Simple rules for the care of difficult fittonia-Care

Gentle indoor miracle Fittonia is a plant with character. This is manifested primarily in the watering requirements. In general, Fittonia is not the easiest plant to care for. But, by and large, so that there are no problems with him, it is enough to regularly satisfy his tropical requirements. Mistakes with fittonias are easy to avoid if you follow simple rules of care. Accuracy in everything and careful observation of the plant is the main secret of success. But not the only one.

Simple rules for caring for difficult fittonias
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Description of the plant

Representatives of the Acanthus family Fittonia are herbaceous ground covers native to the tropics. They are most widely represented in the flora of Peru. Low-growing, creeping Fittonias grow as much as the volume and shape of the container allows them – from pillows in small pots to whole meadows in winter gardens and cascades in ampels.

The short, thin stems are not visible under the mass of leaves. Light or dark, with shades ranging from olive, marsh to emerald and purple, the leaves are adorned with a dense network of light patterns that emphasize each vein. They can be white, cream, pink, or silver.

Fittonia is often called the most beautiful variegated indoor plant. And she has definitely become a real favorite of designers in recent years, because a place for Fittonia can be found even in the smallest offices. But still, the secret of Fittonia’s popularity is completely different.

This plant is so inimitable in the texture of the leaves that even a difficult character is forgiven for it. Previously, this plant was considered a crop exclusively for collectors. Breeding slightly (albeit not completely) changed the nature of fittonia to a more tolerant one, but still they did not become easy to grow.

In order to prevent big mistakes in the cultivation of fittonias, not to look sadly, as with seemingly careful care, the bushes wither, shed their leaves and quickly lose their luxurious appearance, it is enough to always and everywhere remember where these plants came from in the pot culture. After all, it is precisely the tropical origin that is the main tip for caring for Fittonia.

In the care and selection of conditions for Fittonia, there are simple rules that will avoid any problems with this charming plant.

Air humidity is the key

In the recent past, Fittonia most often, after purchase, quickly died at home and was found only in greenhouses under special conditions. Today new varieties are more hardy. But the main reason for plant loss has not changed. Their need for a literal tropical environment can be met in a home environment as well.

There are two strategies in creating the ideal microclimate for Fittonia:

  1. Keeping in decorative vessels – vases, florariums, mini-showcases or growing in flower showcases in company with other moisture-loving species.
  2. Maintaining the moisture required for fittonia using the most simple methods.

The easiest way to create an ideal environment with the second option is to spray frequently. Fittonia loves them, and if there is time to make her a “wet fog” several times a day, she will gratefully respond to this with growth and freshness of colors.

But there are other options – install a pallet of damp materials, bowls of water around the plant, and even use different options for top drainage and double containers.

One of the strategies for creating the ideal microclimate for Fittonia is keeping in decorative vesselsOne of the strategies for creating the ideal microclimate for Fittonia is to keep it in decorative vessels. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com poppycwilson

Read also our article Choosing plants for the florarium.

Lighting softness

For Fittonias, an excess of light is much more dangerous than a lack of it. It is better to grow Fittonia in diffused lighting, choosing a soft, diffused, not creating a risk of burns in summer. Too bright sun, especially at noon and in the heat, can destroy Fittonia, even with the most careful care.

Choosing east or west orientations, shading, diffusing lighting at noon, positioning in the outer rows of windowsills or next to a window – use Fittonia’s exclusive talent for tolerating some shading. Do not forget that Fittonias can be grown in completely artificial lighting, even in the depths of the interior.

Read also our article Capricious Fittonia: growing at home.

Refusal of air baths and fresh air

Fittonia suffers from hot summers and will be more comfortable in the same place as people – in non-overheating rooms. This plant loves stable temperatures up to 25 degrees Celsius.

A dislike for heat, if you do not want to initially endanger the bushes, should not be confused with a love of coolness. Fittonia, even in winter, is sensitive to any temperature drop below 20 degrees Celsius. And in summer its minimum is about 22 degrees.

Many indoor plants cannot maintain their decorative effect without fresh air and require very frequent ventilation. But Fittonia cannot stand any drastic changes. This plant should never be taken out onto balconies, terraces or gardens, even when temperatures rise to the heat of summer. And at home with Fittonias you will have to be careful.

They are taken out of the rooms during airing, because they are not just afraid, but cannot stand drafts and even small temperature changes. For fittonia in the interior, you need to simulate the most protected environment, remembering that it needs stability and is extremely vulnerable to stress.

Fittonias are taken out of the rooms during airing.Fittonias are taken out of the rooms during airing. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Kenny Song

No “under-” and “over-” when you water and feed

Fittonias require constant, stable and medium-high substrate moisture. And trying to satisfy their moisture-loving nature, they often make a key mistake – they over-water the plant, without checking how the lower part of the soil behaves in pots.

The correct choice of soil allows you to saturate the substrate with water evenly. But the water after watering must be drained as soon as it is released, without creating the slightest risk of its stagnation at the roots.

For fittonia, the soil is not allowed to dry out from above during the period of active growth, maintaining light stable moisture even on the surface with frequent and abundant watering. And only in winter the top layer is slightly dried.

They often try to enhance the patterns on the leaves of Fittonia with the help of dressings, but an excess of fertilizer for this crumbs is destructive. Fittonia needs to be fed carefully, during the period of active growth, from March to September, with low concentration fertilizers.

They are introduced in liquid form along with water for irrigation, every 2 weeks. For fittonias, it is better to use not fertilizer for decorative deciduous plants, but ordinary complex fertilizers.

Annual pot change after cutting

Fittonias are transplanted frequently – annually, even when grown in flower display cases. Regular soil replacement is carried out in early spring, after shortening the longest shoots and partially pruning old branches for rejuvenation.

The use of a large drainage up to 5 cm high and the careful handling of a plant with an undisturbed earthen clod, from which the free soil was removed at the edges – these are all the tricks that guarantee the health of fittonia. You can always add a small amount of wood ash to the soil for planting. After transplanting, the Fittonia is shaded, increasing the humidity and temperature to 22-25 degrees for adaptation.

It will not work to grow this plant in any container. Success can only be achieved by choosing shallow containers and bowls that give the ability to grow in breadth. If Fittonia is planted in classic deep pots, more than half of them need to be filled with drainage.

Fittonias are grown in very light, loose, not prone to compaction, even in moist soil. And additives in the form of coarse coconut fiber, sphagnum, perlite or vermiculite completely reduce the risk of waterlogging to a minimum.

Fittonias are transplanted frequently - annually, even when grown in flower display casesFittonias are transplanted frequently – annually, even when grown in flower display cases. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Kenny Song

How to save Fittonia?

If you nevertheless made mistakes in growing Fittonia crumbs, you should not despair. The plant is very easy to propagate and rejuvenate. Bushes can be restored using apical cuttings or by dividing adult bushes with the removal of damaged parts.

To accelerate rooting, only high humidity under the hood and a temperature of about 22-25 degrees are needed. Fittonias can also be grown from seeds by sowing them superficially and providing diffuse lighting and temperatures similar to those for rooting cuttings.

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Anna Evans

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