Care of the indoor plant Nertera granadensis or Coral bead plant |
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The genus Nertera, family Rubiaceae, comprises 25 species of herbaceous plants native to South America and Australasia. Some species are: Nertera granadensis, Nertera depressa, Nertera assurgens, Nertera balfouriana, Nertera ciliata, Nertera adsurgens. Common names: English baby tears, Coral moss, Coral bead plant, Pin-cushion plant. They are small perennial plants with a creeping habit that reach 10 cm (3.93") in height. The fine prostrate stems have small rounded, petioleless, light green leaves. They bloom in late spring. They produce flowers that have no ornamental value. The decorative orange fruits appear in late summer and last for several months on the plant. They are used as an indoor plant in exhibitions in which they receive direct sun in the early morning or late afternoon (at least 3 hours of sun). Ideal temperatures are 15-18 ºC (59-64 ºF); if it's hotter it will produce more leaves than fruits. The soil can be a mixture, in equal parts, of peat, leaf mulch, and coarse sand. In case of transplantation it's better to do it in spring. Water in summer enough so that the soil is always moist, waiting for the surface of the substrate to dry out; spray the plant with lime-free water in hot weather. In winter water less but do not allow the substrate to dry out completely for several days. Fertilize monthly with mineral fertilizer from when the flowers appear until the fruits ripen. They are relatively easy plants to grow and resistant to pests and diseases. They propagate in spring by division; take advantage of the moment of transplantation to propagate them. |
Images of the indoor plant Nertera granadensis or Coral bead plant |
 Nertera granadensis  Nertera granadensis  Nertera granadensis |