Fittonia - Mosaic Plant, Painted Net-Leaf, Painted-Net Leaf, Silver-Net Leaf

(Fitto'nia)

DESCRIPTION: These tropical, creeping perennials are natives of Peru. They are grown for their ornamental foliage. They have fleshy, trailing stems and oval, brightly colored leaves. F. Verschaffeltii has olive green leaves veined with scarlet or ruby red. Insignificant flowers grow on this plant and if they are pinched off the plant will be less straggly. Its variety argyroneura has dark, emerald green leaves netted with white; its flowers also need to be pinched off regularly. These plants grow about 6 inches high with an indefinite spread.

POTTING: In cool climates, these plants should be grown indoors with a minimum winter temperature of 60 degrees. A good soil mixture to use consists of equal parts of peat, loam and leaf mold with a generous amount of sand added. Shallow soil and shade is preferable for this plant. They need a large amount of water during the summer and a very humid atmosphere. During the winter, less water is needed, but the soil must not become dry. Any straggly growth should be cut back in the spring.

PROPAGATION: Young shoots can be taken in the spring and used as cuttings. They are placed in a propagating case until they form roots. They are then planted 2 inches apart in flower pans filled with the compost described above. These plants may also be divided.

VARIETIES: F. Verschaffeltii & its variety argyroneura; F. gigantea.

A. VERSCHAFFELTII

ARGYRONEURA

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