Rules for caring for a beautiful Fittonia

The owner of bright variegated leaves - Fittonia - is dearly loved by flower growers, but not everyone can take care of her. The problem lies in the high requirements of the plant, the violation of which leads to its death. Everything is important for Fittonia: the degree of lighting, humidity of air and soil, absence of drafts, constant temperature regime. Conservatories and conservatories are ideal for growing it. Only some types of flower are capable of pleasing the eye with their exquisite beauty at home.

The origin and types of fittonia

Fittonia represents the acanthus family. Its relatives are perennial evergreen grasses, whose pubescent shoots spread along the ground, and the leaves are covered with an unusual mesh. Its color can be white, yellow, purple. Wild plant species are typical of the flora of the swampy forests of South America, where it is always warm and humid. They are few in number.

Scientists have described only 15 varieties of Fittonia. The most famous among them are the following.

• Giant. Its bushes reach a height of 60 cm. The stems are erect, they can be slightly inclined. They are highly branched and covered with large (up to 16 cm long and up to 10 cm wide) shiny dark green leaves. The mesh on them is carmine-red. Regardless of the size, the shape of the sheet is elliptical. Shoots pubescent, reddish-purple hue.
• Silver-veined. Its second name is white-veined. The veins on its green leaves are silvery white. Erect shoots. The most popular variety at home is Nana. The leaves of this hybrid are medium-sized, but dry air is not terrible for him.
• Vershaffelt. Refers to ground cover crops. Its low-growing, highly branched stems are slightly pubescent. They can reach a height of 25 cm. Veins on large leaves have a red or pinkish tint. The leaf blade is dark green or olive, egg-shaped or elliptical. Its length can be from 5 to 10 cm, width - 4-6 cm. The plant is demanding on heat and humidity. Easily rooted by layering.
• Skeleton. Creeping shoots. The leaves are pleasant to the touch, velvety, although small. They are dull, their surface is densely strewn with red streaks. The color of the leaves is bright olive, they seem to glow from the inside.
• Mix. The leaves can be colored in all sorts of shades of green. The color of the veins is also different, but intense. They stand out clearly against the background of the leaf plate.

It makes no sense to buy Vershaffelt Fittonia or a giant for the house. Room temperature and insufficient humidity will immediately destroy them. You can grow these sissies by placing them in a paludarium or terrarium. Fittonia mix and silver-veined are more adapted for home conditions.

Lighting and temperature

The plant is light-loving, but cannot stand the bright sun: under it the leaves of the flower burn. In the shade, the initially expressive coloration of Fittonia fades, and it itself becomes painful and stunted. Its shoots rise and stretch, giving the impression of emaciation. You won't have to wait long for the plant to react to light, so the optimal place for it is selected experimentally, rearranging the pot.

Room fittonia feels good on the windowsills of the western and eastern windows. It can also grow on the northern side in partial shade. But daughter fittonias are more adapted to such conditions, the beginning of which was laid by a cutting taken from an adult flower standing on this windowsill. In winter, the plant needs additional lighting.

Drafts and temperature changes are fatal for him.Even on warm days, you cannot put a flower pot outside. Airing will also have to be abandoned. Indoor fittonia, like its uncultivated species, loves warmth, and the plant needs it all year round. In summer, she is comfortable if the air in the room is heated to 25 ° C, in winter - up to 18 ° C. In colder conditions, the flower weakens, begins to hurt and quickly dies.

Advice

The proximity of heating devices for Fittonia is harmful - they greatly dry the air.

Air humidity and watering

The main difficulty in growing a flower at home is maintaining the moisture level it needs. Dry air weakens Fittonia, making it vulnerable to disease and pests. Regular spraying will help solve the problem. They are held daily, in the morning and evening hours. Water for procedures is defended or passed through a filter. Its temperature should be room temperature or slightly warmer.

Spraying can be supplemented with other methods of increasing humidity:

• installing water containers next to the pot;
• filling the pallet with wet expanded clay, pebbles or moss;
• special electrical appliances.

Important!

Fittonia leaves do not tolerate polishing.

In the spring and summer, the plant needs abundant watering. But everything should be in moderation: it is correct if the soil in the pot does not completely dry out and does not sour. With a lack of moisture, the flower sheds its leaves, with an excess of moisture, its roots rot. In the first case, Fittonia can still be saved. It is worth normalizing watering, and its decorative effect will gradually recover. In moist soil, the plant dies quickly.

The time for the next wetting is determined by the state of the soil. It is started if the top layer of the substrate is a little dry. Stagnation of water in the sump must not be allowed. It is freed from the accumulated liquid one hour after watering. They take water for him the same as for spraying. Rainwater is good. With the onset of cold weather, watering is carried out less often. Moisten the plant by waiting for the top layer of the substrate to dry and skipping another 1-2 days.

Top dressing and transplanting

In order for indoor fittonia to be fluffy, and its leaves do not shrink, during the period of active growth (April-September), the flower is fed, making a break of 2 weeks between procedures. In winter, it is increased to 1 month. Complex mineral compositions are suitable for plants. But the concentration of the nutrient solution should be made half as low as recommended by their manufacturer. The health of Fittonia deteriorates from an excess of fertilizer.

The root system of a flower is characterized by rapid growth, so it needs a transplant often. The best time for her is early spring. Since the roots of Fittonia are located almost at the surface, you need to choose a low but wide capacity for it. A drainage layer must be poured onto the bottom of the pot. The plant prefers loose soil through which air and moisture can easily penetrate to its roots.

At home, a mixture of equal parts is used to plant a flower:

• leafy land;
• coniferous land;
• peat;
• sand.

Indoor fittonia becomes less attractive with age. If its shoots are bare from below, it's time to rejuvenate the plant. It is convenient to combine this procedure with a transplant. By choosing the most elongated shoots and cutting off their upper part, the resulting cuttings are rooted. It is better to do this at the end of March. Fittonia is not afraid of pruning, starting after it to actively form side shoots. But the procedure should be carried out in several stages to reduce stress on the plant. If it loses all leaves at once, new shoots will develop very slowly.

Advice

To get a lush flower with highly branched stems, pinch the Fittonia. Young shoots are subjected to the procedure.

Reproduction

Fittonia is bred vegetatively. They grow it at home:

• from the cutting;
• from layering;
• from part of an adult bush.

Usually, flower reproduction is carried out during its transplantation and rejuvenation.Apical cuttings, the length of which does not exceed 8 cm, take root best. The number of leaves on them should be from 3 to 5. They can be rooted in sand, light infertile soil or in water. In the first case, the cutting is dipped into a wet substrate, and a jar is put on top. It is periodically removed to remove condensation, spray and water the plant. The stalk will take root in about a month.

Rooting fittonia in water, the container is filled to a height of 1 cm. The shoot is dipped into liquid, after which the jar is placed under a plastic bag. Every 2-3 days it is removed and the leaves are sprinkled from a spray bottle. For Fittonia to release roots, the room must be warm - at least 26 ° C. When they grow up and get stronger, the flower is planted in a separate pot.

It is not difficult to obtain cuttings of Fittonia. A plant can give it on its own if its shoots are creeping, and the pot is wide. But if necessary, they help him. The part of the shoot, on which there are no leaves, is tilted to the surface of the soil and buried in. Roots soon form on it. Then the cutting is separated from the mother plant, after which it is transplanted to a permanent place.

Reproduction of a flower by dividing a bush is also popular. But you need to be careful here. Its root system is delicate and easily damaged. You can prepare separate pots for the divisions, but they look much more spectacular in a group planting, especially if you create a mix of plants with leaves of contrasting shades.

It is possible for fittonia and generative reproduction. Its seeds are purchased in specialized stores. They are sown in the spring. Seeds germinate in conditions of constant humidity and heat (at a minimum temperature of 22 ° C).

Possible difficulties

The sudden death of Fittonia is most often caused by over-watering. Its symptoms are lethargy of the leaves, their twisting and dropping. If the plant begins to turn yellow, an urgent need to review the watering regime. Waterlogging is especially critical for a flower in winter. When the soil in the pot is acidic, transplanting into a fresh substrate will help save the plant. But the roots of Fittonia rot quickly, so it is not always possible to revive it. Cold and sudden changes in temperature are just as destructive for a flower.

You should not be afraid of flying the lower leaves on the plant: this is a natural process in its life cycle. If the shoots are bared, it is worth rejuvenating Fittonia. The stems that have lost their decorative effect are cut off.

The intense loss of upper leaves by the flower is a much more dangerous symptom. He speaks of serious violations of Fittonia's requirements:

• lack of lighting;
• hypothermia (especially in combination with the bay);
• moisture deficiency.

If the tips of the leaves of the plant turn brown or turn yellow-brown, it is necessary to check whether the fertilizing is applied correctly. This is how the flower reacts to a lack or excess of nutrients. Shrinking leaves is a reason to increase the frequency of spraying. In dry air, they deform in an attempt to reduce evaporation. The same reaction in a flower is caused by too bright lighting. In this case, the leaves can also become covered with spots - sunburn.

The most dangerous insects for Fittonia are:

• thrips;
• scabbards;
• spider mite;
• mealybug.

Their colonies can nullify all the efforts of the grower in a matter of days. To protect the plant, preventive spraying is carried out. But the main condition is proper care of Fittonia. On healthy flowers, pests usually do not start.

Fittonia energy and signs about it

In the plant horoscope, Fittonia is considered the patroness of Aquarius. It enhances creative impulses, contributes to finding original solutions, energizes and optimizes, improves mood. Feng Shui also speaks of the positive effect of the flower. The smooth, streamlined shape of its leaves is a sign of the presence of yin energy in the plant: creative, calm, friendly.Folk omens attribute to Fittonia the property of attracting wealth to the house. The explanation lies in the appearance of the plant: its numerous leaves are like coins.

Indoor fittonia is the flower of thinkers. It sets a person in the right mood, helping to disconnect from the daily hustle and bustle and figure out what is really important. The energy of the plant will push the doubters on the right path and have not yet found their niche. Fittonia is favorable for schoolchildren and students. It facilitates and accelerates the assimilation of new knowledge, turning it into an exciting activity that you cannot tear yourself away from.

Those who have this flower in their house do not suffer from inert thinking. They do not subject their lives to prejudices and stereotypes. They are innovators who strive to learn about everything unusual and are able to make a breakthrough where no one expects. Fittonia improves the atmosphere in the home, making it more welcoming. It absorbs negative energy, prevents quarrels, and contributes to the successful resolution of conflicts.

The refined beauty of Fittonia cannot leave you indifferent. This flower is a real aristocrat among indoor crops: demanding and capricious, but at the same time attractive and mysterious. There is something fascinating, intimate in the bizarre patterns on its leaves, which awakens the ancient memory of shamanic dances in the reflections of the fire. It is not easy to grow, but the abundance of positive qualities is definitely worth trying.