Comparing to all of my Episcias put together I would say this is my favorite one.
The colors just seemed to explode and give radiance wherever it's placed.
And its much hardier than then the other pink/red counterparts.
The other factor is that this one is considered free-flowering equivalent to the green shaded ones. I would recommend to start with Malayan Gem first instead of other pink/red leaved types for beginners.
Identifying this particular does prove a challenge as I'm still not very sure whether if it is Malayan Gem or Ruby Red Dress. I think I will use the more familiar common name as its more safer to assume an Asian name (being more practical and realistic as I got it from a local nursery)
Another amazing feature is that the leaf structure is long and sturdy. It does not have visible burn marks or flaws and the newer ones forms interestingly like a rosette and being in this sweet red tones gives out a grape wine tones.
Sun expose plays a big major role, a fine cool bright shade brings out the sweet tones and the hot bright expose brings out rather the orange tones on the former back leaves (which is not so visible here as I rarely get that direct hot sun for very limited hours in a week.
The other factor that makes a lot of difference is that I had planted them together in a combination with Aglaonema and this provide a sturdy anchor and well balance ambiance between two different needs of plants. One roots deeper and the other fairly shallow and cascades.
Regardless, this is truly is a beauty and I highly recommend to try this one without hesitation.
UPDATED DECEMBER 2019
It has been like a year cultivating this particular episcia and I wanted to write some updates about my experience on this one. I had found that only this particular red version colored foliage types somehow seemed to be hardy compared to the rest of the pink / red kind.
This one is resilient and able to handle stress well but a slow grower indeed.
However, after about 6 months or so, they require pruning and re-potting as the plant can become so leggy and messy. If failed to do so, the plant slowly succumb to withering and slow death - the plant sort-off terminate just below the root ball and that is the end of the plant if not checked or inspected.
Their care & needs are similar to begonias - high humidity, shade loving plant and proper feeding regime to ensure stability and well balanced plant.
Below are the pictures about the episcia in my garden in this one year duration:
Please click on the link on the title above for the post.
Here is the link where I had put together a list of all the Episcias that I had come across. A database of all the different types & their characteristics.
Sir, I'm an episcia collector and previously, I was told that the name of the episcia that you call "Malayan Gem" was "Malaysian Gem". I would like to know if there is another episcia hybrid by that name or my source was just mistaken when he told me that it was Malaysian Gem. I searched online and I saw on Carousell a "malayan gem" and a malaysian gem". I hope you could enlighten me on that. thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for following up on this matter.
ReplyDeleteBasically it's officially known as Malayan Gem. I'm guessing that it would had a synonym equivalent with "Malayan" and "Malaysian" being having the same name.
Like this name: "Malayan Tiger" is very much officially accepted rather than "Malaysian Tiger"
Sometimes, the online plant vendors are not so interested in giving accurate plant information as they are very much interested in the plant sale and their only reference is the plant picture that is posted for sale.
I had tough time even to note the difference with Episcia Red Dress, Episcia Pink Acajou.
And the end of the day.. the variants are so similar and the coloration happens to differ based on climate or environment change (different lighting and fertilizing)
And so, based on the facts at hand. I can only come to conclusion as such that this is indeed Malayan Gem.
Hi sir good evening,..
ReplyDeleteIm from Phil.. and im always looking your new updates about Episcia, since i got new varities Purple Leopard her id,i want to read some ..characteristic about this new id that i found her name through other site..ty
Hi Phil,
ReplyDeleteGlad you managed to find your ID of the Episcia, I realised that there are so many now that it is hard to keep updated unless you have a plant vendor who sells them with their ID together with it. Anyway, thank you so much for dropping by.