How to Grow Wood Nymph Gloxinia
Wood Nymph Gloxinia
Sinningia speciosa 'Wood Nymph'
flowerWood Nymph is a compact cultivar of Sinningia speciosa (Gloxinia) featuring striking deep purple flowers with white throats and velvety foliage. This tender perennial is prized as a houseplant and blooms prolifically during warm months. The plant produces elegant, bell-shaped flowers and attractive heart-shaped, fuzzy leaves.
When should you plant Wood Nymph Gloxinia in your zone?
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Example Wood Nymph Gloxinia timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Wood Nymph Gloxinia
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Wood Nymph Gloxinia blooms
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Wood Nymph Gloxinia dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Best grown indoors or in zones 10b-11; typically grown as a houseplant in cooler climates
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Tuber Dormancy to Sprouting
2-3 weeksDormant tubers begin producing sprouts and small leaves; roots develop from the tuber base
Start tubers in warm (70-75°F), moist soil; provide bottom heat if available; keep in moderate light; avoid overwatering dormant tubers
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksLeafy rosette develops with multiple stems; heart-shaped, velvety foliage becomes dense and full; plant grows rapidly
Maintain warm temperatures (65-75°F); provide bright, indirect light; fertilize every 2 weeks with balanced, diluted houseplant fertilizer; maintain consistent moisture
Bud Formation
1-2 weeksFlower buds appear in leaf axils throughout the plant; buds are tightly clustered and visible before opening
Continue bright indirect light; maintain humidity at 50-60%; avoid temperature fluctuations; reduce nitrogen slightly to encourage flowering; continue regular watering
Flowering
6-10 weeksDeep purple flowers with white throats open in succession; blooms are large, velvety, and bell-shaped; continuous flowering occurs over weeks
Maintain bright light and warm temperatures; provide phosphorus-rich fertilizer every 2 weeks; remove faded flowers to encourage more blooms; maintain humidity; ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues
Senescence and Dormancy
Variable, typically November-FebruaryFlowering diminishes; foliage yellows and dies back naturally; tuber underground enters dormancy period
Gradually reduce watering as plant dies back; stop fertilizing; cut back dead foliage; store tuber in cool (50-60°F), dry location for 2-3 months before restarting cycle
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; isolate affected plants; use cotton swabs dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol to spot-treat
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Increase humidity; spray leaves with water; apply neem oil or horticultural oil; ensure good air circulation
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Spray with insecticidal soap; rinse with water; apply neem oil; encourage natural predators
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Improve air circulation; avoid wetting foliage; reduce watering frequency; remove infected leaves; apply sulfur dust if severe
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Ensure excellent drainage; avoid overwatering; use well-draining soil; remove affected plants; prevent water from sitting on crown
Uses
Not for consumption
CulinarySinningia is ornamental only and should not be eaten or used in food preparation. [source]
Interior decoration and houseplant
HouseholdWood Nymph's compact size and profuse purple blooms make it ideal for desktops, shelves, and houseplant collections. Perfect for adding color to indoor spaces, terrariums, or plant stands. [source]
Fresh flower arranging
CraftIndividual Sinningia flowers are striking and can be used in small floral arrangements or corsages. The velvety blooms add texture and color to fresh arrangements. [source]
Hummingbird and pollinator attraction
WildlifeThe tubular flowers attract hummingbirds and small pollinators when grown in outdoor or greenhouse settings. The bell-shaped blooms are particularly attractive to specialized pollinators. [source]
Traditional plant lore
MedicinalWhile not used medicinally in modern herbalism, Sinningia has historical significance in ornamental plant cultivation and Victorian plant collections. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Not applicable for ornamental flowers. For propagation: Divide tubers in spring when sprouting begins, ensuring each section has at least one growth eye. Cut tubers cleanly with sterile knife, dust with fungicide, and allow to dry before potting. Alternatively, propagate from leaf cuttings in humid conditions with bottom heat.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Sinningia is named after Wilhelm Sinning, head gardener at the University of Bonn in the 19th century, honoring his contributions to horticulture.
- 🌱 Despite being called 'Gloxinia,' true Gloxinia is a different genus (Gloxinia perennis), though the names are used interchangeably for Sinningia speciosa in the horticultural trade.
- 🌱 The velvety texture of Sinningia leaves and flowers is due to tiny hairs on the leaf surface called trichomes, which also help reduce water loss and prevent fungal infections.
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