Nematanthus hirtellus

Nematanthus hirtellus

A beautiful trailing Gesneriad from the Atlantic forests of Brazil, Nematanthus hirtellus is a wonderful choice for terrariums, humid greenhouses and naturalistic planted displays.

It develops slender, cascading stems clothed in attractive green foliage, gradually forming a loose, scrambling plant that looks particularly good allowed to trail naturally over wood or from a mounted position. Its flowers are tubular and characterful, emerging amongst the foliage and adding a splash of colour to the plant.

In nature, Nematanthus species often grow as epiphytes or lithophytes in humid forest environments, making this a particularly good companion for moisture-loving miniature orchids.

Care

Light: Bright filtered light to gentle shade. Avoid strong direct sun.

Temperature: Intermediate to warm, ideally around 16–26°C. Protect from prolonged cold conditions.

Water: Keep evenly moist during active growth but never waterlogged. Allow the surface around the roots to begin drying slightly before watering again.

Humidity: Appreciates high humidity, around 70–90%, particularly when grown epiphytically or mounted.

Airflow: Good gentle airflow is important in consistently humid conditions.

Feeding: Feed lightly during active growth with a dilute balanced fertiliser.

Growing: Excellent in terrariums, paludariums and humid greenhouse displays, where its stems can be allowed to trail naturally amongst mosses, orchids and other epiphytes.

🌿 A delicate Brazilian forest plant with a naturally trailing habit — perfect for bringing another layer of life to a humid, planted environment.