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Agapetes

Agapetes serpens

Please take your time removing your plant from it's packaging.

Soil -- Agapetes prefers acid soil without lime. While it can probably adapt to most regular potting soils, it's best to add some peat moss to acidify it. A good mix would be 1 part potting soil to 1 part peat moss to 1 part perlite or fine-grade orchid bark. In the wild, it grows on rocky slopes that get plenty of moisture.

Container growing -- grow your plant in a 1 or 2 gallon container until the roots reach the bottom. Then either plant it in the ground if you're in a mild-winter area, or into a 5-10 gallon pot. Be careful whenever transplanting, so as not to damage the fine roots. It's a good idea to put a 1-2" layer of gravel at the bottom for extra drainage. Avoid packing down the soil around the plant.

Watering -- It's best to use bottled water, spring water, or rainwater. Tap water is often alkaline in many parts of the country, so it shouldn't be used for Agapetes unless you chemically neutralize it (too detailed to go into here - email for tips). Water your plant lightly but often, keeping the soil on the moist side. Occasionally water heavily to leach out any excess fertilizer. Do not keep the plant perpetually soggy, and don't let the pot sit in a tray of water.

Light - Agapetes likes tree filtered sun, so that it gets about 50% sun. In hot areas, it's best to give it mid-day shade and plenty of ventilation. Your plant was grown in filtered light, so please acclimate it to direct sun slowly. Start it with about an hour or two of morning sun, and increase this by an hour every week.

Fertilizer - You can probably get away with using an ordinary, all-purpose fertilizer, but it's best to use an "acid-loving plant" fertilizer or citrus fertilizer at least some of the time. You can also use a good hydroponics fertilizer like General Hydroponics, which is slightly acid. Whichever fertilizer you use, it's best to feed light doses with each water rather than full-strength feedings infrequently. 

Overwintering - In its homeland of the Himalayas, the temperature gets down to about 32°. It can probably survive several degrees of frost, but it does best with temperatures above 40°. I recommend giving it protection when frost is predicted. You can test its hardiness with cuttings. You can grow it indoors, provided that it gets some fresh air, and the air isn't too dry. Agapetes prefers some humidity.

Propagation -- Easy. Cut a 3-4" branch, remove the leaves on the bottom third, and stick it in a pot of moist soil. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag that has a couple small holes punched in it. Put the pot in a bright spot with no direct sun until it's rooted (4-8 weeks). A fluorescent bulb kept 6" away gives the right amount of light until it has roots.  

By the way, it's normal for the new growth to be reddish.

If you have any questions or problems, please email me.

Enjoy your plant!

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