Habitat: tropical and subtropical areas, particularly in the Caribbeans and other regions north of South America.
Description: a family of dicotyledonous plants comprising one hundred genera or so; the plants are herbaceous or shrub-like and produce large hermaphrodite flowers. The fruit is a capsule, rarely a berry.
Soil: basic mix.
Location: grow in dappled shade.
Temperature: minimum temperature of 10°C (50°F).
Water: these plants do no tolerate drought and need to be kept constantly moist.
Cultivation tips: they are commonly grown in terrariums; easy to propagate from seed or cuttings (leaf cuttings are also possible)
Main genera of Gesneriaceae: Rechsteineria, Sinningia.