---
title: "Any gesneriad experts here? This is an episcia. No, the leaves aren’t…"
description: "Any gesneriad experts here? This is an episcia. No, the leaves aren’t supposed to be that small. But they’ve been that way for months. I’ve got other plants…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/msoxCfjMqdBg14xQHKZ1rE"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "MattL"
published: "2026-01-14T01:30:17.328623Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/kB_vNslITYiEEhKexo-FhuY3jFaLvKj-8_vu6VP3Gx8/hGWyEtjeTDaIXDiG5S1TxA.webp?size=large"
---

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# Any gesneriad experts here? This is an episcia. No, the leaves aren’t…

_Posted by MattL on 2026-01-14_

Any gesneriad experts here? This is an episcia. No, the leaves aren’t supposed to be that small. But they’ve been that way for months. I’ve got other plants next to it that seem happy, including a ludisia, a streptocarpus, and two violets. It’s getting the same care and light they are.

What am I doing wrong?!

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/kB_vNslITYiEEhKexo-FhuY3jFaLvKj-8_vu6VP3Gx8/hGWyEtjeTDaIXDiG5S1TxA.webp?size=large)

## 4 comments

### Kameron 🌿 commented on 2026-01-14

Hello, although not an expert my mom is and here is what she believes might be going on. She believes it may be root bound, or have bad root development. To check you can gently unpot, and be very careful things are already small and fragile - Than check if the roots or sparse or mushy, or tightly coiled . Also the pebbles on top can slow down evaporation, and moisture which this plant doesn’t usually enjoy. They prefer light airy soil, that drains well and doesn’t stay soggy ! They also crave high humidity, and often.. Bringing them in the bathroom as you shower has helped my mom out a ton.. Just a quick trip and right back to its home - No more than 30 Minutes. ( Steaming hot shower conditions ) and Same light doesn’t mean the same results, things change based of angle and intensity. What to do : Repot in African Violet Mix + perlite.  
Remove the pebbles  
Boost Humidity  
Feed with a diluted fertilizer, and give her time. Don’t overdo anything you would normally do, be patient and diligent but also give her space to grow.

#### MattL replied on 2026-01-14

Thank your mom so much for me—I’ll do these things!

#### Kameron 🌿 replied on 2026-01-14

Mhm ofcourse. Also, some Gardenera 3-1-2 fertilizer brought hers back from a blizzard once when left outside. It’ll give it a slow and gentle recovery but she will come back super strong!

#### MattL replied on 2026-01-14

No blizzards were involved but I will try that fertilizer or similar. I noticed when I took it out of the pot that it was more underpotted, so I went down a pot size, maybe that was the problem!

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