Physalis philadelphica aka Tomatillo
Taxonomy
Common names
Tomatillo, Husk Tomato, Tomatillo Ground CherryHow to care for Tomatillo
Difficulty
Tomatillo presents a moderate level of care, which allows plant enthusiasts with some experience to expand their skills and knowledge.
Water
Tomatillo should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Soil
Tomatillo loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.
Lighting
Tomatillo thrives in bright and direct sunlight. To ensure your plant receives enough light to survive, place it less than one foot from a window. The current weather in your area may affect the placement in your home. For example, if you live in a region that has longer and more intense periods of sunlight, then you may want to place the plant farther away from the window to avoid direct sunlight and reduce the risk of sunburn. Alternatively, if you live in a region with relatively milder temperatures and less intense sunlight, then you may be able to place the plant closer to the window for increased exposure. Ultimately, the current weather in your area should be taken into consideration when determining the best placement for your Tomatillo Ground Cherry.
Dormancy
During the wintertime, it's common for Tomatillo to go dormant and their growth may slow down, so waterings should be spaced out more.
Toxicity
No verified data on the toxicity of this plant exists within Ploi's records. Should you, someone in your family, or your pet ingest plant material with an unknown toxicity level, it is recommended to seek medical advice.
Fertilizer
Once the Tomatillo has doubled in size or after a year has passed, it should be moved to a new pot. By replacing the soil with fresh potting soil containing all the vital nutrients, your plant will receive all the sustenance it needs, negating the requirement for fertilizer. It's important to remember that plants get their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.
Region of origin
Tomatillo’s native range is N. America and S. America.
More info:
Wikipedia
More Species in Physalis Genus
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Physalis acutifolia Wright's Ground Cherry
![](https://ploi-plant-care.s3.amazonaws.com/shrine/species/21501/thumb/thumb_jpg-f9e0ce6f8945f44430be36b358266f4e.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAIOGNACPH7HGRS66Q%2F20240908%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240908T000523Z&X-Amz-Expires=604800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=6f980ee4e615ef072e438eca39bf2114ade2911a372ad0797d812698748c04a2)
Physalis Ground Cherry
![](https://ploi-plant-care.s3.amazonaws.com/shrine/species/1282/thumb/thumb_jpg-646f21ac44a91938ec0c724e58c095be.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAIOGNACPH7HGRS66Q%2F20240908%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240908T000523Z&X-Amz-Expires=604800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=df79aa63367fdbca86d71ce4742f5fe9dcc85c87d1197a7b01e655bbb0707c6e)
Physalis peruviana Cape Gooseberry
![](https://ploi-plant-care.s3.amazonaws.com/shrine/species/3625/thumb/thumb_jpg-8bd3dba0390ae94dd4e50aa1b73ca451.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAIOGNACPH7HGRS66Q%2F20240908%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240908T000523Z&X-Amz-Expires=604800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=35a25d781fe4f5f59a3653d682dce1c18400f8455fd076df83ef635a566b2dd5)
Physalis walteri Walter's Groundcherry
Physalis carpenteri Carpenter's Groundcherry
Physalis lagascae Pygmy Groundcherry
Physalis missouriensis Missouri Groundcherry
![](https://ploi-plant-care.s3.amazonaws.com/shrine/species/21502/thumb/thumb_jpg-e6d86142430e214844f582af90206b17.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAIOGNACPH7HGRS66Q%2F20240908%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240908T000523Z&X-Amz-Expires=604800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=e432c6aedd86cf5fac54328a886d56a8f7a265b10a97d7669377c2ec2e787d7e)
Physalis pruinosa Strawberry Tomato
![](https://ploi-plant-care.s3.amazonaws.com/shrine/species/14719/thumb/thumb_jpg-d6d8580d2fd6d7eebf3716cdf37672f9.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAIOGNACPH7HGRS66Q%2F20240908%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240908T000523Z&X-Amz-Expires=604800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=dd991fd54529c4516469071af4a741ee2ccaad8d1324969b748ea203dc0aa56c)
Physalis virginiana Perennial Ground Cherry
![](https://ploi-plant-care.s3.amazonaws.com/shrine/species/7680/thumb/thumb_jpg-43518a97af2a52e0b6ee9f854f3ce8f2.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAIOGNACPH7HGRS66Q%2F20240908%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240908T000523Z&X-Amz-Expires=604800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=16db0c6e55ebc7aff64b7e0e711c7e71c4e6c9adb4d90d160e9b975265d34318)