Elegant Callisia

Family Commelinaceae. Dormancy period: in indoor conditions it is forced (from October to February) due to reduced light and air humidity.

Repotting: annually or every two years, into wide and shallow pots, since the root system of Callisia is weak but spreads quickly, so with each subsequent repotting the container should be taken slightly wider

Winter maintenance (October-February): optimal temperature - 16-20°C

Watering: moderate.

Specific cultural requirements: does not tolerate direct sunlight; for normal growth and development an 8-10-hour photoperiod is required; air humidity should preferably be maintained at 70-75%; Callisia shoots require support.

Uses: recommended for growing indoors mainly on west or east windows, on south windows with shading; as a hanging plant in suspended baskets or wall planters; as a groundcover plant in pots with large specimens (dracaenas, ficuses and others); in winter gardens

Propagation: the main method is by the upper parts of the shoots: in water, roots appear in approximately 7-10 days; in soil under film in mini-greenhouse conditions; by rooting lateral shoots without separating them from the mother plant; less often by division of the bush or by seeds.

Cultivation problems: poorly tolerates being moved relative to the light source; it is advisable to mist the plant several times a day; the weak root system suffers from soil drying out; the plant ages relatively quickly, losing decorative appeal, the lower part of the stems becomes bare, therefore a short rejuvenating pruning is necessary once every 2-3 years or annual pinching of shoots; at air humidity of 60% and below infestation by spider mites is possible

Growth form: herbaceous plant.

Maximum size in cultivation: shoots up to 50 cm long

Decorative features: leaves.

Leaf color and shape: leaves are velvety, 3-6 cm long, with regularly alternating light and dark green stripes.