History and Growing Instructions
EPISCIA (eh-pees'ya) from the Greek word for shade, alluring to the natural habitat in shady woodlands of tropical
Central America.
These plants are grown for their brilliantly colored trailing foliage. They need warmth, high humidity, light shade and
good drainage in medium. Ideal for terrarium growing with a minimum temperature of 68 degrees. They like to be warm
at least 72-75 degrees with a maximum of about 90 degrees.
The broad leaves are variously colored with brown, silver, green and shades of pink. "Pink Episcia's" have different
shades of pink leaves and are a bit more temperate to climate changes, moisture change and temperature. These are
definitely best grown in terrarium conditions. Most episcias have red or red orange flowers but some have lavender,
white, yellow, or pink flowers.
New plants are produced at the end of stolons which grow from leaf axils. Mature leaves can also be planted to
produce new plantlets.
To obtain the largest size of an individual plant, the stolons must be removed to enable all the growth to the original
plant. To grow a full basket of episcias, the stolons are pinned down in the basket and allowed to root. Generally,
three to five stolons pinned down until rooted will produce a lush full basket. Baskets can be kept to preferred size by
pinching off stolons at growth ends.
Episcias can get spots on the leaves if you water with cold water. Always used lukewarm water.
We use a soil mix that has vermiculite and sphagnum moss and put about 1/2 inch of perlite on the bottom of the tray.
This provides for drainage so the roots don't have to sit in their water.