Houseplants: Vicks Plant

Recently at our local farmers market, a customer asked me if I had ever heard of a Vick's Vap-O-Rub plant. Well, no, I had never heard of such a thing. (The young woman, by the way, was not talking about eucalyptus either.) She then went to her car and returned with plants for my daughter and me. In turned out that what this woman was called a Vick's Vap-O-Rub plant is actually known as a Vicks plant. It is easy to understand why she called it what she did, though; because the plant does indeed smell exactly like the medicated rub.

The Vicks plant (Plectranthus tomentosa) has ovate light green leaves covered with tiny hairs giving it a fuzzy feeling. (It reminds me of a fuzzy jade plant.) It can grow to be up to 30 inches tall and will produce purple blooms as it matures. (Note: As the plant matures and grows taller, the lower branches can also become a bit woody.) As a succulent, the Vicks plant prefers well-drained soil. You can choose to purchase a light potting soil specifically designed for succulents or mix your own. If you mix your own, use two-parts sand to one-part loam and one-part peat moss. As with all succulents, do not over-water, which can result in root-rot. Instead, allow the plant to dry out between waterings and then water well. [For more information about how and when to water plants, see my article on Watering Houseplants: Identifying Problems.] You can place your Vicks plant outdoors during the spring (after all danger of frost has passed) and leave it outside during the summer, where it will prefer full sun to partial shade. Do be sure to bring it back indoors before the first frost, because the Vicks plant does not like the cold. When growing it indoors as a houseplant, you do need to make certain that it receives good light. [For more information on indoor lighting, see Houseplants: Determining Light Levels in Your House.] This easy-to-grow plant can be propagated through stem cuttings taken anytime during the growing season.

As previously mentioned, the Vicks plant smells like Vick's Vap-O-Rub (or mentholatum). It also acts just like the medicated rub, which means that it can clear the sinuses. You can simply take a few leaves, crush them, and inhale. You can also take these crushed leaves and place in some steaming water in order to allow the vapors to suffuse throughout the room. This is particularly beneficial during the winter months when the indoor air is especially dry and, as a result, your sinuses tend to dry out, causing discomfort.

I really need to thank my customer for introducing me to this unique plant. I foresee starting several more as the plant matures. You might have to do some searching to find it in your area, but the effort will be worth it.

Reference:
Plant of the Week. Vicks Plant.