Chicken Gizzard (also known as Iresine Bloodleaf Plant) is native to Brazil and is an unusual, ever-colorful plant. It has glossy, oval leaves that measure 2 1/2 inches across and are sure to set you apart from the competition. Chicken Gizzard makes a great-looking houseplant, but they can live outside as an annual (or a soft perennial in frost-free zones 10 and 11). These plants can reach heights up to five feet tall, but when grown in a container as an annual you should expect 12-18 inches of growth. The colorful leaves make it a great choice for combination planters or stand-alone baskets.
Chicken Gizzard Red Selling Tips
Sell Chicken Gizzard Red to customers looking for attractive foliage to add to a mixed container, landscape border, or houseplant collection. This plant also excels in tropical climates as a short-lived tender perennial or flourishes as a houseplant with regular water and a sunny window. Customers and hummingbirds love the bright, variegated foliage in a sunny patio container or partly shady border. Create a striking tropical garden by pairing this plant with Bird of Paradise, Painted Abutilon, and Zebra Mallow. Add vibrant contrast to a mixed container by planting Brilliantisima alongside Impatiens, Fuchsia, and Ipomoea.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 20-24" apart in well-drained soil in full sun. This variety can tolerate some shade.
2. Water once a week or more often in containers or under extreme heat.
3. Prune to maintain a shorter plant indoors. Houseplant Iresine Herbstii benefits from moving outdoors in summer.
General Growing Tips For Your Unrooted Cuttings
For best results with Chicken Gizzard, use a constant-but-low feed program of 150-200 ppm N. A pH between 6.0 and 6.5 is important for the healthiest plant color.
Your unrooted cuttings will arrive freshly cut. You will need to plant them immediately and begin a misting cycle to root the cuttings. This will leech the soil of nutrients, so during the propagation phase use a constant feed of 1/3 the normal recommended dosage of fertilizer until well rooted.Pinching
Chicken Gizzard need to be pinched. First pinch should be 5-10 days after transplanting to your final container (once the plant is well established).Chicken Gizzard tend to get leggy, so proper pinching is a must when internodal growth gets too long. You can also encourage compact growth by staying toward the bottom end of the fertilizer range.
Spacing
With proper pinching, Chicken Gizzard plants can be successfully grown in an 1801 or other market tray. For 4" pots and larger, space pots as needed for pot size to allow air flow and penetration of light.
Height Control
Plant growth regulators are not necessary for Chicken Gizzard as long as proper pinching is observed.
Pests
Spider mites and occasionally mealybugs are the pests to watch for with Chicken Gizzard.
Disease
Chicken Gizzard Red is not prone to many diseases, but don't oversaturate the soil. If the plant sits in moist soil for an extended amount of time, you could end up with root rot or botrytis. Botrytis grey rot is usually associated with wet or humid conditions. You can prevent botrytis by allowing the plant to dry out between waterings, allowing for good airflow in your greenhouse, and spacing to allow the sun to penetrate to the soil level. The most common chemicals used to treat botrytis and root rot are Medallion and Banrot. Use them as a drench according to each label's instructions.
Planting Chicken Gizzard Red Liners
- We recommend planting 4-5 starter plants per 10 inch basket. Use a well-drained soil in your baskets and plant your starter plants deep, allowing the ellepot to be completely covered by the soil. If you are planting 4" pots, 1 plant per pot should be sufficient. Plant them directly in the middle of your pot.
- Pinching is recommended 5-10 days after transplantation. A second pinch may be necessary depending on the size and shape of the final pot.
Unrooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families, but most can be described as tip cuttings (ivy are leaf-and-eye stem cuttings not tips) that stick nicely
in small plug trays such as the 105-plug tray we use (some varieties are better suited for a 50 cell tray, i.e. Angelwing Begonia, Bougainvillea, Setcrecea, etc.). Please do not order unrooted cuttings unless you are an experienced propagator with mist systems and proper temperature control.
Iresine Chicken Gizzard Red Quick Reference Guide
| 4 Inch crop time | 6 Weeks |
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| 10 Inch crop time | 8-10 Weeks |
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| Color | Magenta, Red |
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| Habit | Upright |
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| Height | 12-15 Inches |
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| Light | Full Sun |
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| Minimum Temp | 60 |
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| Perennial Zone | 10-11 |
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| Water Needs | Moderate |
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| Patented Plant | No |
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