Flame Violet Plant – Simple Growing Tips

The flame violet plant (Episcia) is a lovely tiny houseplant with elegant foliage and small trumpet-shaped blooms. It is a member of the African violet family and has a more spreading or trailing shape than its more recognizable relatives. Instead, it resembles another near relative: Alsobia (another Exotic Angel Plants variety). The flame violet plant is an excellent choice for hanging baskets and larger terrariums due to the way it grows.The flame violet plant is a great plant to give as a gift for Mother’s Day, housewarming parties, and other special events because it can bloom on and off throughout the year (and is attractive even when not in bloom because of its pretty leaves).

It also looks lovely when grown on a desk or tabletop. Grow it where you can enjoy the small red, pink, orange, or white flowers, which contrast beautifully with the plant’s silver- or bronze-variegated foliage. .The flame violet plant comes in different types. Many of them hang down the sides of baskets. Episcia flame violet houseplants come from both North and South America. Their leaves can be green, bronze, red, or even chocolate. The edges, veins, or margins of oval-shaped leaves may be silvery. Their growth is slow, and they can have red, pink, orange, yellow, lavender, or white flowers at any time of the year.Continue to read to find out how to grow and care flame violet plant

 A Guide to Nurturing Healthy and Beautiful Flame Violet Plant

(1) Growing Conditions

(a)  Light

Bright, indirect light. If your flame violet plants aren’t flowering, they probably aren’t getting enough light. Put your plant near a bright window, but not in the direct sun. Like its cousin, the African Violet, Episcia cupreata grows well under artificial light.

(b) Temperature

 Prefers cool conditions, especially while in bloom; nighttime temperatures of 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit (13-18 degrees Celsius); daytime temperatures that do not exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius).

(c) Humidity

High humidity levels are necessary for growing flame violet plants. Use a pebble tray or a cool-mist room humidifier for your plant if the relative humidity drops below 50%. If you use a plant mister, the leaves will get spots and be more likely to get fungus. If the edges of the leaves turn brown and flower buds dry up and don’t open, the air is too dry. 

(d) Soil

Your flame violet plant needs the right soil to stay healthy. Like the African violet, the Flame violet needs soil that drains well and is full of humus or organic matter. A study by the University of Georgia found that for the best results, it should have 1 part leaf mold, 1 part peat moss, 1 part sand, and 2 parts loamy topsoil.  

You can also use mixes like peat-vermiculite or peat-perlite made in a lab. Perlite makes the soil lighter and helps it breathe and drain better. Always keep a few of the “runners” that grow from the soil and let the rest grow out of the pot. This will help the flowers grow well.

(e) Moisture

As a general rule, the planter or pot you choose should have holes for water to drain. You already know that the soil moisture and how often you water your plant are important for its growth.  

You don’t need expensive gadgets or a complicated schedule to know when to water your flame violet plant. Just put your finger in, and you’re set. The soil should remain moist but not soggy or dry; otherwise, the leaves will wilt, weakening the roots. 

 Tips for Watering

• Use the bottom watering method to keep water from hurting the leaves of your flame violet plant. You can do this by filling the plant saucer with water and then adding the potted Episcia Flame. Keep the plant in the water-filled saucer and let it absorb the water for at least thirty minutes. 
• Keep the potting mixture wet but not soggy. If you give your plant too much water, the root and stem will rot, which will kill your plant. Use warm to lukewarm water on your flame violet plant. When cold water splashes on the leaves of the flame violet plant
• It makes light green spots called ringspot.

(2) Caring Tips for Flame Violet

(a) Fertilizer

Your Flame Violet plant needs small doses of fertilizer, especially in the summer. You should give your plant water-soluble fertilizer at least twice a month, except in the winter. Do it when the soil is wet, so you don’t hurt the young roots.

(b) Pruning 

The flame violet plant does not require as much grooming. You can prune it by pulling off the old leaves when it gets too big for its pot. Pruning also makes new flowers grow.

It is best to eliminate small, growing stolons (runners) to promote healthy plant growth and flame violet plant. Episcia grow very quickly; if you don’t cut them back, they can look ragged. Cut off the runners (stolons) to keep the plant bushy and full.

(3) Propagation of Flame Violet Plant

Propagation is one of the most interesting and rewarding things a gardener can do. You can generate new flame violet plants from the primary plant, giving you a fresh start with the new buds. You may propagate violets through the use of leaves, runners, or seeds. 

(a) Vegetative Propagation

If you have an old, mature plant that has lost some leaves, trim the runners, leaves, and roots first. 

Put them in water, sand, vermiculite, or sphagnum moss. You can speed up the process by putting them in a solution that helps them grow roots first. 

Cover the whole flame violet plant with a plastic bag or cover to keep in as much moisture as possible. 

(b) Propagation by Seeds

For seeds, spread them out on moist vermiculite or sphagnum. Watch out for the seeds to grow and change into beautiful sprouts. 

After being divided, the flame violet plant sends out new shoots in 3 to 4 weeks. You can move the sprouts to a bigger pot when you see them. 

(4) Diseases and Pests in Flame Violet Plant

(a) Termites (Plant Lice) 

Termites are bugs that attack plants and drain the sap from them belonging to aphid group. As they bite the plant, they cause damage to it. You can use pesticides to kill flame violet plants. 

 (b) Small Spiders 

These spiders that are are small and look like reddish brown hurt the plant by making holes in it and sucking out the sap. 

They make webs around the leaves and flowers in large groups. They stop the flame violet plant from growing and make it look small. Pesticides can kill them, which is good news. 

(c) Cyclamen Mites 

 These bugs are so small that you can’t see them with your own eyes. They eat the tips of small leaves that are still growing, which makes the leaves look twisted and distorted.

Most of the time, they eat the leaves in the middle of the plant. You can use pesticides to kill them. 

 (d) Bad/Waxy Bugs 

They look like white, waxy bugs and are about a quarter of an inch long. They spread disease and lay eggs in the crown.

As their numbers grow, they also start to spread to leaves and stems. The way they hurt the plant is by sucking out the sap. You can use pesticides to kill them. 

 (e)  Botrytis Blight 

 This disease is caused by fungi, also known as “Gray Mold.” It affects the leaves, stems, and flowers. It causes the part it’s on to die and fall apart. In the infected areas, grey mold grows. 

 Improve the airflow and lower the humidity in the room where the flame violet plant is kept to keep it from getting this disease. 

 (f) Root and Crown Rot 

This disease kills Episcia. It is caused by a fungus that lives in the soil. The plant dies because the roots are rotting. There is no treatment.

Use sterile soil and make sure the water drains well after watering to stop it.

Conclusion

Cultivating the flame violet plant, also known as Episcia cupreata, is an excellent technique to impart color into an interior environment. The Episcia flame violet is a houseplant that is related to the African violet and features foliage and flowers that are quite similar to those of its cousin. Caring for a flame violet flame is not difficult when you have a solid understanding of the fundamentals. Your hard work will be rewarded with a beautiful flowering plant for the house.Make sure your new flame violet plants are growing in the ways we told you to for the best harvest. You’ll have beautiful flowers 10 to 12 months after planting the seeds.