|
LINTNER: F. Argy; It’s a good fit on ya!
By AUDREY LINTNER, Blooming Dells
|
|
I’d better type fast; I think the baby’s only pretending to nap.
When Larry and I went to visit his mom last Sunday (she’s a neat lady; you’d like her), she showed me a small potted plant in the kitchen. A very cute little thing, with thick stems and patterned leaves. She wanted to make sure she was caring for it properly and I needed a column idea, so here we go with Fittonia argyroneura.
The little ornamental in Shirley’s kitchen has quite a heritage. You’ve probably seen them in your local grocery and department store garden sections, but they traveled quite a distance to get there. They’re native to Peru and grown specifically for their striking foliage, dark green, ovate (egg shaped) leaves veined in white. These marks give rise to some nicknames for F. Argy, such as Net-Leaf and Mosaic Plant.
Although grown strictly for its leaves, this plant does produce what are referred to as “insignificant” flowers (not by me; I think all flowers are significant). Conventional wisdom advises pinching off these blossoms to prevent straggliness, but if green dreadlocks are your thing, by all means let ‘em bloom. You might start a trend.
There’s a dark side to F. Argy, and not just because they thrive in indirect light. They’re creepy. No, I mean it. These little guys are ground cover, reaching about six inches high and creeping out in all directions. Until the weed eater comes along, that is.
Up here in the Midwest, a tropical plant such as this needs a little extra TLC. Not the TV station, but Tender Loving Care. Heat and moisture are the order of the day. They can be outside for the summer as long as they’re in the shade and get plenty of water. The humidity factor around here is a plus for a change.
You don’t have to worry about finding a big, deep pot to plant a Net-Leaf. Think shallow to go along with the shade. If you can get hold of some nice, crumbly compost, mix it in with your soil and throw in a big handful of sand. This will give F. Argy plenty of room to kick around in, and keep him from getting soggy or squished.
During the winter, make sure to keep the Net-Leaf warm. A minimum of 60 degrees is needed. You can cut back on the watering, but don’t let the soil dry out. When spring rolls around, trim back as necessary. You can also look for new shoots that can be taken for cuttings, and divide the adult plant if it’s getting too crowded.
If you’re in a Christmas kind of mood, look up F. Argy’s cousin, Fittonia Verschaffeltii. This little lovely has olive green leaves patterned in red. Now, if there were only a variety with blue netting on the leaves…
My mind is wandering and my eyes have followed it over to the fish tank. Jeez, I need to do a bit of cleaning in there. We’ve got rocks and a mix of plastic and real plants, plus a healthy dose of algae. Hey, wanna guess what you’re going to be reading about next week? I’d like to say, “Our trip to Ireland”, but it’s not gonna happen any time soon. Rats.
See you next time, folks.
Audrey Lintner can be reached by e-mail at gardenherald@hotmail.com.
|
|
