I started my first real fulltime job in a hotel while I was taking night courses in university. I was only twenty one years old at the time so you can imagine how exciting it was to be gainfully employed. And although the salary was nothing to brag about, it was more than I’d ever made in any previous part-time employment.

My tourism career (and I use this term with tongue in cheek) began in the reservations department where I spent a good part of my day talking to people from different areas in Canada and the U.S, occasionally from other countries around the world. And although I did run across a few obnoxious clients every so often, the vast majority of them were very friendly. In addition, most of the callers booking rooms were travel agents, you know, those super friendly folks. (I added this part in case one of my oldest friends, who happens to be a super friendly travel agent, reads this)

Like most businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry, the hotel I worked in had slow periods. During that time, which usually occurred when the winter months arrived, some of the employees working at the front desk, in housekeeping and in maintenance had their hours cut back, and a handful of individuals were laid off temporarily, but qualified to receive unemployment benefits until business picked up.

Thankfully, I was never laid off, nor were my hours ever cut, even though some days – especially the ones near Christmas – were so painfully quiet. Some days it took tremendous effort to avoid falling asleep on my desk (or under it). The internet did not exist yet so I didn’t have something like this (interesting) website to work on to keep me happily occupied. Surely no one would have missed me if I just hadn’t shown up on those days, or if I took extended lunches, like say, about three hours worth. Well, except for my boss - who signed my pay checks.

I tried to keep busy by searching for things to do like putting away files and organizing storage areas, or by visiting other departments and offering them my help. This may sound ludicrous to some of my readers who are probably thinking: “Who in their right mind voluntarily looks for extra work when you can get a full week’s pay for just showing up – and doing zippo?” And although in theory it sounds like the clever thing to do, in reality it isn’t. The alternative to keeping busy was to pick lint off my clothes for a few hours a day. The problem with that is that within an hour my clothes were picked clean, and unless I brought in a bag full of outfits to ‘de-lint’, or I picked lint off the clothes of fellow workers (or hotel guests), I was trapped there for another 6 hours with nothing to do but listen to 21,600 ticks and tocks of the clock until it drove me mad. I decided to keep busy.

My help was welcomed by the Controller who was always swamped with work because she ran the entire accounting department by herself, at the time. For the next two years whenever my workload was sluggish, I helped her file and sort, organize and catch up. She was so grateful for my help and so pleased with the results that she requested that a new position be opened in her department – and that it be offered to me. Since she’d been in need of an assistant for years, it was readily approved by management. A few weeks later (after I’d trained a new employee to take over my position), I joined her department.

Aside from teaching me some accounting, which incidentally is something that bores me to tears, my new boss also strengthened my love for plants by bringing many different types into the office that we took turns nurturing. I learned that her husband was a biology teacher in a high school and every year he would carry out projects with his students that involved oodles of tropical plants. At the end of the school year he took the plants home to provide care for them over the summer. When September arrived, he took some back to the classroom but most of them remained at home. This went on for a few years so you can imagine how swamped my boss’s house was. Granted they were beautiful specimens, but there were way more than she was interested in accommodating. And even though she brought a few to work, it wasn’t enough to make a dent in the overload at home.

So what did she decide to do to help bring down the houseplant population? She invited me and several other women over for a plant party. It was similar to the famous Tupperware parties, but this gathering sold highly-affordable plants instead of overpriced plastic containers. How awesome is that? We ate, drank and purchased plants. By the end of the party, almost every single plant that had gone up for sale had found a new home. It was one of the most unique and remarkable gatherings I’d ever attended. Long live biology teachers!

I can’t recall all the lovely potted plants I drove home with that day but there is one that stands out in my mind: Episcia Cupreata. Previous to that day, I’d never seen this cutie - they certainly weren’t available at any local stores – and it was quite a treat to add one to my collection. Surprisingly enough, I still don’t see Episcias available very often at local garden centers, many years later.

And on that note, below are some suggestions, from my personal experience, on how to take care of this plant.


Caring For A Fuzzy-Leaved Episcia

Episcia Cupreata, commonly-referred to as Flame Violet, is a member of the Gesneriaceae family. Although this Gesneriad has never enjoyed the immense popularity of its world-cherished cousin, the African Violet, it is just as attractive with its beautiful foliage and pretty flowers. Native to such areas as Central and South America, Northern and Southern Mexico, the West Indies and other tropical regions, this trailing plant is an excellent choice for a hanging basket.

(My boss referred to the Episcia I bought as the ‘chocolate plant’. I believe she meant ‘Chocolate Soldier Plant”, another commonly-used term that you may run across.)

The Flame Violet’s eye-catching, ovate leaves come in different shades of green, from deep coppery to very light; some leaves may also be described as ‘silvery’. The foliage, which is thick and quilted, has toothed margins, chocolate-coloured edging and silver or pale green veins. Under ideal conditions, this lovely plant will produce small, tubular flowers that are typically bright red, but can also be yellow, pink or lavender. The blooms, which commence in spring, continue into the fall season.

The trailing stems grow to about 46 centimeters (18 inches) long and should be shortened after the flowering period is over to promote bushiness and control growth, which is rather fast. The short stem on this plant produces a number of creeping or hanging stolons (or runners) that root in surrounding compost, forming new plantlets. One well-grown Episcia can result in many more Episcias.

The Flame Violet is not the easiest plant to grow indoors, mainly because of its need for high humidity, which most individuals cannot provide - or don’t make the added effort to – but it’s not the most difficult either. Place this plant near a humidifier, on a pebble tray or in a terrarium so it can enjoy the ample moisture that it craves to grow happily. You can also surround the pot with damp peat, or grow the plant as a ground cover between larger specimens where it can enjoy the increased humidity that the enclosed area provides.

Just like its African Violet cousin, this Gesneriad grows very well under fluorescent lights, but it also does well near a bright window that provides indirect light. A little morning or late afternoon sun is tolerated, and exposure to more sunlight during the winter season should be fine. If your plant is exposed to direct sun, make sure to check up on it regularly incase it’s necessary to move it to a shadier spot. Always protect the Flame Violet from the harsh rays of the summer’s midday sun.

During the active growing season, keep the soil evenly moist and do not allow it to dry out completely. The plant’s medium needs to be kept constantly moist – but not waterlogged - while it is actively growing. Use a fast-draining, highly-porous soil to avoid rot. Reduce watering during the winter season, or when the plant is not growing. Average household temperatures that keep you comfortable will keep your Episcia comfortable too. Do not let the temperature drop below 13ºC (55ºF).



Since that blessed party, I’ve never owned another Episcia, and the one that I picked up that day is long gone. It’s not that I have no interest in them anymore, or that I’ve never seen any locally. The reason I’ve never grown another is simple: the few times they’ve popped up at local garden centers, the selection has been very poor. But I’m keeping a lookout for them, and sooner or later I’ll track one down.

Although this plant requires a little extra humidity to keep it healthy, it’s attractive enough to warrant that added effort. So if you see one at a local store, don’t hesitate to take one home. It can grow happily indoors if proper care is provided.

Comment On This Article:
Your Name:
Your Email:
(Your email address will not be added to a mailing list or disclosed to other parties.)