Chenille Plant
Also called Philippine-medusa, or red-hot cattail
(Acalypha hispida)

Chenille plant's soft, fuzzy, fur-like flowers bloom over a long period.  Getting the plant to rebloom, though, is difficult because it demands extremely high humidity.

Light
Place in high light (southern exposure) during fall and winter, and medium light in spring and summer.  Prefers morning sun.  Needs high light for good flowering.

Water
Keep soil evenly moist.  Mist leaves with tepid water; never mist flowers.  Raise humidity as high as possible.

Temperature
Maintain temperatures in the 80s for best growth.  Tolerates temperatures of 70s during the day and 60s at night.

Comments
Feed monthly with dilute solution.  Cut back plant each spring to maintain compact size and renew growth.  Propagate by four-inch stem cuttings taken during active growth.