The creeping jenny is a great plant to add to your garden or home collection if you want something low-maintenance that looks great. This vibrant plant is known for its bright yellow color and trailing growth habit.
Creeping jenny, also known as Lysimachia nummularia, is a low-growing, creeping plant that is perfect for ground cover. It’s a tough plant that does well in a lot of different conditions, so gardeners like to use it. Single, bright yellow cup-shaped flowers also occasionally appear in the leaf axils adding to its beauty.
Because it can spread so quickly, it’s often seen as a problem in the yard. But that’s also what makes it so beautiful there. You can grow this beautiful perennial ground cover quickly with a few helpful tips. It’s a great choice for both new and experienced gardeners.
I’ll show you how to plant, grow, and take care of Creeping Jenny in this guide.
Creeping jenny, also known by its scientific name Lysimachia nummularia is a low-growing trailing plant that is commonly used as an ornamental outdoor ground cover. However did you know that this vibrant plant can also be grown successfully indoors?
In this comprehensive guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about growing creeping jenny indoors, including ideal conditions care tips, and how to troubleshoot common problems.
Native to Europe and parts of Asia, creeping jenny is a member of the Primulaceae family. It gets its common name from its creeping stems that root at nodes and spread out horizontally across the ground. The round green leaves are opposite, almost coin-shaped, and about 1-2 inches wide.
Small, solitary, yellow cup-shaped flowers may appear in summer but they are not the main attraction. Creeping jenny is grown primarily for its foliage. This hardy perennial thrives in zones 4-9 and appreciates consistently moist soil. Outdoors it is used extensively as a ground cover and can tolerate partial shade.
While typically grown outdoors, creeping jenny also makes an excellent houseplant. Its bright chartreuse color provides a pop of color, and the trailing stems look gorgeous spilling out of hanging baskets and containers. The plant is easy to care for, making it ideal for beginners or anyone looking for a low-maintenance option.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Creeping Jenny Indoors
To keep your creeping jenny houseplant looking its best, aim to mimic the conditions it enjoys in its natural outdoor habitat. Here are the ideal indoor growing conditions to provide:
Light: Creeping jenny thrives in bright, indirect light indoors. Place it near an east or west-facing window where it will get 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. Direct hot sunlight can scorch the leaves.
Temperature: This plant does best in average room temperatures between 65-75°F. Avoid excessive heat or cold drafts.
Humidity: Average humidity is fine, but creeping jenny appreciates a boost in humidity if possible. Consider using a humidifier or placing its pot on a pebble tray.
Water: Soil should be kept evenly moist but not soggy. Allow the top inch to dry out between waterings.
Soil: Use a rich, well-draining potting mix. You can amend regular potting soil with perlite or sand to improve drainage.
Fertilizer: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during the growing season. Dilute to half strength.
Pot: Choose a container with drainage holes and make sure there is adequate room for growth. Creeping jenny can be kept in its nursery pot or repotted into something more decorative.
Caring for Creeping Jenny Indoors
Caring for creeping jenny houseplants is relatively simple, especially when you provide the right growing conditions. Here are some tips that will keep your plant healthy and looking its best:
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Water thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil dries out. Take care not to overwater or allow the plant to sit in soggy soil.
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Prune back any leggy or damaged stems to encourage bushier new growth. Creeping jenny can also be propagated from stem cuttings.
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Wipe dust and dirt off the leaves every so often with a damp cloth to allow optimal light absorption.
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Turn the plant occasionally to prevent it from growing lopsided as it reaches towards the light.
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Remove any dried or yellow leaves promptly. Don’t cut off healthy green leaves.
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Watch for pests like aphids, spider mites, or mealybugs and treat any infestations promptly. Use insecticidal soap as needed.
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Repot when necessary into a slightly larger container, preferably during the spring. Divide congested plants.
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Fertilize regularly in the spring and summer, but not during fall and winter when growth has slowed.
With proper care, creeping jenny houseplants can thrive for many years indoors! Just be sure to provide adequate bright light and moisture. Trim back wayward stems to encourage bushy growth.
Displaying Creeping Jenny Indoors
One of the best things about creeping jenny as an indoor plant is how versatile it is to display. Here are some creative ways to showcase creeping jenny in your home:
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Let it trail gracefully out of a hanging basket suspended where its vines can dangle freely.
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Plant it in a decorative pot or urn on a pedestal or plant stand where the stems can spill over the sides.
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Use creeping jenny as a cascading element in a mixed planter or succulent arrangement.
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Set pots along a windowsill or mantel where the lush chartreuse leaves can be backlit by the sun.
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Site small pots atop bookshelves, cabinets, or counters so the vines can drape down attractively.
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Pair creeping jenny with other trailing plants like ivy or pothos in a large container garden. The colors and textures will complement each other beautifully.
No matter where you choose to display it, creeping jenny’s fresh foliage and flowing stems will breathe new life into any indoor space. Let it trail freely or guide the stems along trellises and supports to train their growth.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Growing creeping jenny indoors is relatively trouble-free when you meet its care requirements, but occasionally issues may arise. Here are some common problems and how to resolve them:
Leggy growth: If stems are growing long between nodes, the plant isn’t getting enough sunlight. Move it closer to a window for brighter light exposure.
Sparse foliage: Poor light and insufficient fertilizer can result in sparse, lackluster growth. Increase light levels and fertilize more frequently.
Wilting leaves: Both overwatering and underwatering can cause leaves to wilt and droop. Check soil moisture and adjust your watering practices accordingly.
Leaf spots/discoloration: This can indicate fungal disease. Improve air circulation, avoid wetting foliage, and use fungicides if needed.
Insect infestations: Treat aphids, mites, or other bugs with insecticidal soap spray. Remove heavily infested leaves.
Leaf drop: If the plant is losing lots of leaves suddenly, look for root rot due to overwatering or poor drainage. Repot in fresh potting mix if necessary.
With vigilant care and proper conditions, you can avoid most issues and enjoy your creeping jenny houseplant for many seasons. Don’t hesitate to propagate new plants from cuttings if your plant becomes overgrown or leggy.
Final Thoughts
Although typically grown outdoors, the vibrant creeping jenny adapts wonderfully to indoor cultivation. With its gorgeous chartreuse foliage and trailing stems, this plant can lend its bright color and visual interest to any living space when given appropriate care.
Aim to provide the right amounts of indirect sunlight, moderate watering, and humidity for your creeping jenny houseplant. Display it creatively to allow its graceful stems to spill attractively from baskets, shelves, and more. Correct any cultural issues promptly and enjoy this low-maintenance trailing plant for years to come. Let creeping jenny bring a lively pop of color to your indoor garden!
Choosing the Right Stem Cuttings
It is important to choose healthy stems that are free of disease and pests when taking stem cuttings to grow new plants. Look for stems that are firm and green, and avoid any that are wilted or discolored.
You can cut stems from the main plant at any time of the year, but spring or summer is the best time because the plant is growing.
Before rooting your stem cuttings, you will need to prepare the soil. Creeping jenny likes soil that stays moist but drains quickly, so pick potting mix that is made for this type of plant.
You can also add some perlite or sand to the soil to improve drainage. Fill a small container with the soil, leaving about an inch of space at the top.
Creeping Jenny Plant Care
Creeping Jenny is a beautiful perennial that can add a pop of color to any garden or home. With proper care and attention, this plant can thrive and provide years of enjoyment. It features bright, small yellow flowers which don’t bloom for too long but look stunning. It makes for an excellent ground cover and is known best for its foliage.
There are many ways to use golden creeping jenny. It can be a spiller plant or a trailing plant in pots, containers, hanging baskets, window boxes, or you could put it near water features like ponds and water gardens.
It is important to know that creeping jenny is seen as an invasive plant in some places because it can take over quickly and grow like crazy. It was first brought to the US as an ornamental plant and as a ground cover. Now it grows wild in swamps, ditches, marshes, and along roads.
It looks beautiful when planted with other shade-loving plants like ferns, hostas, and impatiens. It also pairs well with other trailing plants like sweet potato vine and ivy. If you want your companion plants to do well together, choose ones that need about the same amount of light and water.
Creeping jenny thrives in bright, filtered sunlight, but it can also tolerate partial shade. Avoid exposing this plant to direct sunlight for prolonged periods, as this can cause leaf burn. If you notice your plant beginning to wilt or brown, adjust its exposure to light accordingly.
Creeping jenny prefers moist, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. No matter what pH level the soil is, it can grow there, but it does best in slightly acidic to neutral soil.
Add compost or other organic matter to the soil before planting your creeping jenny to make sure it drains well and is fertile.
Watering is a critical part of creeping jenny care, as this plant requires consistent moisture to thrive. That being said, don’t water too much or let the soil get too wet, as this can cause root rot.
Regularly water your creeping jenny. Check the soil’s moisture level and change how often you water as needed.
Creeping jenny is a hardy plant that can tolerate a range of temperature and humidity levels. However, it prefers moderate temperatures and humidity levels.
If you live in a very dry or hot area, you might want to mist your plant often or put it near a humidifier to keep the right conditions for growth.
Even though creeping jenny doesn’t need to be fertilized often, slow-release fertilizer can help it grow when used occasionally during the growing season.
Follow the directions on the fertilizer package and be careful not to use too much. Too much fertilizer can cause plants to grow too quickly and become less healthy.
When taking care of a creeping jenny, pruning is an important part of keeping the plant in shape and stopping it from growing too much. Trim your plant regularly, removing any dead or damaged foliage and shaping the plant as desired.
To make more creeping jenny plants, don’t be afraid to use the cuttings you get from trimming the old ones.
How to Grow Creeping Jenny
FAQ
What do you do with potted creeping jenny in the winter?
How much light does creeping jenny need?
Can creeping jenny grow in containers?
Can you keep creeping jenny in water?
Can creeping jenny grow in containers indoors?
Yes, creeping jenny can grow in containers indoors. This plant is super adaptable in different environments. They can grow and spread in your house. Generally, when creeping jenny grows outside, it spreads over the ground. But when you keep the plant indoors in a container, it will grow downwards from the container.
Is creeping jenny a good plant?
Creeping jenny is a flowering plant with oval leaves. So, this plant will be excellent for your house. Generally, creeping jenny creeps and spreads through the ground. But if you grow it in a container, this plant will creep and cascade down from the container. So, creeping jenny will look aesthetic if you hang it from somewhere.
Where should a creeping jenny plant be planted?
Very hot sun could make the plant’s flowers wilt, so if you’re in a hot climate, a shadier spot is best. If you’re using a pot for planting, then you can move the plant around to find the best spot. For an indoor creeping jenny, leave the pot by your sunniest window so it gets enough sunlight.
How do you grow creeping jenny?
Use creeping Jenny as a spiller plant in pots and hanging baskets. Pair it with taller plants that it won’t smother rather than small low-growers. When designing your containers, creeping Jenny’s foliage colors will contrast well with dark green foliage and brightly colored flowers. Creeping Jenny will thrive best in full sun to partial shade.