How to properly care for the graceful episcia

Why did flower growers fall in love with episcia? This plant retains its decorative properties throughout the year: elegant flowers and no less elegant rounded leaves, decorated with colored patterns. Caring for episcia is not a problem, but a pleasure.

Description

Episcia is a herbaceous perennial from the Gesneriaceae family. In the wild, it develops as a low-growing creeping grass; in indoor conditions it is grown as a hanging plant. The flower's homeland is the tropics of Central and South America: the dark and humid forests of Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the Antilles and Guinea. The origin of the name is Greek: the word “episkios” means “dark”, “shaded”.

Episcia has underground stems from which tendril-shaped shoots grow. There are rosettes of leaves on them. From these, in turn, new daughter rosettes appear. This creates a waterfall of sparkling foliage, which is ideal for hanging. The size of the plant reaches 60 cm, it produces up to 30 shoots, a third of which have the ability to flower.

Episcia has oval, velvety leaves with a pattern. The shade of the leaf blade is the usual green, olive, pinkish, burgundy or brown. The plant is also valued for its flowers, which are shaped like a bell or a gramophone. They grow on a strong peduncle and have 5 petals. The colors of the flowers are very diverse: from pure white to rich red.Flowering of different types and varieties of Episcia takes place in spring, summer and autumn.

Episcia is not the only one in the Gesneriaceae family. Her graceful “sisters” are gloxinia, saintpaulia, streptocarpus. There are 12 species in the genus Episcia.

Varieties

Thanks to the work of breeders, more than 100 varieties of flowers have been developed. The abundance of varieties allows you to create interesting compositions from episcia. Both species and varieties differ from each other in color: the leaves can be decorated with purple, copper, red and yellow designs. The plates are not only beautifully painted, but also effectively reflect the light, so that the crown seems to shimmer and flow.

The following types and varieties of episcia are common in indoor floriculture:

• Episcia copper is the most popular. This species has oval, heart-shaped leaves with thick fluff. The leaf length is 6-15 cm, width is 5-10, and the color is simply mesmerizing: it is a copper outer part, decorated with a wide white stripe and silver splashes, and a reddish inner side with a green line decoration. The species has single brightly colored flowers - red or yellow, depending on the variety. The flowering period is from July to early autumn.

• Episcia dianthus ranks second in popularity. The species has two types of shoots: the first is shortened, densely covered with leaves, the second is a long thin tendril on which daughter rosettes are formed. Dianthus episcia has medium-sized dark green leaves (up to 3 cm in length and 2 cm in width) with a burgundy vein. The white, single flowers are fringed, giving them a carnation-like appearance. Flowers appear all summer until early September.

• Episcia repens branched shoots and oval leaves with pronounced dense pubescence. Leaf length - 10 cm, width - 5.An interesting feature of the leaf blades is their wrinkling on the upper side and a reddish tint on the inside. In the leaf axils there are single flowers on red stalks. Flowering - from June to September.

• Forest beauty variety - the owner of smooth foliage, completely covered with a silvery pattern. The flowers are deep red.

• Chocolate Soldier - this name hides a plant with brown-green leaves decorated with bluish veins. The variety is characterized by the most abundant flowering among episcias.

• Silver glow - a variety with a silvery leaf blade bordered by a green-brown stripe. Flowers are red-orange.

Rules of care: placement in the house

Indoor care is based on one rule: do not leave the epision unattended. This plant is ideal for those who are used to taking care of their green pets every day. Paying close attention to the flower will definitely pay off. The main thing is to follow the rule of three “don’ts”:

1. Do not turn the pot in different directions or rearrange it. From a change of location, the vine will lose the decorative density of its leaves.
2. Avoid sudden changes in temperature.
3. Do not expose the plant to drafts.

Episcia grows in diffuse lighting conditions. It reacts negatively to a lack of light, as well as to direct sunlight. The best place for a flowerpot with a plant is on an east or west window. On the south side, it is better to place the pot next to the window (on the side) or to shade the plant standing directly on the windowsill from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The north window is not suitable for placement.

The temperature in the room should be standard - from +22 to +24 degrees.If the temperature drops below +16, the flower may die; it also does not tolerate heat up to +34. If it is not possible to grow episcia in comfortable conditions, then the high temperature is compensated by abundant moisture.

Rules for watering, humidity and fertilizing

The frequency of watering in spring and summer is once every 2-3 days. It is necessary to ensure that the soil is sufficiently moist. If you overwater a plant, its roots will begin to rot. Lack of water will also have a bad effect on the flower. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely; each subsequent watering is carried out after the top layer has dried.

In winter, watering is reduced to 1-2 times a week. If in the warm season you need to moisturize immediately after the top layer of soil has dried, then in winter you need to wait 1-2 days. Water for irrigation is taken at room temperature. It's good if you let it sit for about two days. The liquid remaining in the pan must be poured out.

Watering is done carefully, strictly near the roots. Water should not get on the leaves: they are easily injured from humidity. Of course, for this reason, spraying episcia is prohibited.

Advice
Do not wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. Use only a dry brush to remove dust.

If the room is dry, then to moisten the plants, pour pebbles or expanded clay into a tray and pour water into it so that the bottom of the pot does not touch it.

Feed the flower once a week in spring and summer. In the fall, the application of fertilizers is suspended, and in the winter it is stopped. Any mineral fertilizer for flowering plants, taken in a concentration half as much as recommended on the pack, is suitable as a top dressing.The magazine pureis.techinfus.com/en/ advises that before applying fertilizer, make sure that the soil in the pot is not too dry, otherwise the root system will get burned.

Planting, replanting, bush formation

In order for the episcia root system to develop well, it requires light, breathable soil. A drainage layer of expanded clay and small stones up to 3 cm high must be placed in the growing container. Stores sell special soil for growing episcia; to make it yourself, you will need:

• leaf soil (1 part);
• garden fertile soil (1 part);
• baking powder - river sand (1 part);
• a little charcoal and sphagnum moss.

The flower is replanted every two years in early spring. The pot for growing is wide, with drainage holes, without pronounced sides, otherwise the episcia shoots will not be able to hang freely. Due to active growth, each new container should be larger than the previous one by an average of 5 cm.

How to transplant a vine:

1. Water the plant 30 minutes before the procedure.
2. Lightly tap the sides of the pot and carefully remove the flower, being careful not to damage the roots.
3. If you find dry and rotten roots, cut them with a knife or scissors 3 cm above the diseased area and treat the cut areas with sulfur.
4. Place a drainage layer in a new container and add fresh soil.
5. Place the plant there. Water thoroughly, and after half an hour, drain the water from the pan.
6. For a week after transplanting, keep the vine in partial shade.

Pruning is a mandatory procedure, as the episcia is actively growing. To form an even and beautiful crown, long shoots must be periodically shortened using disinfected scissors (hold them in boiling water for 10 minutes). Pruning is carried out after the buds have faded.It is advisable not to allow the shoots to fall 30 cm below the pot.

Advice
For lushness, collect daughter rosettes from the trimmings and plant them in the same pot. For beauty, a small support up to 15 cm high is installed in the center of the pot, and the shoots are tied to it.

Reproduction

Episcia propagation is carried out:

• seeds;
• stem cuttings;
• sockets.

Propagation by seeds has a bad effect on the varietal qualities of flowers. Seedlings planted in moist soil appear no earlier than after a month. Then the seedlings are transplanted into pots.

The easiest way: cut the stem cutting and plant it in a separate small pot with light soil. After picking, the pot is covered with a jar, creating greenhouse conditions, and waiting for rooting.

How to propagate by rosettes: without separating the tendril from the mother flower, the rosette is placed in a mixture of wet peat and sand. The temperature in the room is maintained at +25˚ C. When the roots appear, the rosette is separated from the main plant and planted in a pot.

Advice
Rosettes easily take root on their own, so it is better not to place a container with episcia above pots with other flowers.

Difficulties of growing, interesting facts

What happens if the rules for placement, watering and fertilizing are violated:

1. With too much light, episcia leaves can dry out, curl, and fade. New leaves will grow small and weak. Pay attention to the placement of the flower in the house. The recommended distance from the window is 2-3 meters.
2. If there is not enough sunlight, the episcia shoots begin to stretch.
3. Leaves often turn yellow from excess fertilizer.
4. Rotting of the root system is a consequence of excessive watering.
5. If you water a flower with cold water, brown spots appear on the leaves.
6. In rooms with stagnant air, the episcia is often covered with a gray coating.

Episcia pests and diseases:

• aphid;
• root nematode;
• mealybug.

Although pests rarely attack a flower, if they appear, treatment should be started immediately. The foliage is sprayed with insecticidal solutions and the soil is watered so that the liquid completely saturates it and comes out of the drainage holes. The plant is treated 2-3 times with a break of 7-10 days.

Interesting facts about the episcia flower:

1. People called it “chameleon flower” and “peacock flower”.
2. The plant does not tolerate tobacco smoke.
3. Sign of flower growers: episcia always reciprocates. If you love a plant and care for it, it will thank its owner one hundred percent of the time.
4. There is a belief that episcia radiates joy and makes family relationships harmonious.

Episcia is not a capricious person. Although she has a character, she always responds gratefully to competent care. Blooming episcia will perfectly decorate a room and give it an atmosphere of comfort.