Reconnecting With A Fittonia
April 30, 2008
Not long after I launched this website, my plant-purchasing habits
changed, not necessarily for the better. Before the birth of Water Roots, I
(almost) never brought home plants that did not meet the fundamental criteria:
“it must be love at first sight”, or plants that were not registered on my
mental wish list. I did not feel compelled to buy something ‘just because’. But
ever since I reserved a little spot in cyberspace, my sensible style of
accumulating plants has spun out of control many a time and I’ve added unwanted
and unplanned for specimens to my already overloaded plant
world. Some of these reckless purchases are still with me; others I’ve
(shamelessly) discarded.
The problem began when I created the ‘The Hydro Log’ page
and included articles about the care of specific plants. Because I prefer to share
advice about plants that I have cared for personally, when I decide to write about
one that I don’t have growing in my home, I consider getting it. Most of the time I
do. And sometimes I don’t even like it. What's more, it may be a plant I’ve grown
in the past and had a very bad experience with, which should be reason enough not to
get another one.
An example of the purchasing frenzy is the syngonium I picked up last year that I don’t really care for but brought
home anyway because I’d never grown that particular one in the past. I wanted to experience it firsthand before
putting up a Hydro Log (which has yet to be done) discussing its care. On the one hand this is a good thing; I gain
knowledge of yet one more indoor possibility and can offer advice from a practical point of view rather than a
theoretical one. And if the plant in question turns out to be one of the undemanding types that always looks great
(like my Peperomia Obtusifolia Variegata), my feeling towards it goes
from indifference to genuine fondness. On the other hand, this forced union ends very badly if the plant turns out
to be difficult and makes more demands than I’m capable of meeting – or even willing to. In that case, I start to
resent it, which isn’t hard to do since I wasn’t that fond of it to begin with. The final scene ends with a quivering
plant, a garbage bag and a frazzled human exclaiming “One of us has to go. Guess who?” Not a pretty sight.
These new purchasing habits do not only revolve around never-before-grown houseplants. When I’m working on a Hydro Log,
it instigates a ‘how-many-of-these-can-I-acquire’ phase, which has me obsessively on the lookout for plants that belong
to a specific group. An example of this would be all the different Chlorophytums (Spider Plants) that I picked up while
I was researching and putting together the ‘Spider Plants Are Still Hanging Around’
article. I like these plants but I certainly don’t need so many of them.
And of course, this neurosis would not be complete without the
‘I’ve-grown-one-of-these-in-the-past-but-have-to-grow-one-again’ phase. This third habit is perhaps the worst of
the lot. I can write about a plant from this group because I already have earlier experience, so there’s no
need to hunt one down and bring it home. But, for whatever nutty reason, I feel the ‘need’ to ‘reconnect with it’. If
the plant was a good plant, that’s okay. But if it wasn’t, why the heck am I subjugating myself to the misery of
growing it again, especially when I have very bad memories with it that should deter me from (foolishly) trying
again? And yet I seem to block out the bad memories of these challenging types and replace them with
sentimental ones, as if we had a loving and mutually-beneficial relationship.
Either I have short term (or selective) memory or I’m just a sucker. Maybe both.
Anyhow, below is some care information about Fittonias, plants that I
have grown in the past, plants that I swore I’d never buy again because they have
certain demands that I can’t always meet. Plus, they’ve never been favourites of
mine; I think they look pretty, but preferably in someone else’s house. In
addition, our relationship many years ago ended with the emotional green
garbage bag scene. Very sad. But when I spotted a bunch of them at a greenhouse
a few months ago - looking so darn gorgeous- I decided to write something in
their honour. And since I didn’t have one growing at home, well, you know the
rest...
Caring For A Fittonia
Native to the rainforests of South America, mainly Peru, Fittonias belong to the family Acanthaceae (Acanthus),
which contains about 250 genera and 2500 species. This family includes familiar indoor favourites such as Aphelandra
Squarrosa (Zebra Plant), Crossandra Infundibuliformis (Firecracker Flower), Hypoestes Phyllostachya (Polka Dot Plant)
and Strobilanthes Dyerianus (Persian Shield), some of which are not the easiest to grow with their need for high
humidity.
Fittonias are highly-prized for their ornamental foliage. The plants are
easily recognized by their network of white, pink or red prominently-veined,
oval leaves and fuzz-covered stems. Although they are extremely attractive and
difficult to resist at the greenhouse, these cool-looking specimens can prove
quite challenging if you do not meet their care requirements.
What makes Fittonias a little more difficult than many
other popular houseplants is their need for a high level of surrounding
humidity and a constant temperature, both of which are often difficult to
provide in the average home. But since they are often sold for just a couple of
dollars in 4” pots, you may want to give these decorative plants a try.
First and foremost, a high level of humidity is absolutely
essential and cannot be compromised. Fittonias cannot tolerate dry air and they
will deteriorate quickly if humidity levels plummet. If your home resembles the
Sahara Desert, remedy the situation by adding a humidifier nearby, by placing
the plants on pebble trays filled with water, by double-potting and filling the
spaces between the containers with moist peat, by grouping plants together to
form a microclimate with higher humidity or by growing the plants in a room
naturally higher in humidity, such as a bathroom. You may also want to consider
growing your Fittonias in a terrarium or in a bottle garden.
As much as humanly possible, maintain a constant
temperature. Depending on the source, recommendations differ on what the ideal
temperature range should be for Fittonias. My suggestion is to grow these
plants where levels are between 18°C (64°F) and 23°C (73°F) - not too cold and
not too hot. A slightly lower temperature may be tolerated but it should not be
allowed to drop below 15°C (59°F). Additionally, because the leaves of
Fittonias are quite thin, I’d also recommend avoiding hot, dry locations that
can cause rapid transpiration (the evaporation of water from the aerial parts
of plants).
Pot up your plants in an airy, fast-draining medium and
always keep them evenly moist during the spring and summer seasons. Reduce
watering in the winter when growth slows down. Never allow the plants to dry
out completely or they will wilt considerably. If this happens, water
thoroughly; your plants will bounce back quickly. Always use tepid water.
One feature that makes Fittonias very attractive houseplants
is their ability to tolerate low light quite well, and continue to look good. This
is quite true, although I wouldn’t place these plants – or any other for that
matter - in very dim areas. Place your Fittonias in moderately-lit areas such
as up against a north window or in any shady section of your home near decent
lighting. Aside from direct sun, every other level of light can be handled.
After a year or two, your plants may begin to look
unattractive. No problem. Just take cuttings, which root easily, and start new
plants. The growing tips of older specimens should be pinched off regularly to
keep the plants shrubby and attractive.
Fittonias In Hydroculture
The union of these plants and the hydroculture growing
style is truly a blissful one - after the dramatic conversion. Fittonias
literally faint when they are transferred from soil to clay pellets, as you can
see from the image below.
If you can handle the emotional transition, which is
temporary, the end result will be worth it. Hydroculture will eliminate the
water juggling act; no more over or under watering.
To reduce the extensive wilting that these plants can
suffer, scrub the roots completely free of soil and place the stems in a glass
of water until new roots develop. Once the water roots are formed, transfer to
the clay pellets.
Or, pot the plants up immediately in the clay medium, but
keep the water level high enough so that the roots are constantly immersed.
When the water roots emerge, lower the water level.
No matter which style of conversion you choose, try to
provide high levels of humidity during this period to help your plants get
through the transition with as little stress as possible. And, if you are
immersing the root system directly in water until new roots form, change the
water regularly to keep it fresh.
In all fairness to my recently-acquired Fittonia, I have
to confess that it’s doing extremely well, despite the fact that the humidity
in my home can be quite low some days. Maybe it’s not as hard to grow as I
remember. Either way, it’s best to try and maintain constant temperatures and
high humidity, both of which will keep your plants much happier. Many sources
also suggest that the miniature-sized (or dwarf) Fittonias are easier to grow,
so you might want to start with one of those. I’ve grown many different kinds –
large and small – and honestly don’t see a difference. They all seem to require
ample humidity to grow happily.
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