The genus Fittonia belongs to the Akantov family and is a herbaceous perennial plants, which are predominantly mountainous Peru. The genus is not numerous and includes, according to different data, about ten species, of which less than half are used as ornamental plants.
These plants do not have outstanding height, their stems are usually spread and covered with fluff, yellow flowers form spikelet inflorescences, foliage has a distinctive feature in the form of bright veins.
Types and varieties of fittonia
A tropical plant with a fluffy and reddish stem which grows up to 50 cm. Leaves are about 15 cm long, oblong, glossy, with veins of a red tone.
Fittonia Verschaffelt a low plant with a creeping shoot covered with fluff. Thanks to the creeping form, it easily reproduces independently by layering. The foliage is green with red veins. Has a variety of Perseus.
This species is distinguished by straight shoots and whitish veins on the foliage. Some scholars classify this fittonia as a verchafell shape.
Many varieties have been bred from these three species, including:
- Josan - having a beautiful light green stripe on the edges of the foliage;
- White Anna - variety with white veins and a light green stripe at the edge of the leaf;
- Skeleton - foliage is light green, covered with pink veins;
- White - similar to the White Anna variety, but does not have a light stripe on the edge of the leaf, and the veins themselves are thicker in Belaya;
- Mix or gemeng - these are just planted in one container different varieties plants.
Fittonia home care
Fittonia is grown as a houseplant and as it is native to tropical regions, it requires special care.
This culture needs bright diffused light, because direct sunlight can cause burns, and a lack of lighting has a bad effect on the quality of foliage coloring. V winter period needs a continuation of the light for that is achieved with the help of lamps.
The temperature should be warm all year round - about 25 degrees in summer and at least 20 degrees in winter. It should not be allowed that the temperature changes sharply, as well as that the flower stands in a draft. Fittonia is not one of those plants that will benefit from summer outdoors - this crop can only be grown in the room.
Hypoestes is also a member of the Acanthus family and has a decorative foliage color. Grown at home care and needs to comply with the rules of maintenance. You will find recommendations for cultivation in this article.
Watering fittonia
In watering, the main thing is not to allow the soil in the pot to dry out completely, but also stagnation should not be allowed, otherwise the soil will acidify. That is, in the summer, watering should be carried out as soon as the upper ball of the soil dries up, and in the winter the plant is watered a couple of days after drying. For irrigation, you can use only soft, settled water, which will be slightly higher than room temperature.
it tropical plant needs high humidity, which should be about 75%. To comply with this point of care, it is necessary to carry out daily spraying twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. You can also place a container with a flower in a tray with damp pebbles. It is better not to touch or wipe the foliage, as is done with some plants.
Fertilizer for fittonia
Fertilizers are needed by Fittonia all year round, but they must be diluted twice as much as indicated in the instructions. A complex mineral dressing should be introduced, in the summer - once every two weeks, in the winter - once a month.
Pruning Fittonia
To improve branching, this culture must be pinched. With growing up, the bottom of the shoots gradually loses its foliage, therefore, with the arrival of spring, the tops of the shoots are cut off. The cut parts of the stem can be used as cuttings.
Fittonia transplant at home
Every year in the middle of spring, the flower must be transplanted. Along with this, you can also carry out the anti-aging pruning, which has just been mentioned. A growing container should be selected wide, but with a shallow depth. A drainage layer is immediately laid, and then soil, which can be made from coniferous soil, sand, peat and sod land in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 2. Also, the mixture can be made from coconut soil, garden soil, pine bark and sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 0.5.
The reaction should be slightly acidic, alkaline is unacceptable, neutral is also bad for the health of the flower. As a container for growing, you can take an aquarium, bottle or other glass container.
Fittonia can be successfully grown in the florarium, although only low views... In this case, care is greatly facilitated, since there is no need for spraying, because there will be high humidity in the florarium anyway. When growing a plant in this way, you will have to prune and replant it more often, because in such conditions, development occurs much faster.
Fittonia propagation by cuttings
As already mentioned, during pruning, you can collect cuttings, which should have at least 3 leaves, and their length should not be more than 7 cm.The material is rooted in the sand, covered with a container that can create a greenhouse effect, the air temperature should not be lower 25 ° C.
From time to time, the container must be removed for airing and spraying the cutting. After about a month, the jar can be removed, and later, when the plants get stronger, they are transplanted into a substrate for adult plants.
Reproduction of fittonia by dividing the bush
During transplantation, a large bush of several plants can be carefully divided and planted in separate pots. In this case, you need to try not to damage the roots.
This is not exactly reproduction, because there are actually as many bushes as there were, but now they occupy separate containers and can grow in different parts your house.
Fittonia reproduction by layering
Fittonia is easily propagated by layering. You just need to sprinkle the shoot with earth a little and after a while the roots will begin to cut through.
When they grow slightly, the cut can be detached from the parent and transplanted.
Fittonia diseases
Since this exotic plant, then various problems may arise with it.
With excessive watering, especially in winter, it may rot , with which the plant withers and dies ... You can try to ration watering, but if the rot is too widespread, then perhaps nothing can be done about it. Also, death can occur due to cold temperatures, drafts or a sharp change in temperature.
The lower foliage on the shoots falls off as a result of aging. But if all the leaves fall , then this indicates violations of the rules of care, and most often this happens with too much watering or low temperatures and drafts.
Yellow foliage indicates excess moisture.
With a lack of air humidity leaves begin to wrinkle and dry it also happens due to placement under the scorching sun.
There is leaves turn brown , then this is most likely due to a lack or excess of fertilizers.
Fittonia pests
Also, this crop can be attacked by pests such as spider mite , scabbard and mealybug .
Infecting the plant, the spider mite feeds on its juices, as a result of which leaves begin to dry out and curl , he also leaves behind thin cobwebs. If a pest is found, you can wash the leaves with soapy water, but when doing this, you should remember that this procedure can have a bad effect on the foliage. Another way is to use acaricides.
When the scale insects appear on the leaves, small brown growths ... It is very difficult to remove scale insects, and if the plant has a delicate aerial part, then it is better to use insecticides, for example, Actellik.
Mealybugs leave behind whitish bloom and sticky mass on the shoots ... If there are few pests, then they can be dealt with easily by washing the plant with a solution of soap or calendula. If the defeat has spread, then here you can no longer do without chemicals- Aktara, Mospilana, Fitoverma or the like.
Plant Mix is a novelty on the flower market, as any living organism needs care and attention. Comfortable conditions and knowledge of the little tricks of floriculture will allow you to get a copy that will be the pride of the owners and great decoration at home.
Let's take a look at the basics of how to care for an unusual pet.
Humidity and watering
Summer
General recommendations for watering impossible to give as the mix can be made up of different plants. It should be noted that almost all of them are usually easy to maintain and excess moisture for them is much more harmful than insufficient watering. Water after the topsoil dries.
Use clean, settled water for irrigation.
Moisture-loving specimens must be additionally sprayed from a spray bottle. In addition to additional moisture, this helps to cleanse flowers and get rid of dust.
Produce watering separated water and be sure to find out what specific plants your home flower bed consists of. This will help you not to be mistaken in creating optimal conditions for flowers.
In winter
Watering is reduced in winter. This happens for two reasons:
Temperature and lighting
Almost any option will feel good if no direct sunlight and at the same time diffused sunlight is enough for the colors. Flowers for a set are usually selected so that they develop well in the temperature range from +18 to + 23 ° С in summer, and + 15 ° С and higher in winter.
Like any indoor flowers, the components of the set do not like direct sunlight. Soil and fertilizers
Since this is a collection of similar varieties or the same species, it is not difficult to choose a potting mix and fertilizer for it. You just need to find out which fertilizers and potting mix will suit your flowers.
Usually, top dressing is applied in the spring and summer, 2 times a month. You can alternate complexes of organic and mineral dressings. No fertilization is required in winter.
Diseases and pests
This also depends on the composition of the garden on the windowsill. For example, aphids attack very often, but if your mix consists of several varieties of dwarf palms, then the aphids will not be to your taste. Others are often affected by:
- Aphid... Small immobile insects are clearly visible. It is necessary to isolate the pet and carefully examine it. If the aphid has not yet managed to capture the flower and only a few leaves are affected, then they must be torn off and burned or carefully packaged and discarded.
The flower itself can be treated with a solution of laundry or tar soap. Dissolve 30 or 10 g of soap in a liter of water and spray your pet. A suitable insecticide can also be used for this purpose.
Aphids attack any plants with whole colonies Scabbard is dangerous to many garden and indoor plants Thrips - easily noticeable pests on the leaf Mites - microscopic hard-to-see pests Black rot - a deadly disease of flowers
- Shield... Small winged insects that feed on leaf sap. An insecticide can be used for treatment.
- Thrips... It is treated with insecticides.
- Spider mite... A sticky cobweb appears on the stem, the leaves dry and curl up. The affected areas must be treated with a cotton pad moistened with an alcohol solution, and then rinsed with water.
- Black rot... Usually occurs with over-watering. Black spots appear on the leaves, the stem, leaves and roots begin to rot and the plant dies. If a disease is detected, it is necessary to treat with a fungicide and reduce watering.
Most often, compositions are made with smooth and fairly hard leaves, it is these that are most resistant to diseases and pests.
Insecticide treatment is carried out in protective gloves outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
Transplant step by step
Mixes are usually made from young plants that grow slowly. After you have found out the species composition of your mix and brought it from the store, you need give some time so that the flowers get used to the new conditions.
When transplanting, do not forget to choose the right flowerpots so that the composition is not disturbed. Since the plants in the mix are planted in the same pots, when transplanting, you should pay attention to this and pick up the pots accordingly. This will keep the set decorative.
The soil is selected individually for each Plant Mix. If your kit consists of succulents, then the soil should be appropriate.
Usually it contains plants for which you need a similar soil composition... Therefore, having learned what kind of soil is needed for one flower from the set, you can easily understand what the rest will need.
When replanting, it is better to use ordinary crushed stone as a drainage layer, it does not interact with the soil and does not acidify the soil. Shards of ceramics are great, but of course expanded clay can also be used.
A drainage layer is poured onto the bottom of the pot, then a layer suitable soil the plant is carefully placed in a new pot, trying not to damage the roots, the soil is poured and watered.
In fairness, it should be noted that in Europe, where the new design solution came from, Plant Mixes are usually not transplanted, but experienced flower growers know very well that without a transplant, a purchased plant will delight you for a very short time.
What are the useful properties
Initially, Plant Mixes were designed to fit comfortably on a desk in an office, on a small windowsill in an office, or on a shelf by a window. The plants included in the kit perfectly clean the air, saturate it with oxygen and absorb harmful radiation from computers and other devices.
They do not require complex maintenance, while not only perfectly decorating any room, but also let you breathe much freer, protecting from exhaust gases, plastic fumes when plastic windows are heated in the sun and similar troubles.
How a flower blooms
Plant Mixes are usually made from plants that do not bloom. It often consists of succulents, which are among the most undemanding plants.
It may include, for example, several varieties of cacti and aloe, agave and 3-4 types of fat women. They are similar in terms of conditions of detention and do not cause much trouble.
In indoor conditions, they all bloom very rarely. For example, aloe has cylindrical flowers on cone-shaped inflorescences... Depending on the variety, they can be orange, reddish or yellow-pink.
Aloe and succulents do not require special efforts for care, therefore they often fall into the same sets Cactus usually bloom after 3-4 years of age. To achieve flowering, it is necessary to provide the cactus with a winter dormant period. Existence within the limits of no higher than + 10-12 ° С and watering no more than once a month.
Agave blooms at the age of 10-30 years, after flowering, the plant, having given all its strength to this, as a rule, dies. Agave usually blooms only in its natural habitat and then the inflorescences reach 1-2 meters in height and consist of small nondescript flowers.
The inflorescence itself looks very beautiful.
Fat woman in order to ensure her flowering, the flower also needs a dormant period. It is necessary to completely stop watering for at least a month. In this case, the leaves of the bastard lose moisture and may even wrinkle.
After the formation of flower buds and the resumption of watering, the state of the flower is restored.
Reproduction
The easiest way to propagate all succulents in Plant Mix is by cuttings. The stalk can be placed directly into the soil. He takes root quickly and it does not need to be covered with foil. The main thing is to let the cut of the selected cut dry dry.
Cuttings - recognized reliable method flower propagation Similarly, these plants reproduce by the leaf.
What is Plant Mix
Plant Mix (it may be called Plantin by mistake) is a relatively new direction in design decoration interiors with indoor flowers. It is a combination of several plants similar in terms of conditions of maintenance and appearance into one pictorial composition.
These are usually small plants that do not bloom t. They are all planted in the same pots for raising decorative properties compositions.
Sometimes plants of the same species are planted in one pot. Then several varieties are combined. They may have different colour leaves or drawing on leaf plates, thanks to this, an amazing mix is created that can steal the most sophisticated interior.
Based on the fact that we are talking about a set of colors, it is difficult to choose one specific home care instruction. Similar names
Fittonia Mix
Fittonia is a resident South America... The plant belongs to the acanthus family and is represented by all 10 kinds... The plants are distinguished by beautiful unusual leaves, which, depending on the species, can be green, white, red or lilac.
This allows planting 5-6 species in one flower pot, get a bright and unique interior decoration. It is this, and not a separate plant, that is called Fittonia mix.
As for the flower itself, we have already opened it.
Sets consisting of several different plants with similar conditions of keeping and creating a unique composition. Small flower pots diameter usually about 10 cm, are placed on a special pallet or in decorative box and represent a miniature garden.
The set can include up to 25 pots.
Fittonia Mix
Palm dracaena mix
Dracaena is often confused with a palm tree, but this is a completely different plant. Dracaena varieties that combine decorative features several of its types, began to appear in garden and flower shops with an unusual name, dracaena mix.
Dracaena care mix with nothing no different from leaving behind the usual dracaena.
Dracaena mix
This is the correct name for the dracaena mentioned above. It should be remembered that it is a big mistake to consider dracaena a palm tree. Optimal conditions the contents of the palm tree are absolutely not suitable for dracaena. If this is not taken into account, you can kill a plant.
Although Plant Mixes appeared in our flower shops relatively recently, they have already gained popularity. This is a great gift for a novice florist.
Dracaena Mix The abundance of plants in its composition allows you to get acquainted with different kinds, get at once a large collection of plants, which, despite the variety, are similar in care. At first it is very convenient allows perfectly decorate the interior and do not be disappointed in the chosen hobby.
Fittonia is a delicate and beautiful plant with a bright and exotic color of leaves. But like all beauties, it has a complex character - it is not easy to grow it at home. Nevertheless, the plant is popular. Having learned all the intricacies of caring for Fittonia, even a novice florist will be able to make friends with this beautiful plant.
Origin and description of fittonia
Fittonia belongs to herbaceous perennials from the genus Acanthus. It is small in diversity, the genus has only 4 species of decorative deciduous plants, three of which have creeping, creeping shoots, and one is erect.
Fittonia got its name in honor of the sisters Sarah Mary and Elizabeth Fitton, thanks to whom the first classic textbook on biology appeared in the 19th century.
Fittonia is a small plant with colorful leaves
Fittonia is a small plant with creeping and thin, easily rooted shoots. Stems up to 10 cm long, branching and densely pubescent. Young shoots are covered with silvery hairs, old ones are greenish.
The leaf blade has an oval-elliptical shape, reaches a length of 6-10 cm, is connected to the stem with a small petiole. The leaves are colored green or olive and covered with an elegant mesh of bright scarlet, red, yellow or silver white... It is the leaves, so unusually colored, that are the main decoration of the Fittonia.
The plant blooms very inconspicuously. The flowers are small, yellow. The inflorescence is an ear.
Fittonia flower is very inconspicuous
Fittonia is native to South America. It is most widespread in Peru. In nature, it prefers to grow under the canopy of a forest, in warm places with high air humidity.
Fittonia loves wet and shaded places.
Growing Fittonia at home is not easy. To make the plant feel comfortable in indoor conditions, you will have to be patient and surround Fittonia with care. An ideal place would be a florarium or bottle garden where it is easy to maintain favorable conditions for the plant. V recent times varieties appeared that could tolerate indoor conditions.
Fittonia is not easy to grow at home, but the result is worth it
Popular species and varieties
As already mentioned, Fittonia has only 4 types. They are little adapted to the conditions of home floriculture, but they feel great in paludariums or florariums. The most common are:
- Giant. Shoots are erect, sometimes inclined, lignified. Reaches a height of 60 cm. Leaves with a slight sheen, dark green color and carmine-red mesh. 16 cm long and 10 cm wide. The shape is oval. Found in humid Peruvian forests.
- Vershaffelt. Low-growing, highly branching plant. The stems are pubescent, located close to the soil surface and take root easily. Leaves are dark green or olive color, matte, veins are red. Leaf shape is oval or ovoid, with a rounded base. Length - 5-10 cm, width - up to 5.5 cm. Grows in Bolivia, Peru and Colombia.
Varieties that are more adapted to home conditions:
- Skeleton. A very sophisticated look. Creeping stems. The leaves are small and oval, dull and slightly velvety, 2-3 cm long. The color of the leaves is olive, with a bright red mesh. The colors are so vibrant and saturated that they give the illusion of a glow.
- White Anna. Delicate plant with leaves of a dark green color, covered with silvery-white, very thin veins. The edges of the leaves have a dark edging.
- Jossan. The leaves of this variety are dark green with a pink mesh. The edges have a dark edging, slightly wavy.
- Red. The leaves are covered with a red net, which, as it were, spreads over the entire leaf plate, dominating in color.
- Perseus. On the light olive background of the leaf, there are dark pink veins.
- White. The plant is white-green. Often confused with Anna White. Distinctive features is the absence of edging along the edge of the sheet and the large thickness of the veins.
- Silver-veined. Shoots rooted easily. They reach 20 cm in height and 40 cm in diameter. The leaves are dark green, with a dense net of bright silvery-white color and a matte surface. The shape is oval. Up to 10 cm long.
Variety of fittonia colors in the photo
Seasonal care - table
| Season | Lighting | Humidity | Temperature |
| Spring | Fittonia loves partial shade. Direct sunlight is harmful. Both excess and lack of light leads to the loss of decorative leaves. | Air humidity is high, up to 90%, throughout the year. Spray the leaves at least once a day, on hot days - 3 times a day. To increase the humidity, you can put the pot on a pallet with damp expanded clay or moss. Place a container of water or an indoor fountain next to the flower. | Feels comfortable at a temperature of +20 ... + 25 ° C. When the temperature rises, it needs additional spraying. |
| Summer | |||
| Autumn | Winter temperature should not fall below +18 ° С. Fittonia does not tolerate temperature fluctuations. | ||
| Winter | Needs additional illumination with lamps for 2-4 hours a day. |
Fittonia is very fond of high humidity, therefore ideal place for its cultivation will be a bottle garden or florarium
Fittonia location
Don't put the plant on the southern windowsill! If the windows face south, then the plant is best shaded with a curtain. Fittonia feels comfortable near the western and eastern windows. It can grow on the northern windowsill, but subject to increased daylight hours with the help of additional lighting.
TO artificial lighting fittonia is more favorable than natural.
The room where the fittonia is located must be well ventilated. But do not leave the plant in a draft, because it can cause illness and even death of the flower. Also, do not place the Fittonia near an air conditioner or heating appliances.
In summer, even if the weather is good, do not take the flower out into the open air. In winter, if the plant is located on a window, a thin foam support or felt napkin should be placed under it to protect the roots from hypothermia.
Fittonia needs bright but diffused light.
Features of planting and transplanting
When preparing for the planting procedure, it is worth considering the fact that the root system of Fittonia is very delicate, superficial. And the plant itself is a ground cover. Therefore, a pot for planting should be chosen shallow - 7 cm in height, but wide - 20 cm in diameter, with drainage holes.
The substrate for planting should be light and loose, well permeable to air and water. In terms of acidity, it is neutral. You can buy ready-made mixtures for violets or geraniums. If you decide to prepare the soil mixture yourself, then you will need:
- 2 parts of coniferous or sod land.
- 1 part peat.
- 1 part coarse sand.
Step by step process
- A drainage layer is poured into the selected pot. It can be small expanded clay, brick chips or pieces of styrofoam.
- Add soil mixture on top.
- The plant is removed from the pot, being careful not to injure the roots. Gently shake off excess soil.
- Fittonia is transferred into a new pot, the remaining soil is poured on the sides.
- Water the plant abundantly.
- Drain the water from the pan.
- Place the pot in a warm and bright place (but not in direct sunlight).
Fittonia is transplanted annually in the spring - in March or April.
For planting fittonia, choose a low but wide pot.
Allow a store-bought plant to acclimate for a few days, and then replant.
Fittonia transplant - video
Plant care
Pruning and pinching
As Fittonia grows, it can lose its decorative effect - the lower part of the plant is gradually bare. For better branching, pruning or pinching should be done. These procedures will stimulate the formation of new shoots and return lush splendor to the flower. Try to cut the longest shoots first, removing about 2/3 of their length. It is not recommended to pinch all the shoots at once, otherwise the plant simply will not have enough strength to form new ones.
This procedure is usually carried out for Fittonia older than three years, when the leaves begin to die off. It is best to rejuvenate Fittonia in the spring - before or after transplantation.
Fittonia needs pruning and pinching, these procedures rejuvenate the plant
Watering
Fittonia is a lover of wet places, therefore it needs systematic watering from spring to late autumn. During this period, the soil in the pot should only dry out a little before the next watering. If the substrate is overdried, Fittonia will lose its leaves. And if you allow overflow and stagnation of water, root rot will begin. For watering, use only warm, settled or boiled water.
The sump water should always be drained after watering.
In winter, watering is slightly reduced, allowing the earth to dry slightly, but not dry out.
The ability of Fittonia to evaporate water with leaf blades leads to a rapid drying out of the soil. Monitor his condition carefully. Maintaining the correct moisture level is the key to a healthy and beautiful plant.
Fittonia is very demanding on watering
Top dressing
During the growing season, Fittonia needs to be fertilized 2 times a month with complex mineral fertilizers for decorative deciduous plants. Their concentration should be halved from that indicated on the package, since Fittonia is extremely sensitive to an excess of trace elements in the soil.
In winter, the frequency of fertilizing is reduced to 1 time per 1.5 months.
Dormant period
Fittonia does not have a pronounced rest period. In winter, due to the short daylight hours, the shoots of the plant stretch out, and the leaves lose their bright color. To avoid this, you need to stop the growth of Fittonia. To provide the plant with a dormant period, you need to reduce the number of watering and fertilizing.
Care errors and their elimination - table
| Error | Cause | Elimination |
| Leaves wrinkle, dry, have an unhealthy appearance. |
|
|
| The leaves turn yellow and wither. | Excessive watering. |
|
| Fittonia died for no apparent reason. | Waterlogging of the substrate at low room temperatures. | Should be observed temperature regime and the frequency of watering. |
| The tips of the leaves turn brown. |
| Feed the plant according to all the rules. |
| Fittonia dropped all the leaves. | Overdried soil substrate. | Water the plant according to the rules. |
| Leaves fall from the root part of the stem. | Natural occurrence in mature plants. | Prune, rejuvenate the plant. |
| Internodes are drawn out, the leaves become small. | Lack of light. |
|
Diseases and pests of fittonia, control measures and prevention - table
| Diseases and pests | Symptoms | Control measures | Prophylaxis |
| Root rot | The plant stops growing and becomes lethargic. The roots darken, soften, smell unpleasant. |
| Water gently, do not flood the plant. |
| Fittonia is covered with white, cotton-like secretions of the pest. Worms feed on plant sap, which is why they stop growing. | Treat the plant with Actellic using the concentration indicated on the package. During work, apply individual means protection. | Dilute 20 grams of soap in 1 liter of water. Wash the fittonia. | |
| Plants are covered with a cobweb on which mites are located. They feed on the sap of the plant, damaging the leaves. | Pour 50 grams of tobacco into 1 liter of water, leave for 2 days. Strain the composition and spray the affected plants with it. | ||
| The cell sap is sucked out of the leaves. Dots appear on the affected areas, which merge into spots. | |||
| The pest looks like a small, brown bump. Sucks the sap from the plant. Affected leaves and shoots turn yellow, curl and fall off. | Mix 15 grams of soap, 10 ml of denatured alcohol with 1 liter warm water... Apply the composition to the pests with a brush. |
A healthy plant practically does not get sick and is not attacked by pests.
Harmful insects in the photo
The scale on the plant looks like a tubercle 
Thrips feed on plant sap, leaving small punctures on the leaves 
Spider mite leaves a thin cobweb on the leaf 
Plant affected mealybug, lags behind in growth
Reproduction at home
Fittonia propagates very easily with cuttings, creeping stems, dividing the bush and seeds. This process can be carried out during the warm season, in spring and summer. But it is better to start rooting during the period of active growth - in March or April.
Dividing the bush when transplanting
- Gently remove the fittonia from the pot.
- Shake off excess soil.
- Very carefully, trying not to damage the roots, divide the bush into several parts.
- Plant each part in prepared pots.
- Water well. When the water collects in the pan, drain it.
Fittonia bush with roots
To create spectacular compositions, you can plant several varieties of Fittonia at once in one pot - you get a wonderful mix of color.
By planting several varieties of Fittonia in one pot, you can get a beautiful composition
Rooting creeping stems
- Remove the excess leaves from the selected stem.
- Lay on the ground and sprinkle on top with a small layer of substrate.
- The rooted shoot is cut from the mother plant and gently transplanted into a new pot.
If there is enough space in the pot with fittonia, then the creeping stems themselves easily root.
Breeding with cuttings
- Choose an apical cutting 5–8 cm long. Leave 3 to 5 leaves on it. It is not worth taking cuttings longer, they take longer to take root.
- Stick the stalk into fine sand and cover glass jar so that the leaves do not touch the glass.
- Keep in a bright place at a temperature of +25 ... + 27 ° C.
- After a month or a little more, plant the rooted plant in a separate pot.
Cuttings can be rooted in water, but its level should be minimal - up to 1 cm. A small amount will allow the water to be better saturated with oxygen. The jar with the handle must be placed in big package and tie it, periodically airing and spraying the leaves. Keep at a temperature of 28 ° C. When a good root system is formed, plant the plant in a substrate.
Fittonia is easily propagated by cuttings.
Seed planting
Seeds are sown in a container with a moistened sandy-peat substrate and lightly sprinkled on top. Cover the top with glass and leave in a shaded place. When sprouts appear, the container is rearranged to a more illuminated place. The grown and hardened shoots are planted in several pieces in a pot.
Guzmania - enough unusual plant, which, despite the peculiarities of life (the development of the root system of guzmania occurs due to its strengthening on the bark of trees), can also be grown at home by a novice florist. The main thing is to observe simple rules for the care of guzmania mix. Further about this, as well as about the features of plant transplantation and reproduction (photos and instructions are attached).
Guzmania mix: description of the plant, characteristics of varieties
Guzmania is an epiphytic evergreen perennial that in some cases can behave like an annual plant, that is, it blooms for only one season. Although the plant is native to the rainforests of South America, it has taken root well at home.
In indoor conditions, the leaves of the plant can reach 0.5-0.7 m. They are distinguished by a smooth structure, rather wide, and have a straight shape. Gathering together, the leaves of the plant form a bromeliad rosette, culminating in luxurious flowers.
Adult plant can reach a height of about 0.7-0.75 m, the crown diameter is almost the same as the height of the crop. At home, unfortunately, the guzmania is not able to achieve this size: its height does not exceed 0.35-0.4 m.
Attention! Guzmania begins to bloom only by the 4th year of its life. Six months after the beginning of flowering, the plant begins to die, but at the same time young small sprouts grow.
The flowering of the plant begins with the arrival of spring and ends by mid-autumn. At the same time, the flowers themselves look rather modest, but the inflorescences are incredibly exotic bright appearance: The rosette is yellow-orange in color and reaches a length of about 5 cm.
V natural conditions about 130 varieties and varieties of guzmania grow, but only a few of them take root perfectly in indoor conditions:
- Mosaic. In length, the leaves can reach 0.5 m. The color of the leaves is very unusual: dark green or brown transverse stripes flaunt brightly on them. Flowering begins in late winter (usually with the arrival of February). The inflorescences are very large and bright, the number of flowers in one can reach 20-25 pieces.
Mosaic
- Reed. This variety is presented big amount varieties, among which Guzmania minor can be distinguished. This is a compact plant (in comparison with other varieties it is considered dwarf), during the flowering period it is covered with a large number of small small white flowers. Flowering begins with the arrival of winter / spring.
Reed Guzmania, grade Minor
- Blood red. The leaves of the plant are different decorative view: form a kind of glass. Thyroid inflorescences usually consist of 10-12 small fiery red flowers.
Blood red
- Donnatella-Smith. The leaves are rather unusual, with a scaly structure, forming a kind of loose rosette.
Donnatella-Smith
- One-headed. The variety is distinguished by leaves of a yellow-green hue. The inflorescence is spicate, with a large number of white flowers. The flowers are pyramidal. Flowering lasts for two months in spring, starting in April.
One-spiked
The subtleties of plant care
Despite the formed myth that guzmania is a very wayward and difficult plant to grow, in practice it turned out that this representative of the tropics is quite capable of taking root at home. The main thing is to follow simple rules:
Advice. After watering, the water should not stagnate in the soil. It is better if it is overdried than flooded with water, otherwise you can bring the plant to death.
Plant transplant
Since the guzmania develops rather slowly, it does not need frequent transplants: it will be comfortable in the same pot for several years. Transplantation is most often carried out only in two cases: when the plant was purchased in a transport container or during its propagation.
In the first case, the actions will be very simple. First, you need to prepare the soil in the pot where the guzmania will "live": it should consist of peat, sod land, sand (coarse fraction) and sphagnum (or you can use a ready-made soil mixture). Place a small drainage layer on the bottom of the container.
Guzmania is propagated by dividing the bush
Carefully remove the plant from the container and place it in the pot with the prepared drainage layer. Then cover with prepared soil and compact it slightly. Be sure to water both the soil and the plant itself.
Plant propagation
The process of reproduction of guzmania is carried out mainly by division. During the flowering period, an adult plant gradually forms small shoots, which eventually turn into full-fledged young plants.
Red streaks on the green surface of the leaf, you see, look interesting. It seems that blood is flowing through them, and not vegetable juice ...
The name Fittonia (from Latin Fittonia) unites four perennial decorative leafy species of the Acanthus family. They came to indoor plant growing from the swampy forests of Peru, where they covered the earth with a bright carpet for many years under dense forests. The main value of each type of Fittonia is the leaves - large, 5-7 centimeters in size, with bright veins, oval in shape. The flowers are not at all decorative, small size, pale yellow and inconspicuous, they are collected in compact inflorescences, lost against the background of foliage.
Varieties
In floriculture, Fittonia Vershaffelt with matte dark olive leaves and red-pink veins on them is widespread, as well as indoor hybrids obtained on its basis: with silvery veins on the leaves (Fittonia Silver-veined); pure white (Fittonia White), red (Fittonia Red) or pink veins (Fittonia Pink). Most interesting varieties got their own names: Fittonia White Anna (differs from White with a dark border at the edges of the leaves), Fittonia Skeleton (characterized by creeping shoots with small brightly colored leaves), Fittonia Josan (similar to Pink with a dark border on the leaves). 
For growers who want an even greater variety of colors, a hybrid Fittonia Mix has been developed, combining the varieties listed above. 
Representatives of a species with large leaves (Fittonia gigantea) do not tolerate indoor features as well as small (dwarf) varieties. Most often, after a while, they die, despite all the efforts of the flower growers. Therefore, if the apartment does not have an equipped paludarium (an open aquarium imitating a swamp) or a showcase, then it is better to opt for a dwarf hybrid. 
Growing
Variegated ground cover representatives of the flora in their natural environment live under a dense forest canopy, without forming long roots. Therefore, for cultivation, first of all, they select a place near the window, in light partial shade, where strong direct rays of the sun will not reach, and the capacity is a shallow 5-7 cm, but a wide flower pot. A drainage layer 1-2 cm thick is poured at the bottom of the container, then a special soil for fittonia - a loose substrate mixed from forest or garden soil and sand in a ratio of 3: 1 is suitable. Choosing soil in the store, you can buy soil for geraniums or violets. 
Reproduction
At home, the reproduction of Fittonia occurs by shoots, cuttings, dividing a bush or seeds (except for hybrid varieties that do not give viable seeds). When propagated by a cuttings, a twig with three to five leaves is carefully separated and dropped into river sand or a mixture of sand and earth in a 1: 1 ratio. To preserve moisture, the container is covered with glass on top. For successful rooting, you need to maintain high fever- from 25 to 27 degrees, then the roots appear in one to two months. 
If your friends already have an adult flower, with the next fittonia transplant, a large bush can be carefully divided and planted separately, resulting in an independent viable plant. You can also sprinkle any of the long branches with earth - after a while roots will appear on it, and it will easily take root separately from the parent flower in its pot.
Fittonia seeds are also sown in light soil and, covered with glass, are left warm. For successful germination the soil is kept moist by periodically spraying warm water.
Care
At home, caring for a Fittonia consists of maintaining the correct moisture level and uniform lighting. It is not recommended to place it on windows on the south side, because under the sun it can die, a weak shadow is much more suitable. In winter, when there is no light at all, the leaves may become less saturated in color, therefore it is advised to artificially increase daylight hours using phytolamps.
A suitable temperature in the warm season is 22-25 degrees, in winter - closer to 20 degrees. When the temperature drops to 18 degrees and below (for example, on a windowsill, with poorly insulated windows), foliage may fall. It is also best to avoid constant movement of the air mass and sharp changes temperature, do not expose to the balcony in summer time and do not leave near heat sources in winter.
The correct moisture is created by regular spraying from a spray bottle, or by sprinkling moistened sand, expanded clay or small pebbles next to the pot. Watering is necessary with abundant, warm water, previously filtered or boiled. V winter time the amount of watering is slightly reduced, preventing the roots from drying out, since after such "experiments" leaves may also fall off.
Fittonia, living in a comfortable environment, does not get sick, does not become food for various pests, blooms more abundantly and brighter, albeit with equally tiny flowers. Experienced florists it is advised to cut the inflorescences as early as possible so that the bush does not waste its energy.
Diseases
As an indoor flower, it can be damaged by the same pests as other plants: scale insects, mealybugs and spider mite, but more often a painful appearance - a consequence improper care... If Fittonia leaves wither and turn yellow, you need to increase the humidity of the air or move the flower pot to a less illuminated place. If the leaves dry and turn brown, the room is too dry. Disproportionately small leaves, elongated refined shoots are a sign of a lack of light, the flower must be rearranged closer to its source. When the stems wither and rot, this is a signal to moderate care and slightly reduce watering. Despite the fact that the plant is native to tropical swamps, excess moisture can lead to its death.
Use in decoration
Due to the variety of varieties and relative viability in apartment conditions, this decorative leaf flower has found application in interior decoration and even in landscape design... For these purposes, in addition to traditional growing in pots, they use content in bottles, aquariums and even tall wine glasses (applicable for dwarf varieties). 
Florariums with fittonia are another popular element of apartment decor, and the easiest to care for. They harmoniously look "flower beds" with a dozen multi-colored bushes, which can be combined with small ficuses, climbing ivy, moss and other representatives of flora that love moisture. Such combinations are complemented by bright figurines, colored stones and pieces of marble. In closed florariums, it is easier to monitor humidity - excess water is retained inside and settles on the walls, watering is carried out with small amounts of liquid and only after the condensation disappears.
Growing Fittonia in an aquarium is a beautiful but very time consuming way to grow this plant. You will need a spacious container, equipment to maintain humidity and well-organized, bright lighting. In properly organized conditions, the heroes of this article grow even being completely immersed in water, but they are defenseless against physical influences and risk getting sick from any unsuccessful movement. Therefore, caring for Fittonia in an aquarium is gentle (especially when cleaning) and proper preparation places. It is recommended to plant only adult, well-developed plants in the aquarium.
Fittonias also look unusual in the pallarium - a type of aquarium that imitates a swamp. It is closest in essence to natural conditions a habitat. On the border of water and land, flowers can be in a semi-submerged state, and decorative fountains, waterfalls and the proximity to other plants will help to provide an ideal microclimate. 
Human interaction
WITH indoor plants many signs and beliefs are connected, this lush bush is no exception. Fittonias are believed to have magical properties and affect a person, increasing the urge to learn, so that acquiring new knowledge becomes a truly exciting experience. According to the feng shui tradition, fittonia symbolizes metal, strengthening a person's determination and ardent desire to achieve their goals. If you believe the signs, the flower in the house reduces the amount negative energy conflict.
Fittonia is not poisonous, its juice and leaves do not pose a danger to either people or pets. Special useful properties fittonias also do not possess, helping only to cleanse and refresh the atmosphere in the apartment. Therefore, this flower, and especially its variegated and joyful variety of Fittonia, the mix brings into the house only positive emotions, the beauty and tranquility of the rainforest.