Growing Tips on Bacopa

Full Sun

• The bacopa plant requires sun, so the site chosen for the bacopa plant is very important in order for it to thrive properly. The area where the bacopa is planted should receive full sun during the day. There should be no tall plants or objects nearby that could create shade over the bacopa for most of the day.

Moisture

• Bacopa does best in very moist conditions. It's difficult to replicate a wetland-type environment in the garden or in a pot, so moisture-retaining soil can be used. Moisture-retaining soil contains small beads that absorb water and swell up, continuously keeping the soil moist. Some soil has these beads already added, but they can also be purchased separately elsewhere. Some garden centers have water-absorbing marbles that are used to plant bamboo in vases, and these marbles serve the same purpose in garden or potting soil.

Acidic Soil

• Bacopa needs acidic soil to grow properly. Soil can be purchased that is already slightly acidic, usually containing a high percentage of peat moss or other acidifiers. If the bacopa is already planted, a simple soil test can be conducted to determine if the soil is acidic or not: take two jars and fill halfway with soil, then moisten to create mud. Add vinegar to one jar and baking soda to the other. If the jar with vinegar bubbles, the soil is alkaline. If the other jar bubbles, the soil is acidic. If the soil is not acidic, acidifiers like aluminum sulfate can be purchased at any garden center and added to the soil.