BOTANICAL NAME: Callisia repens
COMMON NAME: Turtle Vine, Inch Plant, Creeping Inch Plant, Bolivian Jew
ORIGIN: Mexico, Central and South America
GOOD FOR: Intermediate plant parents
HEIGHT: 4” tall, with 4 feet vines
LIGHT: Bright, indirect sun. Avoid direct sun, as it will burn the leaves.
WINDOW PREFERENCE: North or east facing windows.
WATER: Water thoroughly once the top 2” of soil is dry. They prefer to be evenly moist, but not soggy. Water around the base of the plant until you see water draining from the bottom of the pot. At this point you can stop.
HUMIDITY: Average household humidity
TEMPERATURE: Prefers to be above 55-80 degrees, during the growing months. Keep away from drafts and heat vents.
SOIL / REPOTTING: Well-draining potting soil that you can add perlite or sand to help drainage. They like to be root bound and you will have a better chance at blooms, so you will not have to repot for a few years. Only repot if you feel it’s necessary, increase one container size. Hydrate the plant before you repot to prevent root shock.
PLANT FOOD: Feed once a month in the spring and once in the summer growing season. We recommend using Joyful Dirt Succulent Plant Food. Make sure the soil is already damp before feeding, so you are not applying to dry soil. Stop feeding in fall and winter due to slower growth and dormancy.
PRUNING: Remove yellowing or dead leaves. You may want to prune the stems if they are growing too leggy to encourage fuller growth.
PESTS: Aphids, mealy bugs, spider mites are possible infestations to look out for.
TOXICITY: Toxic when ingested
ANGRY PLANT PROBLEMS: Underwatered – wilted or sunken leaves. Overwatering- yellowing leaves, or soft stems. Too low humidity – while this plant does well in regular household humidity, if the air becomes too dry leaf tips may brown with yellow halos. Try using a humidifier or placing on a pebble tray among other plants.
