Pink Polka Dot Plant for an Unexpected Autumn Display

When the chill in the air causes outdoor green to morph into autumnal tones, I like to change my indoor environment to follow suit. Fall décor in tones of russet, gold, and brown warms my living and dining areas. But this year, I would like to change things up by moving away from spice tones and adding an unexpected splash of color and brightness to the mix. All summer, I pondered whether or not I would like pink and orange mixed together in planting beds. My chance to test this color combination will come, not in the garden but instead, on my tabletop.

I have planted small mums in sugar pumpkins and used them as table centerpieces in autumns gone by. But this year, I will use the Pink Polka Dot Plant, with its splash of light and vibrant pink, to set off the orange of a small pie pumpkin that can adorn the center of my table.

Hypoestes phyllostachya, Splash Pink puts its effort into maintaining petite foliage that is “painted” primarily in pink. With some spotted veining in dark green atop its pink base color, this plant is attractive and easy to grow. It is also small enough to take up temporary residence in an orange orb taken straight from the garden—or perhaps the garden center, for those of us who do not have much of a pumpkin crop this year.

The Polka Dot Plant is a pleasing sight in shops, garden centers, and online. Hypoestes plants come in the light pink I favor, plus tones ranging from white to red. I am sure you have seen these plants. In warm climates, they can be grown outdoors with great success. But my experience lies in using these plants indoors, where their colors stay vibrant with little care aside from the basics.

Hypoestes appreciates:

• Shaded surroundings;
• Regular watering with no drying periods in between;
• Rich potting soil; and
• Monthly feedings with liquid houseplant fertilizer.

To keep the mounded look of the Polka Dot Plant, I will trim its foliage occasionally. But this task will not be necessary until I have enjoyed this plant’s happy and unexpected show of color within a lovely pumpkin—the harbinger of holidays to come.

For the all-natural planter, I will remove the top of the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds, harkening back to an experience I relished as a child. Depending on the size of my Pink Polka Dot Plant, I will choose the “container” that is most accommodating. I suspect this will be a sugar pumpkin with a flat, steadying base.

For extra insurance in keeping my pumpkin container fresh for as long as possible, I will smear petroleum jelly inside the pumpkin and especially onto its cut edges to keep moisture within the orange walls… no harm to the incoming plant, but lots of help to the pumpkin vessel. Then comes the simple task of introducing Hypoestes to its new home.

While my pumpkin container will eventually fade, the Pink Polka Dot Plant will carry on easily in a more typical planting container, ready to thrive inside my home for the long term. But for now, I know I will enjoy this display that plays with color and uses Nature’s own materials.

While I am eager to try the pink-orange color combination, friends may position their Hypoestes plants in small white pumpkins, gray-blue pumpkins, or even pumpkins that are themselves pink. With some design publications inspiring us to do something unexpected for this year’s harvest holidays, the Pink Polka Dot Plant may be just the inspiration we need to come up with a whole new “look” for autumn 2021.

My only dilemma is deciding if this display will add life to my table now, in October, or if I will prepare several of these pumpkin planters for a Thanksgiving table that will be invigorated by the easy-to-grow Pink Polka Dot Plant.  If I can find enough Splash Pink, I think I will opt for “both”.