Episcia
Family - Gesneriaceae
This plant has soft velvety leaves beautifully colored in green and brown.
Proportion between green and brown may be different, also the flowers color
varies from yellow to bright red to lavander.
From each leave base grows new little stalk, forming nise soft carpet in the
pot. If you cut this new stalk with sharp knife, stick it into the pot with
soil and keep the soil always moist - you will get the new plant in no time.
Cut several of them in one pot to make the plant full and bushy.
All episcias like balanced moisture in their soil and will respond immediately
to the incorrect conditions by browning, drying and finally loosing it's
leaves. Then your nice carpet in the pot will have unattractive holes revealing
episcias bare stems. So make sure the soil is never soggy neither completely
dried out.
Episcia likes bright light, but you should not expose it to the direct sun as
the leaves might burn. To maintain nice appearance of the plant avoid getting
water drops on the leaves because it will leave ugly spots on them - just like
on african violets.
Thanks to it's ability to trail with new growth episcias make perfect hanging
plants. Check the mature plant often to get off dry leaves, if the growth
becomes invasive and unmanageable, you can easily cut it back, it will promote
new growth on the sides. Use the cuttings to propagate episcias.
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