Fittonia: types for indoor maintenance, care + errors

Fittonia is a grassy perennial from the Acanthus family, native to South America, there are four species. Three of them have creeping, creeping stems, and the fourth is erect. The name comes from the surname of the Englishwoman Fitton, who released the first biology textbook.

The flower grows in swampy areas, shady forests of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, where the climate is warm and humid. Flower shops offer hybrids obtained by selection, adapted to room conditions, the price varies from 100 to 500 rubles.

Description

Fittonia is a round-leaved flower with creeping, thin shoots up to 10 cm long. The leaves are green, olive with scarlet, red, yellow, pink, silver-blue veins resembling cobwebs, connected by a small petiole with a stem. Their unusual color scheme is the main decoration of Fittonia.

Blossoming produces spikelets once in the summer. Yellow small flowers do not attract attention, they are advised to break off. The plant is capricious, can grow in florariums, glass vessels. Photos of the flower look very impressive, they contain it as an ampelous, groundcover culture.

Types of fittonia for indoor cultivation

Vershaffelton Fittonia or white-veined - about 25 cm high with branching stems, creeping shoots, and large leaves.

There are varieties:

• Silver-veined - with a bright silver mesh, a smooth, oval surface of the sheet, up to 20 cm high, 10 cm long.
• Red - with streaks of pink, red, purple flowers.
• Josan - wavy, green leaves with a coral mesh and dark edging on the edges.
• Perseus - a light olive background and a pastel-colored cobweb.
• White Anna - white-skinned, a shade darker with a beautifully fringed strip.
• Skeleton - small matte velvety olive leaves, a dense mesh of burgundy shade.
• King Cross Mosaic is another variety, similar to sea foam or lace, the edging is green, it frames almost the entire white corrugated sheet.
• Pink Wayne - a saturated emerald shade with white and pink veins.
• Fortissimo - small oval leaves with bright fuchsia nets.
• Fittonia Mix - several varieties growing together, a decorative composition with many bright veins, different shades of leaves.
• Minima, dwarf - a species created for a bottle garden, florarium, it has miniature shoots with tiny leaves up to 2 cm. There are also varieties of Tiger, Red Angel.
• Giant, large - the difference is in straight shoots, 60 cm high. Leaves up to 16 cm long, up to 10 cm wide, petioles are short. The shiny plate of the sheet is painted dark green with pink hues. Rarely grown at home.
• Hypoesthes - Fittonia-like flower from the Acanthus family. When comparing, it is not difficult to notice the differences: its leaves are larger, soft to the touch, bright spots on its entire surface, the stem is erect.

Fittonia care at home

Fittonia needs special care.

It is important to regularly drain the water from the pan, make sure that it is not overdried and waterlogged.

Features of care depend on the season:

Features of landing and transplanting

Due to its rapid growth, the plant needs a spring transplant. The flower must first get used to the new environment for 2-3 days, then it needs to be transplanted.

For planting, it is better to use a shallow wide container with holes and neutral light soil. Experts advise buying ready-made mixtures for violets or geraniums.

You can make a substrate yourself. Composition - two parts of coniferous or sod land, one peat, sphagnum and coarse sand.

Step by Step Actions:

• Lay the drainage layer on 2/3: small expanded clay, brick chips, crushed stone, pieces of foam.
• Top with a special mixture for decorative and deciduous crops.
• Extract the plant, shake off without touching the roots.
• Transfer to a sanitized container. To do this, use a solution of manganese, vinegar essence, or chlorhexidine.
• Top up the remaining substrate.
• Pour, put in a bright warm place, after draining the water from the pan.

Older longer shoots in spring need to be cut or tied to 2/3, so that young ones grow. The plant must be an adult, more than three years old.

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Breeding

Cuttings - with three or five sheets, cut the stalk with a sharp tool, leave the scrap in a glass of water or aquagrunt until the roots are formed. Then put in a mini-greenhouse, with a temperature of + 25 ... +28 ° C, cover with a transparent film, glass, do not forget to open during the day, after rooting - transplant into a separate pot.

In this way, most indoor flowers are propagated - petunia, ficus, geranium, crossander.

Division - divide the bush into parts, each plant in a separate pot, trying not to damage the fragile roots.

For propagation by tap, after breaking off the leaves, sprinkle long stems with moist soil. A few weeks later, with the advent of the roots, they should be separated and planted in prepared pots.

Propagation by seeds is not so popular, it can only be done if there is a very high-quality seed. In spring, it should be sown in pre-treated, moist soil, covered with foil and put in a lit place with a temperature of +25 ° C. After the appearance of the shoots, remove the film, dive after the appearance of 3-5 leaves.

Ways to keep fittonia

There are several ways to grow Fittonia: flower pot, florarium, aquarium.

Pot

The capacity suitable for growth is low, up to 7 cm, lay drainage and soil at the bottom. It is necessary to create lighting, watering, humidity. The disadvantage of this method is that you have to constantly monitor the level of humidity and temperature.

Florarium

For this method, it is preferable to use aqua soil or hydrogel. Instead of a pot - a bottle, an aquarium, a glass. Coconut fiber and expanded clay - for the soil, the plant should not come into contact with the walls.

Pros:

• No need to monitor humidity.
• It is enough to water once a month.
• You can place other flowers there for contrast. But transplanting and pruning should be done more often.

Aquarium

It requires special capacity, equipment to maintain optimal conditions. Cons: slow growth, the risk of root decay.

Diseases and Pests

With poor care, the flower is prone to pests and diseases.

Mistakes in Fittonia Care

Masters of Fittonia often make mistakes.

Fittonia - sleeping pills at home

In the Chinese teaching of Feng Shui, Fittonia is a symbol of the element of metal, helps to achieve the goal and get rid of indecision and depression, removes negativity, improves mood.

The plant benefits: it cleans the air of germs, saturates with moisture, it can be kept in the bedroom for a relaxing holiday. The flower calms, helps relaxation, fast falling asleep.

According to signs Fittonia attracts money. People are convinced of this because of the appearance of leaves resembling coins. The plant does not contain poisonous juice and is safe for home.

Watch the video: Fittonia Care Tips! (April 2024).