Home	Strange Wonderful Things Rare and exotic plants & seeds

Red Butterfly Wing

Christia vespertilionis

You may start the seeds in small containers 2 inches (5 cm) tall.  The soil mix should be loose and well-draining.  A good mix is equal parts of potting soil and perlite. Fill each container with the soil mix. Don't compress the soil. Place 1 or 2 seeds on top, and cover with about 1/4 inch (6 mm) of soil. Water the soil so it is evenly moist (but not soggy). The seeds germinate well at 70-80 degrees F (21-27°C).

Until the seeds sprout, ensure that the top layer of soil does not dry out.  If you enclose the pots in a plastic container to maintain humidity, allow some fresh air to enter either by punching small holes in it, or by leaving it open a crack.

The seeds should start sprouting in 4 weeks, but allow up to 10 weeks for any slow ones to sprout.

I recommend growing the seedlings indoors for at least the first 6 weeks.  Filtered sun or bright shade is best when they are young.  Or you may use a fluorescent bulb kept about 3-5 inches (7-12 cm) from the plants.  After 2 or 3 months, you may give them more sunlight if you wish.  Over about 40% humidity is recommended.

Repot to a larger pot after about 8 weeks.  Transplant gently to avoid breaking apart the soil ball.  A mature plant may be kept in a 1 gallon (4 liter) pot, although you may keep smaller plants in 1 quart (1 liter) pots for a few months.

This species has average fertilizer needs.  Most potting soils contain fertilizer, so your seedlings shouldn't need fertilizer the first 3 weeks.  Thereafter, feed about every 6 weeks with an all-purpose fertilizer at half the dose recommended on the package.  It's normal for some of the older leaves to occasionally turn yellow and drop, but if it seems excessive, the plant may need more nitrogen fertilizer.

Pests to watch for - spider mites, whitefly, aphids.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me. 

Jeff

Strange Wonderful Things

 

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