This character is a "weed" in parts of Asia. But heck, I love this plant. I grow mine as an annual year round, even though it's a perennial. The seeds are inexpensive and are found everywhere - including local supermarket seed racks. The plant loves sunshine and moisture...but water only when the soil gets a bit on the dry side. Don't let your soil dry out! Generally it grows in any soil mixture - ie. it's not too picky, has low maintenance requirements and grows quickly. I use an African violet mix. If you trim it back hard during it's growing season (our summer), it will bet bushy and you'll be rewarded with lots of new leaves for you and your friends to tease. late during our summers, you'll also get bonus flowers - like small pink pom-poms festooned all over the plant.
Be careful about handling it too much, i.e. having a child play with it to watch it close up over and over again, as it eventually will tire and not do well at all. It's a cute feature, but needs respecting.
