Botanical names: Henckelia moonii, Chirita moonii
Common names: Blue bell, Moonlight
Family: Gesneriaceae
Origin: Asia
Chiritas are some of the most popular gesneriad plants that have come about in recent years. They are native to the Asian area, growing in the higher elevations. They are grown for their beautiful foliage, showy flowers, and ease of care. They grow very well with lower light levels, cooler temperatures, and a minimum of water and fertilizer. Requirements for artificial lighting would be around 8 to 10 hours. They will do well on the bottom shelf of "light stands" and near the end of the fluorescent light tubes. Use a light, porous potting mix, and grow them in small pots. Let the soil become fairly dry between watering. Feed plants regularly, using a well balanced fertilizer, at 1/4 tsp. per gallon of water, with every watering.