests such as aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites can be remedied by spraying them off the plants with water. For stubborn infestations, an application of\u00a0organic pesticide such as neem oil\u00a0can get pests under control, although this treatment isn’t recommended If you intend to consume your plant.<\/p>

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How to Propagate Toothache Plant<\/span><\/h2>

Toothache plants can be propagated by both seeds and cuttings.\u00a0<\/p>

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Seeds<\/span><\/h3>
  1. Prepare a seed-starting potting mix by thoroughly wetting the medium and placing it into seed trays.<\/li>
  2. Sprinkle a few toothache plant seeds onto the soil surface of each cell. Toothache plant seeds require light for proper germination.<\/li>
  3. Place a clear plastic lid or wrap over trays to maintain humidity, then move seed trays to a warming pad. Mist regularly to keep the soil moist at all times.<\/li>
  4. Trays should be kept in bright, indirect light or under artificial lighting.<\/li>
  5. Seedlings should begin to germinate within 1 to 2 weeks after planting.<\/li>
  6. After the danger of frost has passed, transplant seedlings to the garden or in pots.<\/li><\/ol>
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    Cuttings<\/span><\/h3>
    1. Using a pair of sharp, disinfected shears, make 6-inch cuttings from the mother plant and remove all but the top pair of leaves.<\/li>
    2. Dip base of each cutting about 1 inch into powdered rooting hormone and gently shake off any excess.<\/li>
    3. Place cuttings into individual pots, about 3 inches deep in moist potting soil, being careful not to wipe off the rooting powder.<\/li>
    4. Place cuttings in a warm, humid location with bright indirect light or\u00a0under a grow light.<\/li>
    5. After a third set of leaves have been produced or you notice roots have begun to come out of the bottom of the containers, transplant cuttings into larger containers.<\/li><\/ol>
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      Types of Toothache Plants<\/span><\/h2>

      There are a few varieties of toothache plants available including an all yellow form called \u2018Lemon Drops\u2019 and a strongly bicolor cultivar named \u2018Bullseye\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>

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      Companion Plants for Toothache Plants<\/span><\/h2>

      Due to their smaller stature, toothache plants can be used as an\u00a0edging plant\u00a0or in front of slightly larger, full sun plants such as\u00a0coneflowers\u00a0(Echinacea<\/em>\u00a0spp.),\u00a0Shasta daisies\u00a0(Lecuanthemum<\/em>\u00a0x\u00a0superbum<\/em>), or smaller grasses such as\u00a0blue fescue (Festuca glauca<\/em>).<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Use these tips to enjoy the unique flowers and edible leaves of toothache plant in your garden. PHOTO: JAY WILDE Toothache plant is a small, frost-sensitive perennial that gets its common name from being used as a fast-acting oral numbing agent. In addition to its medicinal uses, the plant\u2019s edible leaves can be used somewhat like\u00a0spinach in recipes, where they’ll cause a tingling sensation\u00a0somewhat like hot peppers.\u00a0A\u00a0relative of daisies\u00a0and\u00a0sunflowers, these plants are generally grown as annuals in most of the United States but can be grown as a perennial in southern climates. If you\u2019re looking to add something unique and useful to your garden, toothache plant won’t disappoint. Toothache Plant Overview GENUS NAME Acmella oleracea, synonym Spilanthes oleracea COMMON NAME Toothache Plant ADDITIONAL COMMON NAMES Eyeball Plant, Paracress PLANT TYPE Herb, Perennial LIGHT Sun HEIGHT 12 to 15 Inches WIDTH 12 to 20 Inches FLOWER COLOR Orange, Red, Yellow FOLIAGE…<\/p>\n

      Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-8864","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-green-plants-and-flowers"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8864"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8864\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8869,"href":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8864\/revisions\/8869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}