| Life form | Herbaceous plant, ampel |
| Family | Gesneriaceae |
| Origin and distribution | Central and South America from Mexico to Brazil |
| Ease of cultivation | Easy enough to grow |
| The size | Up to 45 cm |
| Growth rate | Average |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Temperature | The codonant is fairly thermophilic, it should be kept at a temperature not lower than 55,4 ° F. In the summer, the optimal temperature is 68-77 ° F. For better flowering, it is recommended to lower the temperature slightly during winter, but even without a period of rest the plant blooms quite abundantly. |
| Humidity | The codonant prefers increased humidity and regular spraying, but can adapt to ordinary room conditions. Nevertheless, the appearance of brown tips at the leaves indicates a lack of moisture. |
| Lighting | Optimal is the placement of the flowerpot on the east or west window and a few hours of indirect sunlight per day. Requires shading during the day. The plant can be grown under artificial illumination |
| The soil | Use a breathable substrate for germinating. You can apply soil mixture from leaf land, peat, humus, sand or perlite. The codonant can even grow in a substrate from a mixture of peat, perlite, sphagnum, coco-soil. Requires good drainage. |
| Watering | Watered about once in 3-6 days, when the soil will dry for about 3-5 cm. The codonant easily suffers a short absence of watering, but it develops and grows better with regular moistening. At the same time, excessive watering and stagnant moisture is more dangerous for the plant, since it can lead to decay of the root system. In winter, watering is significantly reduced. For watering use soft, standing water at room temperature. |
| How to fertilize | Fertilize during growth period every 2-3 weeks with additional fertilizer for flowering plants. In general, the plant is not too demanding on fertilizers. |
| Reproduction | The main method of reproduction of the codonant is cuttings. Cuttings can be rooted directly in the substrate under polyethylene or in water. Root formation lasts about a month. Usually a few cuttings are planted in the pot to form a lush bush. Quite often the codonant is multiplied by dividing the bush during transplantation. It is possible to propagate by layers, pinching too long shoots to the soil, the roots appear from the sinuses of the leaves. Can be propagated by seeds, sowing them in a substrate and germinating under glass at a temperature of + 68-77 ° F. After germination, when the seedlings increase in size, they plant several plants in one pot. |
| Bloom | Flowers about 2 cm, white with a colored throat, either pink or spotted. Blossoms more often in the spring and summer, but can bloom in the winter, in place of the flowers later formed red berries, giving the plant a special decorative. |
| Transplant and care | Transplanted approximately every 2 years into shallow small pots 12 cm in diameter, about 9-10 cm high. Extruded shoots should be cut immediately after flowering or after the fall of berries. Also, the plant should be regularly pricked. Extruded shoots should be cut immediately after flowering or after the fall of berries. |
| Difficulties | The main pest: aphids, also on the plant may appear spider mite, mealybug. |
| Beneficial features | In Central America infusion of leaves codonants used to treat skin irritation and pain relief from insect bites. |
| Toxicity | Not poisonous |
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