Chinese lantern is easy to grow as long as it has enough light and well-draining soil.
Chinese Lantern Care
These are the most essential requirements when caring for Chinese lanterns.
Be careful where you plant it because it can overrun your garden beds and even sprout into turfgrass.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Chinese lantern is best grown in containers to keep it from spreading to other areas of your property.
Eradicating Chinese lantern is not an easy task once it becomes invasive.
Light
Chinese lantern plants grow best in full sun but tolerate part sun conditions.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
In warm climates, the plant is best grown in part shade.
Full sun would require 6 to 8 hours per day.
It doesn’t have any humidity requirements.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The seeds will germinate when temperatures are between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
If it’s growing aggressively, you might withhold any feeding.
If using granular fertilizer, confirm to keep it away from the plant’s crown and foliage.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Too much fertilizer can stimulate fast growth rates, which may encourage root rot as well as uncontrolled spreading.
As the yellow to purple fruits ripen, they split fire up the husks to reveal themselves.
the fruits can be quite attractive in the landscape, even if you do not harvest them for eating.
Joshua McCullough / Getty Images
When the pods have matured to their orange to reddish-orange color, it’s time to prune them off.
First, cut off a stem with pods at ground level.
Drying should be complete in a few weeks.
Chinese lantern spreads by rhizomes or volunteer seedlings that sprout up when it self-seeds.
Sow the seeds across the soil, barely covering them with 1/4 inch of soil.
Keep the soil moist; seedlings will emerge in 14 to 21 days.
Seedlings will need to behardened offbefore transplanting them into the garden after all danger of frost has passed.
This way, you don’t have to worry about the plant aggressively spreading in your garden.
Plant in a well-draining container that is 2 feet or larger.
Fill with potting soil or your average garden soil and add compost.
You might notice leaf discoloration or a plant that is wilting and failing to thrive.
Cut back any diseased foliage to prevent the spread of the disease.
What Does Chinese Lantern’s Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Chinese lantern buds give way to small, white bell-shaped flowers nestled among the 3-inch long medium green leaves.
The 2-inch-wide papery pod, called a calyx, serves as a protective cover over the flower and fruit.
The husk will change over to red and orange as fall comes.
If the plant is too dry, it may not flower at all.
The plant will die back into its skeletal form for winter.
Therefore, deadheading the blooms before they’ve reached this phase is not necessary.
If growing in a container, check that the plant is not too large for it’s vessal.
If it becomes rootbound, it will be unable to soak up the water you’re giving it.
In this case, transplant it into a large container.
Hold off on watering and allow the soil to drain.
Adjust your watering schedule accordingly.
Holes in Leaves
You may notice holes or tears in your Chinese plant’s foliage.
This is a sure sign of pests.
Check for beetles specifically flea, false potato or cucumber.
They may be eating your plant.
Spray on all areas of the plant.
The Dangers of Chinese Lantern Plants.
New England Carnivorous Plant Society.
NC State University Cooperative Extension.
Growing tomatillos and ground cherries in home gardens.
University of Minnesota Extension.
Mosaic Diseases of Cucurbits.
University of Illinois Extension.
University of Massachusetts Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment.
History of Perennials in the Landscape.
Illinois Integrated Pest Management Program.
Essential Care Tips for Growing Chinese Lantern Plants: Ensuring the Vibrant Growth of Your Chinese Lanterns.
Australian Society of Horticultural Science.
University of Wisconsin Madison.
