Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper Plant Care

Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper (Brunfelsia portoricensis) belongs to the Solanaceae family within the Brunfelsia genus. Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper is native to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper is also known as Lady's Slipper.

Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper displays a bushy shrub with upright habit growth habit, reaching up to 5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper produces fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that change color from purple to white.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper thrives in bright indirect light. Avoid placing Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Brunfelsia portoricensis tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Well-draining, fertile soil with added compost for Brunfelsia. Good drainage is essential for Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with bright indirect light and well-draining, fertile soil with added compost for Brunfelsia. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper is suited to USDA Zone 13a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 5 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper can be propagated through softwood cuttings, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to lady's slipper plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper is native to Puerto Rico. In cooler regions, grow Puerto Rico Lady's Slipper as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.