Restoring Color to Mussaenda (Buddha's Lamp) in South Florida: Stress and Seasonal Factors

Why Mussaenda Loses Its Peach Bracts

Mussaenda produces colorful bracts (not true flowers) on new tip growth. Too much water and nitrogen fertilizer encourage lush green leaves at the expense of bract color.

Corrective Measures

• Reduce watering—allow the soil to dry between irrigations.
• Apply a low‑nitrogen, moderate fertilizer (high phosphorus) sparingly.
• Prune severely in fall to stimulate new tip growth where bracts form.

Seasonal Timing

In South Florida, mussaenda color peaks in fall and winter. If your plant is healthy but green in summer, that's normal; the color will return as days shorten and temperatures moderate.