Labisia obtusifolia 'Kura Kura' – leaves with a pattern resembling a țstoasă frogă shell

General descriptionă

Labisia obtusifolia 'Kura Kura' is a low-growing, decorative form of Labisia, which forms a compact rosette of elongated leaves. The genus Labisia is native to the humid forests of Southeast Asia, where these plants live at ground level, in filtered light and high humidity. The leaves have a strong, net-like pattern, with light veins branching out against a deep green background.

In 'Kura Kura', young leaves can have reddish or purplish hues, while mature leaves are medium to dark green, with a clear contrast between the yellowish-green midrib and the darker areas between the veins. The mosaic pattern on the leaves is the plant's main attraction. I know of no documented details about the exact origin of the commercial selection of ‘Kura Kura’; The above description is based on the visible characteristics of the plant and general information known about Labisia obtusifolia.

Characteristics

• Small indoor plant, with a rosette habit and low growth.
• Elongated, slightly lanceolate leaves, with a pronounced pattern of veins that create a "net" appearance.
• Variable color of the leaves: young leaves can be reddish-green or purplish, and mature ones are deep green with darker areas between the veins.
• Suitable for terrariums, plant showcases or bright corners with filtered light.
• Strong decorative accent due to the patterned foliage, ideal for lovers of rare indoor plants.

Care

• Light: prefers medium to strong indirect light; avoid direct sunlight. direct sun, which can discolor or burn the leaves.
• Watering: the substrate is kept constantly slightly moist, but not soaked; let the top layer begin to dry out before the next watering.
• Substrate: well-drained and slightly aerated mixture, suitable for tropical plants (for example, fibrous peat combined with perlite and other aerating materials).
• Temperature: feels good at temperatures of about 20–28 °C; avoid cold drafts and sudden temperature changes.
• Humidity: prefers moderate to high ambient humidity; can be grown very well in a terrarium or near a humidifier.
• Fertilization: During the growing season, a diluted liquid fertilizer for foliage plants can be applied occasionally, following the recommended doses.