Callisia repens 'Turtle' (Turtle Plant) — H15 cm | Pot Ø10.5 cm
- Regular price
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€25,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€25,95
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Callisia repens 'Turtle' and 'Rosato'? The 'Turtle' has green and cream striped leaves in a turtle pattern, while the 'Rosato' has soft pink and light green leaves — both have a compact trailing habit, two opposite color palettes.
Why are the cream stripes on my Callisia 'Turtle' fading? Lack of light is the main cause — move it closer to a well-lit window without direct sun, and new shoots will regain their distinctive pattern.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🌿 Dense olive-green foliage • 💜 Purple undersides and stems • 🔵 Very compact rounded cushion • 🌤️ Bright indirect light • 🐾 Non-toxic
Callisia repens 'Turtle' forms a tight, rounded cushion of small, round olive-green leaves, with undersides and stems that are distinctly purple. Native to the tropical regions of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, it joins the catalog's hanging and trailing plants.
Its distinctive feature compared with other Callisia is its density: the stems remain short and tightly packed, creating a compact mass that spills over the pot in a ball rather than in long trailing stems. It is among the easiest fast-growing plants to propagate.
Which Callisia should you choose?
The Callisia genus comes in several varieties with very similar growth habits but clearly distinct colors:
- Callisia repens 'Turtle' (this plant) — dense olive green with purple undersides, forming a rounded cushion (H15 cm | Pot Ø10,5 cm). The most compact version.
- Callisia repens — uniform gray-green foliage in a spreading cushion (H17 cm | Pot Ø12 cm). The most understated version.
- Variegated Callisia repens — silver bands on a green background, purple stems (H14 cm | Pot Ø12 cm). The most colorful version.
Light & placement
The olive and purple hues of the stems depend directly on the light received. In the shade, the foliage turns uniformly green, the stems elongate, and the cushion loses its characteristic density.
- Light: bright indirect light — east- or west-facing window, or south-facing window with a sheer curtain. A few hours of gentle sun intensify the colors.
- Placement: shelf, hanging planter, windowsill, desk — anywhere the cushion can spill over the container.
- Temperature: 18 to 27 °C — minimum 12 °C, sensitive to cold drafts.
- Soil type: light universal potting soil, mixed with a little perlite.
Elongating stems with long spaces between the leaves signal a lack of light: moving the plant closer to a window makes subsequent growth denser.
Watering & care
The fleshy leaves of Callisia store a little water, allowing it to tolerate an occasional missed watering. A light, well-draining substrate, however, prevents the stems from rotting at the crown, while the foliage always signals a problem before it worsens.
- Watering: moderate — let the surface of the substrate dry to a depth of 2 cm, approximately once a week in spring and summer, and every two weeks in winter.
- Drainage: a pot with drainage holes is essential; empty the saucer after each watering.
- Foliage: keep it dry — because the cushion is very dense, water trapped between the leaves quickly causes the stems to rot.
- Humidity: no particular requirements; normal indoor air suits it.
- Pruning: pinch the tips regularly to maintain the rounded shape.
- Fertilizer: half-strength liquid fertilizer for green plants, once a month from April to September only.
The plant ages from the base: after two or three years, it is better to replace it entirely from cuttings rather than try to rejuvenate the mother plant.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
Its compact cushion shape reads as a solid mass, very different from trailing plants with long stems. Its relaxed look naturally suits bohemian-style interiors.
- For a trio of Callisia, line it up with the green Callisia repens and the silver-variegated one — the same genus, with three complementary foliage colors.
- For a non-toxic shelf, pair it with a Chlorophytum 'Bonnie' with curly leaves — two pet-safe plants, one rounded and the other tousled.
- For a contrast in scale, place a Pilea depressa with tiny bright green leaves beside it — two miniature ground covers in contrasting shades.
- To prolong the purple color, place the pot inside an anthracite Mayk Lead decorative pot Ø20 cm with a brushed metallic finish — the dark gray brings out the olive tones of the foliage.
- For a lighter look, the matte white Gabriel decorative pot Ø14 cm with a honeycomb texture clearly sets off the cushion's dark mass.
Placed on the edge of a shelf, the cushion spills over into a regular hemisphere, an effect that Callisia with long stems cannot achieve.
Verdeia tips
- Propagate it by pinching: each cut tip roots within a few days when placed on moist potting soil or in a glass of water. Replanting three or four cuttings in the same pot immediately makes the clump denser.
- Water at the base, never over the foliage: the density of the cushion traps water in the center of the plant, where it causes the stems to rot. Pour directly onto the substrate along the inside wall of the pot.
- Replace the plant every two years: the stems naturally become bare at the base as they age. Starting again from fresh cuttings gives much better results than rejuvenation pruning.
Technical characteristics
- Botanical name: Callisia repens 'Turtle'
- Common name: Turtle plant, dwarf wandering Jew
- Family: Commelinaceae
- Origin: tropical regions of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean
- Dimensions on delivery: H15 cm | Pot Ø10.5 cm
- Mature height: 15 cm, with trailing stems reaching 30 cm
- Light exposure: bright indirect light
- Watering: moderate; let the surface of the substrate dry out between waterings
- Humidity: no special requirements
- Soil type: light, well-draining universal potting soil
- Growth: very fast, dense, rounded cushion-like growth
- Foliage: evergreen, small round olive-green leaves with purple undersides
- Care: very easy
- Toxicity: 🐾 non-toxic to animals and children
- Decorative style: Bohemian / Urban jungle / Minimalist
Each plant is unique: the density of the cushion and the intensity of the purple naturally vary depending on growing light.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What to do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.