How to Care for Gloxinia Like a Pro So It Stays Happy and Healthy

How to Care for Gloxinia

Gloxinia plants are somewhat fussy houseplants and need specific care to help them thrive. The main things to keep in mind are to avoid overwatering, and to keep a consistently warm temperature and humidity level.

• Grow in a well-draining, peat-based potting mix.
• Place in a spot with bright, indirect light.
• Water to keep soil consistently moist, but avoid overwatering.
• Maintain a warm temperature between 65-75F, avoiding drafty locations.

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Light

The gloxinia plant prefers bright indirect light. Dappled or filtered light (as through a sheer curtain) are also suitable. Too much hot sun can fade or burn the flowers, so keep an eye on it in summer. Grow lights can also be used.

Soil

A well-draining potting mix suitable for African violets will keep gloxinia healthy. A mix of half peat moss (sifted to improve texture), and half mixture of perlite and coarse sand, with a bit of vermiculite, will make a good medium.

Water

The gloxinia needs moist soil, but too much moisture can cause the roots to rot. Drooping or wilted-looking leaves may be a sign of overwatering. This warmth-loving plant should also be watered with tepid, not cold, water.

Temperature and Humidity

This plant likes moderate humidity. Place the container on a tray with pebbles, adding to just reach the pebble line, making sure the bottom of the container stays dry. Maintain a warm environment, ideally no colder than 65F at night, and no warmer than 75F during the day. If gloxinia gets too cold, the leaves may become damaged.

Fertilizer

Use a basic balanced 15-15-15 fertilizer for gloxinia. You can apply water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks, or fertilize moderately with a 1/4 strength diluted solution at every watering, Be sure to follow the package directions. High urea or phosphate

Common Problems With Gloxinia

Gloxinia is a popular houseplant because of its gorgeous flowers, but it does take a bit of effort to keep it looking good and healthy.

Not Blooming Vigorously

Gloxinia can be sensitive to environmental stress, which may slow down flowering, so take care not to upset its routine. Flowers are more likely to appear in abundance if you gently pinch off some of the earliest flowers, to stimulate more buds.

Fading or Yellow Leaves or Flower Stalks

If leaves turn yellow or look faded, this means they’re probably older, so just snip them off. As flowers drop off, the stalks may look faded or dry, and can also be snipped.

Insect Pests

Gloxinia is not terribly susceptible to insect problems, but they may occasionally attract some mites or thrips. Using neem oil as recommended in the package directions can help to eliminate these common pests.

Root Rot

This is a result of overwatering. Gently cut away the damaged root, and store in dry medium in a dark spot until new growth appears (which may not happen, but it’s worth trying). Then try replanting in fresh potting soil.

How to Propagate Gloxinia

There are several ways to propagate gloxinia: from leaf cuttings or tubers.

Propagating Gloxinia From Leaf Cuttings

This is the easiest and most common way to propagate gloxinia. The method is the same as that used for similar tuberous plants such as begonias.

1. Choose leaves that are good-sized, not too young or old.
2. Cut off the leaf with a sharp knife, then gently cut across the leaf veins; this creates “wounds” to stimulate growth.
3. Lay the cut leaves on a tray of moistened seed starting medium. Make sure the cut leaf surface stays in contact with the planting medium.
4. Brush leaves lightly with hormone-rooting powder so that the powder gets into the cuts.
5. Cover the tray with clear plastic wrap or glass, then place it in a location with bright indirect light.
6. Keep seed starting medium moist but not wet. As new growth emerges from the cuts, remove the plastic covering gradually, a bit more each day.
7. Transfer the new seedlings to small containers once they form roots and are at least an inch high.

Propagating Gloxinia From Tubers

Planting tubers is the most popular way to grow gloxinia; however, you can also propagate them from tuber divisions. This is best done in spring, to align with this plant’s seasonal growth cycle.

1. Divide tubers using a clean sharp knife, and place pieces into shallow planters with lightweight potting medium, leaving the top of the tuber exposed.
2. Place the planters in a warm location away from cold drafts.
3. Keep soil consistently moist but not wet, and add trays of pebbles in water nearby for humidity.
4. Once the tuber sprouts growth, you can transplant to a larger container if desired, leaving the tuber slightly exposed at the top.

How to Grow Gloxinia From Seed

This can be challenging as gloxinia seeds are very small and need very specific conditions to germinate.

1. Mix seeds with a bit of sand and scatter them lightly over the surface of the planting tray with moistened, well-draining seed-starting mix or potting medium made for African violets.
2. Place in a warm location (70-75F) with bright, indirect light.
3. Cover with a plastic lid or plastic wrap to maintain humidity. Mist lightly to keep moist.
4. Seeds should begin to germinate within three weeks. Transplant seedlings gently once they’re two inches tall.