Episcia

The genus Episcia includes about 40 species of perennial herbaceous tender plants with many leafless lateral shoots, the so-called whiskers. Epistia prefer shade, high humidity, and high ambient temperatures. They are used as houseplants, mainly because of their decorative leaves and, less often, single small flowers that appear in summer. They are grown as ampelny plants. The shoots extend up to 50 cm in length. Episcia copper-red (Episcia cupreata) is a creeping species with oval pubescent leaves up to 12 cm long and 8 cm wide, copper-green in color, with silver or light green specks along the veins. Especially clearly visible is the pattern of the variety 'Brilliant' (or 'Variegata'). In other hybrid forms and varieties, the leaves are brownish-copper-green or with a dark brown edge. The flowers are red or yellow, with a throat fringed with glossy hairs. The Neptune variety has red flowers, while the Tropical Topaz variety has yellow ones. Episcia carniflora (E. dianthiflora) is a species with small rounded velvety blue-green leaves with red veins. The flowers are white, with an openwork fringed edge of the petals, similar to carnation flowers. Episcia lilacina has bronze-green rough leaves up to 10 cm long. The flowers are white, with a purple border and a light yellow core.

The genus Episcia includes about 40 species of perennial herbaceous tender plants with many leafless lateral shoots, the so-called whiskers. Epistia prefer shade, high humidity, and high ambient temperatures. They are used as houseplants, mainly because of their decorative leaves and, less often, single small flowers that appear in summer. They are grown as ampelny plants. The shoots extend up to 50 cm in length.

Episcia copper-red (Episcia cupreata) is a creeping species with oval pubescent leaves up to 12 cm long and 8 cm wide, copper-green in color, with silver or light green specks along the veins. Especially clearly visible is the pattern of the variety 'Brilliant' (or 'Variegata'). In other hybrid forms and varieties, the leaves are brownish-copper-green or with a dark brown edge. The flowers are red or yellow, with a throat fringed with glossy hairs. The Neptune variety has red flowers, while the Tropical Topaz variety has yellow ones.

Episcia carniflora (E. dianthiflora) is a species with small rounded velvety blue-green leaves with red veins. The flowers are white, with an openwork fringed edge of the petals, similar to carnation flowers.

Episcia lilacina has bronze-green rough leaves up to 10 cm long. The flowers are white, with a purple border and a light yellow core.

Cultivation

Episcium is grown at home as an indoor ampel culture, used in greenhouses or winter gardens. And only in mild, warm climates can it be exposed to the air in the summer, but in the fall it is always cleaned in the house. Apply soil consisting of leafy earth, peat and sand (1:1:1). When planting, it is recommended to apply organic fertilizers (200-300 g of manure per bucket of soil) or full mineral (10-15 g). In spring and summer, once every 15-20 days, a complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in the amount of 10 g per bucket.

Location

It requires a well-lit place without bright sun. Episcia does not tolerate direct sunlight, this can lead to discoloration, twisting and drying of the foliage.

Temperature

It is important that the temperature does not fall below 16 °C. The plant tolerates temperatures even above 34 °C, as long as it provides high humidity. The optimal temperature is 22-24 °C.

Watering

In spring and summer, they are watered regularly, but waterlogging of the soil should be avoided. In winter, watering is reduced. Plants are watered with water at room temperature.

Transplant

Transplanted in the spring, using the same soil that was recommended for cultivation, and more spacious compared to the previous pots (maximum diameter of 18-20 cm). After transplanting, the episcium is kept in the shade at high humidity until the beginning of the growing season.

Care

Remove withered flowers and yellowed leaves. To maintain the aesthetic appearance, spray the leaves with water. Do not use lustrating solution!

Reproduction

Propagated in the spring by young rosettes, much less often by seeds. Seeds are sown in boxes covered with plastic film (to maintain high humidity and temperature) and filled with fine drained soil. As soon as the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted into separate pots. Hybrid forms cannot be propagated by seed, because they lose their properties. In this case, in spring or summer, use rosettes on whiskers, which easily take root in a mixture of peat and sand at a temperature of 24 °C. After that, they are separated from the mother plant.

Diseases

There are no special problems with epistion. To avoid rotting or spotting of the leaves, it is enough to water properly, do not put the plants under direct sunlight, which causes burns and discharge of flowers and leaves, and do not keep the plants at too low a temperature. Green apple aphids provoke drying out, they get rid of it with the help of anti-aphid drugs.

Acquisition

The best time to shop is in spring. Choose well-formed, compact plants that don't have yellowed or diseased foliage.