| Description: |
Upright or angled, knobby stems hold deeply cut, hand-shaped leaves in their upper parts. In this variety they are brightly variegated. |
| Environment: |
Suitable for the home or a greenhouse |
| Growing Ease: |
Requires a little extra care |
| Lighting Needs: |
Does best in low to bright indirect sunlight coming from the South/East/West |
| Soil Type: |
Use a GOOD rich potting soil (a soil that retains water yet drains well), such as an African violet mix. If you want to mix your own take:
2 parts garden soil, 2 parts humus (leaf mold), 1 part coarse sand or perlite, 1 part rinsed aquarium charcoal chips and a little fine grade fir bark.
Always use a pot with a hole.
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| Watering: |
Keep the soil on the wet side and if you use rainwater, be careful as it could be acidic. Use warm water. |
| Fertilizer: |
Feed only twice a year, once in April and once in July with a water soluble fertilizer. |
| Plant Pests: |
Prone to spider mites and mealy bugs. Always inspect any new plant for pests before introducing it to your home or greenhouse. |
| Propagation: |
Tip cuttings with bottom heat
in the summer.
It is best to propagate any type of cuttings in a mixture of moist peat and perlite. Cover the pot and plant with a plastic bag secured by a rubber band to prevent the moisture from escaping. Place in indirect sunlight or under a fluorescent light. Repot in its regular mix after it has been growing for a while.
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| Gardening Tips & Care: |
Make sure you keep this plant warm. Tapioca is made from the root of this plant. If possible put outside for the summer in filtered light.
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