Episciaspp.
A unambiguously showy houseplant with attractive , velvety foliage and little , perfervid flowers , growing flaming violets is an easy way to add long - lasting color to any indoor localization .
These South American native grow in rosettes and have a crawling or trailing habit as they diffuse , their stolons drop with babe plantlet , make them an endearing choice for hang basket , shallow container , and terrarium .
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Prized for their captivating and colorful foliage which sports a crinkly texture , they exhibit a kind of veinlike patterning in hues of pig , umber , green tones , lavender , maroon , and pink – all with an iridescent sheen that gives these works an resistless prayer !
Flame violet have a fleck of a reputation for being difficult to grow , particularly over the wintertime month . But as with most plants , if you give them the right conditions , they ’ll thrive .
So if you ’re fired up for an intriguing houseplant with great foliage plus brightly colored flowers , let ’s befuddle a light on how to produce flame reddish blue !
Here ’s a peep at what ’s ahead :
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Grow
Cultivars to Select
sustenance
generation
Pests and Disease
There are 10 mintage oftropical herbaceous perennials in the genusEpiscia , popularly develop as small , colorful houseplants .
The common name flame violet denote to the brilliantly colored bloom flickering in a layer of leaves that can resemble glowing coals .
The unique and showy foliation has year - round appeal and is raise with cannular prime of cerise , orange , pink , or white that bloom mainly in outpouring and summer , but with decent lighting can blossom all class .
Common name(s):Flame violet
Plant type : Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):10 - 12 ( alfresco )
aboriginal to : Central and South America
Bloom time / season : Spring and summer
Exposure : Bright , indirect lighting
territory type : Loose , well draining
Soil pH:6.0 - 7.0 , more or less acidic to neutral
sentence to maturity:2 - 5 years
Mature size:12 - 24 inches full x 7 - 12 inches eminent
Best apply : Hanging baskets , houseplant , all-encompassing planters , terrariums
Taxonomy
Order : Lamiales
house : Gesneriaceae
Genus : Episcia
Species : Cupreata , reptans , lilacina
These cold-blooded - pinnace charmers turn in a rose window much like their kinfolk , African violets(Streptocarpus)but they also have a creeping or trailing growth wont .
Spreading by stolons , they send out runner lean with sister little potato that cover plantation owner control surface and are beyond cunning when trail from a hanging basketball hoop !
The ovate or rounded leaves are covered in o.k. hairs that give a downy or velvety facial expression .
Breeders have acquire numerous cultivars , but the majority of cross come from the two speciesE. cupreataandE. reptans .
When ripe , they have a height of seven to 12 inch and distribute 12 to 24 inches .
In tropic habitats , in Zones 10 to 12,Episciacan be grown as bedding plants , ground cover , or as spiller from outdoor hang baskets and windowpane boxes .
In temperate regions , they take to be grown indoors as houseplants .
Flame violets have a turgid habitat that swan throughout tropical regions of Central and South America .
Flame violets are best enjoyed where their attractive trailing or sprawling habit can be appreciated .
As a trailer , they add magic spell and people of colour to hanging basket or anywhere they can cascade freely , like on a bookshelf or the recess of a comeback or desk .
For a sprawling look , try develop them in a spacious shallow planter or as a specimen in a mixed terrarium .
get ’s have a aspect at their cultural requirements in more item :
Light
Episciaplants need an abundance of bright lighter , but they ca n’t tolerate unmediated , strong fair weather as their showy leave are sensitive to intense sunshine and are well sunburnt .
For vigorous growth and a steady stream of flower , supply them with at least eight hours of bright , collateral light each daytime .
If you do n’t have adequate natural lighter , they respond well to stilted luminosity source likegrow light source .
Soil and Containers
Flame violets have shallow roots and a spreading substance abuse , so container that are wide and shallow work well , and give ear baskets are a great choice to showcase their trailing wont .
check that whatever pot you choose has drain golf hole in the bottom .
To keep the water go freely , I like to tot up a layer of porous material at the bottom of the commode over the drainage holes , such as broken clayware or pebble .
For vibrant health and regular flowers , flaming violets need a productive potting mix that ’s airy , flying draining , and with a slenderly acidic pH of 6.0 to 7.0 .
A soil blend excogitate for African violets works well , particularly if it ’s better with one part of sphagnum moss and one part of perlite or vermiculite .
African Violet Soil
you could find African violet soil in two- and eight - quart bagsavailable at Perfect Plants .
sphagnum moss moss as a soil amendment helps to acidify the land ’s pH and it holds water super well without becoming quaggy .
Perlite and vermiculite are nontoxic , natural mineral that have skillful water - retentive property and also assist to aerate the soil – andEpisciaroots need plenty of O in the grime to thrive .
Temperature and Humidity
These plants appreciate a warm environment . Average firm temperatures in the reach of 65 to 80 ° F are fine , but they do best at the warmer end of that range .
deflect temperature fluctuations by settle plants off from heating system and AC ducts – warm drafts can cause the leaves to dry out and curl while cold draft can cause dieback .
Flame violets also require high humidness and can be lightly misted on a daily basis , or you may place your pots on a tray of pebble and water .
As the water system evaporates , the leaves drench up the vapor . Another option is to have a humidifier running nearby for a few hours each twenty-four hours .
Water
irrigate your plants as take but aim to keep the ground lightly moist while annul oversaturation – give up the soil airfoil to barely dry between app .
Andneveruse cold water . Cold water system is too chilling for the delicate roots and can rapidly direct to dieback or root rot – practice room temperature water only .
Also , do n’t slush water on the leaves . Standing piddle on the foliation can cause staining and decay .
expend a long - spoutedwatering canto reach under the leaf so they quell dry and unblemished .
Fertilizing
Flame violets can be fertilized during the grow time of year using a balanced houseplant formula such as 10 - 10 - 10 NPK or one that has a slightly higher level of Lucifer , such as 10 - 15 - 10 .
fertilizer formulated for African violet are a good choice . I care to utilize the Shultz African Violet Plus Plant Food , available via Amazon , which has an NPK proportion of 8 - 14 - 9 .
There are many interestingEpisciacultivars that offer unparalleled color and pattern parting – here are a few favorite to get you started !
Picasso
With sheer , unexpected color combinations and delightful abstract pattern , ‘ Picasso ’ is a charming variegated cultivar with vibrant coral pinkish blossom .
‘ Picasso ’
The ruffled leaf have a random color in both clear and cold shades of mauve , coral pink , rose , and green tone of Paris green , woodland , and olive – plus distinctive veins in pinkish or silver .
Starter plants in two - column inch pots areavailable at Walmart .
Pink Brocade
prize for its plush , variegated practice , ‘ pinkish Brocade ’ weaves a stunning display in shimmering , metallic colors .
The foliage shines in hues of celery , lime , and passel William Green with vibrant , contrasting borders of raspberry garden pink , and sheer , cream to silver veining .
highlight the delicious foliage are blossom of burgundy , orange , or scarlet , it ’s the stark choice to impart a luxurious swatch of color to any indoor setting .
Pink Panther
Colorful as Inspector Clouseau , the velvety leaf of ‘ Pink Panther ’ have tenderness of kiwi to birdlime green with wide boundary line in burgundy , coffee , or deep pink , and a crisp silver goal .
pinkish or red flowers lend to the vibrant display , adding good luck charm to hanging baskets , planters , shelves , and terrariums .
Pink Smoke
tote up a little air to your interior blank space with the dusty tones of ‘ pinkish Smoke . ’ This cultivar features smoky , dark-skinned green to mahogany leaves , neon pink edge , and kiwi green vein .
‘ Pink Smoke ’
fecund stolons with little plantlets develop at regular interval and hot pinkish flowers end up off the smoulder look .
Silver Screen
Always ready for a closeup , the downlike leaves of ‘ Silver Screen ’ are cultivated celery green to silver , frame in in Venetian red or woodland green , and finish in a slight copper or cherry-red tone .
‘ Silver Screen ’
Bright pink or flushed flush give a final colorful contact to this cultivar that shimmers with a metallic sheen .
Four - packs of starter works can be foundat Walmart .
Flame violets are broken maintenance , but these fast growers profit fromregular groomingto keep them goodly and to prevent a crowd , overgrown appearance .
Use sporting , tart scissors to trim away dead or damaged leaves as they occur . And cut back spent flush as they languish and juiceless encourages more blossom .
For any kind of delicate work like train houseplant or propagation , I like to practice pruning snips that give just manual dexterity and have sharp blades .
I peculiarly like these Fiskars Softouch Micro - Tip Pruning Snips .
Fiskars Softouch Micro - Tip Pruning Snips
you could find themavailable via Amazon .
To prevent them sprawling , snip off stolon as desired and use the trimmed baby rosettes to start up new plant .
Repotting
Flame violet also apprize repotting every couple of years to refresh the soil and give the roots more room .
The best time to repot is in late winter or former spring – allow plants with a new container that ’s two to four inches larger than its current home .
Although flame violet can be propagated from seed , if you require a clone of the parent plant , it ’s unspoiled to expend leaf cuttings or stolons , which produce reliable and fast results .
extension via stolons is fundamentally the same as propagating theme cuttings .
Leaf cuttings is another easy propagation method that produces reliable results .
Just keep an eye on the dance step by step instructions in our guide topropagating African violets from leaf cuttings .
Managing Pests and Disease
If you give your flaming violets the term they thrive in , trouble with pests and disease will be few and far between .
But it ’s always judicious to be on the lookout for any issues that may crop up .
Aphidsormealybugsare the main pests that might tip on your plant .
Flame reddish blue have delicate , water - sensitive leaves and stems , so forefend using a firm jet of water to shell the bug away .
alternatively , a cotton ball soaked with alcohol or neem petroleum can be wipe on septic expanse to post any unfriendly bugs boxing .
Dieback , the curling and browning of folio bound along with a exit of vigor , can occur if plants are water too much or if there ’s not enough air circulation .
To avoid dieback , keep the soil lightly damp but not wet , and position plant in a location with gratuitous air movement .
Also , you could take aim the stolons to climb , drapery , lead to propagate them out and assist improve air circulation .
Fungal leaf spot can appear as dark , unsightly blotches on the leaf surface , ordinarily as a result of splash water onto the leafage .
Root rot is a usual issuethat causes houseplant to wilt and crumble when the soil is too wet , or if conditions are cold and moist .
To keep stem rot at true laurel , apply well - draining grease and let the surface to dry out between lacrimation , keep your industrial plant in a warm , draft - free positioning , and use room temperature water .
Simply Irresistible
flora with an iridescent sheen to their foliation are few and far between , and when combined with the salient colors , figure , textures , and trailing habit , they ’re simply irresistible !
Provide the plants with a quick , cozy point away from cold swig and where they ’ll have plenty of shiny , collateral light .
Keep the stain lightly moist but not soaked , and always expend elbow room temperature water . insensate spigot water is a sure direction to make them sulk !
And be sure to place them where their trailing habit can be showcased – the baby rosettes dribble from a hang basket or over a desk niche are too adorable to be missed !
If you ’re look formore iridescent houseplants to brighten your living blank space , supply these pathfinder to your reading lean next :
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About
Lorna Kring
