How to care for flame violet (Episcia cupreata)

Episcia cupreata

Flame violet (Episcia cupreata) — a low, trailing evergreen perennial about 10–30 cm tall that spreads by runners; grown for its velvety leaves marked in silver, copper and green and for funnel-shaped red to orange flowers with a yellow throat. Flame violet needs partial shade, with 50–100 % air humidity. Water it about every 5 days while it grows and about every 10 days in the winter rest.

Updated: November 4, 2026

Watering and repotting flame violet through the year

It lives indoors all year, so it has no sowing or planting dates: it grows from March to September and rests from October to February (the other way round in the southern hemisphere).

Repot it about every 24 months.

When to plant flame violet?

Plant or repot flame violet in spring, as it starts into growth; early to midsummer also works. It is a houseplant, so it has no outdoor planting date and no frost decides it: just avoid autumn and winter, when growth slows and fresh compost stays wet too long. After that, move it to a slightly larger pot about every two years, or sooner once roots circle the pot or grow through the drainage holes.

Watering in the growing and resting halves of the year: Watering and repotting flame violet through the year.

Sources: RHS: How to repot a plant · Penn State Extension: Repotting houseplants

Quick facts

Type	Houseplant
Latin name	Episcia cupreata
Family	Gesneriaceae
Light	Partial shade
Air humidity	50–100 %
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Repotting	every 24 months
Grown in	At home

Flame violet care by growth stage

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 5 days	—	potassium, 14 days into the stage; potassium, 28 days into the stage; potassium, 42 days into the stage; potassium, 56 days into the stage; potassium, 70 days into the stage; potassium, 84 days into the stage; potassium, 98 days into the stage; potassium, 112 days into the stage; potassium, 126 days into the stage; potassium, 140 days into the stage; potassium, 154 days into the stage; potassium, 168 days into the stage; potassium, 182 days into the stage
Winter rest	every 10 days	—	—

Growing notes

Light

Bright filtered light, for example on an east- or west-facing windowsill, shaded from hot sun; direct sun scorches the leaves, yet it needs bright conditions to flower.

Soil

A rich, well-drained organic potting mix of the kind used for African violets.

Care

In the growing season water freely but let the surface dry slightly between waterings, and use room-temperature water kept off the leaves; water sparingly in winter. It wants warmth (about 21–27 °C) and humidity above 50 per cent; brown leaf margins mean the air is too dry. Growth stops below about 16 °C and a few hours below 10 °C can kill it. Feed fortnightly with a high-potassium fertiliser while growing. Overwatering brings basal rot and grey mould. To propagate, pinch off a runner plantlet with four leaves and push it into moist mix; it roots in about three weeks.

Pests and diseases of Flame violet

2 problems are recorded for flame violet; each has a page with symptoms, treatment and prevention.

Diseases

Grey mould

Pests

Vine weevil

Other plants of the Gesneriaceae family

Flame violet belongs to Gesneriaceae; 3 other plants of this family have a guide here.

Plant lists it is in

Part of: Houseplants · Houseplants that like humid air · Thirsty houseplants

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.