How to Care for Episcia Pink Brocade

Episcia, commonly known as an easy to grow houseplant from the African violet family, comes in many varieties and hybridizations. The Pink Brocade variety is especially beautiful, but also more difficult to cultivate. Thriving in warm temperatures and humidity, the Pink Brocade requires extra care and attention to grow well. With the right care, the Pink Brocade grows for years, offering pale pink foliage and showers of bright red flowers.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pink Brocade plant
• Terrarium
• Potting soil
• Aquarium thermometer
• Trowel
• Water
• Fertilizer

1. Prepare a terrarium for your Pink Brocade. Pink Brocade demand a high humidity level and temperatures no lower than 50 degrees C. Prepare your terrarium by adding several inches of nutrient-rich potting soil to the bottom. You can also use peat moss if you prefer. Attach an aquarium thermometer to the terrarium to help you monitor the interior temperature of the set up for the Pink Brocade.

2. Using your trowel, dig out a depression into the potting soil and plant your Pink Brocade. Rest the roots gently into the depression and cover them lightly with soil. Press the soil down gently, and water the plant in well without saturating the soil.

3. Place the terrarium in a sunny location, but out of direct sunlight. Pink Brocade prefers more sun than most other Episcia, however excessive sunlight can cause damage or burning to the leaves. If you notice leaf drop or burning, move your Pink Brocade to a location with a little less sunlight.

4. Water the Pink Brocade sparingly. While the Pink Brocade requires regular watering care, it must be watered sparingly. Because the plant is in a terrarium, the water has no chance to drain off. Water logging can easily cause root rot and leaf drop if it sets in. If you over water your Pink Brocade, try using a turkey baster to siphon off some of the excess water.

5. Fertilize your Pink Brocade during its growing season. Choose a type of fertilizer or apply compost to your plant during its phases of active growth. If you choose a chemical fertilizer, follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. For composting or other organic forms of fertilization, apply to the plant every two weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Pink Brocade is a very slow growing plant. Do not worry if you see very little growth. As long as the plant is thriving and not showing signs of leaf drop, it will show growth soon enough.

References

• Green Culture's Episcia Care
• Blossom's Birds Butterflies Overview of Episcia
• Dave's Garden Episcia Care