White Temple Bells (Temple Bells) care

Light

In the wild white temple bells grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. Needs bright, indirect light during the growing season. An east- or west-facing windowsill is ideal. Avoid harsh midday direct sun, which can scorch the soft foliage. A grow light helps maintain flowering in darker rooms. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for when the top 2 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7 days during active growth for white temple bells, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Water moderately during the growing season, ensuring the pot drains freely. Reduce gradually as foliage yellows in autumn, then stop completely while the rhizomes are dormant over winter. Resume gentle watering in late winter as new growth appears.

Soil and pot

White Temple Bells grows best in light, free-draining peat-free compost with perlite. A mix of fine bark, perlite, and peat-free compost (1:1:2) suits this rhizomatous species well. Good aeration prevents rhizome rot during the dormant period. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

White Temple Bells sits happiest at around 50-70% humidity and 16-24°C (61-75°F). High ambient humidity encourages lush foliage and long flowering. Use a pebble tray or humidifier during the growing season. Avoid misting, which promotes leaf spotting and fungal issues on the velvety surface. If you keep the room above 16 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed white temple bells sparingly. During active growth (spring through early autumn), apply a half-strength balanced liquid fertiliser every 2-3 weeks. Switch to a high-phosphorus feed when flower buds form to extend the display. Do not feed dormant plants. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on white temple bells in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Rhizome rot — Overwatering during dormancy is the main cause. Stop watering completely once the foliage dies back in autumn.
• Failure to re-emerge — Rhizomes need a cool, dry rest period to reset flowering. Store pots in a cool (12-15°C) location over winter.
• Leaf spotting — Water on the velvety leaves causes unsightly marks. Water from the base and avoid misting.
• Aphids or fungus gnats — Common in humid conditions. Allow the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings to deter gnats; use yellow sticky traps.
• Botrytis — Grey mould can develop in low-light, stagnant-air conditions. Improve ventilation and remove any affected plant material promptly.

Companion plants

White Temple Bells pairs well with Kohleria, Achimenes, and Streptocarpus. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Divide rhizomes at repotting time in spring, ensuring each section has at least one visible bud. Pot sections individually in lightly moist propagation mix and place in a warm, humid spot. Leaf cuttings can also root in spring with bottom heat (21°C). Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

White Temple Bells is pet-safe. Smithiantha is a gesneriad and is not listed by the ASPCA as toxic to cats or dogs. The gesneriad family as a whole is widely regarded as non-toxic; no harmful compounds have been reported in this genus. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

White Temple Bells deep-dive guides

Every aspect of white temple bells care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common white temple bells problems & fixes
• White Temple Bells watering schedule
• White Temple Bells light requirements
• Best soil mix for white temple bells
• White Temple Bells fertilizing guide
• When to repot white temple bells
• How to propagate white temple bells
• How to prune white temple bells
• What's eating my white temple bells?
• White Temple Bells growth rate & size
• White Temple Bells cold hardiness
• White Temple Bells temperature & humidity
• Is white temple bells toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is white temple bells toxic to cats?
• Is white temple bells toxic to dogs?
• All 6 Smithiantha varieties

Featured in these plant shortlists

White Temple Bells qualifies for 6 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Browse all 30 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

White Temple Bells is also commonly called Temple Bells or White Smithiantha.

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• All 11687 plant care guides in the Growli library