Callisia repens, also known as turtle vine, is a creeping succulent consisting of tiny little leaves that form a trailing mat of foliage followed by odorless flowers. The “pink panther” variety has variegated pink and cream leaves that form a distinctive poof.

This species is actually native to the western hemisphere, from the southern part of the US to Argentina, but has been naturalized in countries like China and Australia!

Callisias are often called inchplants, due to their ability to propagate easily in water after pinching an inch off the mother plant and popping it in water! This information will come in handy as you notice their affinity for thinning out on top after a few weeks. Trim some of the longer vines off, propagate them until they grow a few inches of roots and plant them in the bare spots! I like to stick a chopstick into the soil to make a long, narrow hole to easily insert the propagation into. 

If your callisia is not getting enough light, you’ll notice its vines beginning to grow long and leggy without a lot of leaves. They’ll start to grow towards their light source, reaching for more sun. Provide more light and consider rotating the plant 180 degrees to even out the growth.

It can be a little tricky to pin down their ideal watering schedule, so aim for a good watering once a week and keep humidity up. Their roots are really delicate, so don’t soak them in water for too long, nor should you let them dry out too much either. It’s a fine line to walk, so always call us with any questions!