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Common Name: | Fitonia |
| Scientific Name: | Fitonia | |
| Family: | Acanthaceae | |
| Origin: | tropical rainforest from South America, mainly Peru | |
| Leaves: | are opposite, with short stems and colorful veins (white, silvery white or red) |
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| Flowers: | thin spikes of insignificant white or reddish white flowers are borne rarely and irregularly |
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| Light: | semi-shade, away from direct sun |
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| Soil: | humus-rich or leafy |
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| Fertilizer: | during growth, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks |
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| Air humidity: | high humidity is a must for the plant to survive |
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| Watering: | water moderately, keeping the compost just moist; if keep too wet, stem rotting occurs |
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| Transplanting: | one month after you bought it, than every year in February |
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| Dimensions: | 10 cm high, 25 cm wide |
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| Propagation: | take tip cuttings with 3 or 4 pairs of leaves in spring, or layer stems in spring or summer |
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| Life: | 3-4 years indoor |
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| Pests and diseases: | trouble free |
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| Species and varieties: | F. albiveins - creeping evergreen perennial bearing oval to elliptic, olive-green leaves, with net-like white or red veins; |
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| Tips: | where temperature drop below 15 degrees Celsius (59 F), grow in a terrarium or hanging basket indoors or in a warm greenhouse; in tropical or subtropical areas, grow as ground cover in semi-shaded sites |
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| Hardness: | frost tender |
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