'Pip Squeek'

'Pip Squeek' - Micro-mini Violet

If you are a ‘Pip Squeek’, you better be good at something.

 

            We have Mini Violets that are equally as showy as their bigger standard African Violets.  Mini Violets are a very desirable category of houseplant.  They have flower power with all colors of single or double flowers and grow easily at a bright window.

 

            Hobby violet growers like to have mini or semi-miniature hybrids because they take less space so you can have more of them.

 

            There are varieties that are half the size of Mini Violets. They might be called ‘Micro-mini’, but they are seldom seen so it’s hard to know.

 

            I have one who says it all --- ‘Pip Squeek’.  It’s full-size leaves are smaller than a nickel, but it loads up with many pink flowers in a 2” pot.  This is not restricted as a bonsai, but genetically tiny.

 

            As with any rare plants, they are hard to find because there is no supply.

 

            ‘Pip Squeek’ has vigor and pretty flowers.  One of the smallest flowering houseplants will attract attention.

 

Achimenes --- The beginning of the campaign - Part I

Achimenes 'DOT' - Hybrid from Romania

Achimenes --- The beginning of the campaign.  Part I

 

            Will Achimenes (Ah-KIM-en-eez) become a major new commercial crop?

 

            No one knows anything about this flowering houseplant that can go out into your shady patio planters.

 

            When these flowering shade plants start showing up in your garden center, will you buy one?

 

            They will be premium priced like other new products.  But new is fun, so try one.

 

            So where to put it?

 

            Achimenes can be grown as houseplants at bright windows or under fluorescent lights.  Hobby growers start their Achimenes by planting their rhizomes, harvested from last year’s pot.  Rhizomes can be planted 1” -2” from the surface, watered, grown in warm, high light.  When you have 2-3 pair of leaves, pinch (cut the top off) to cause branching.  Continue high light until buds and flowers.

 

            But if you buy a finished pot at the garden center, this has already been done for you.

 

            Your flowering pot can be inside for decoration until warm weather of Spring and then moved out into your patio planters.

 

            Achimenes prefer morning sun and afternoon shade.  The leaves will burn if put in full sun.  It’s not like a Geranium, it’s more like an Impatiens.

 

The ending first

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette'

 

The ending first.

 

            Some authors argue that you should write the ending of the story first.  Then the beginning.  It makes it easier to fill in the middle.

 

            How should the Achimenes project end?  The goal is to create a new commercial flowering plant for the shady patio.  What would that look like?

 

            Major crops dominate international horticultural businesses.  They advertise continuously, they have big displays at trade shows, they have research stations introducing new varieties yearly.  But their categories are already established --- Geraniums, Poinsettias, Chrysanthemum.  Gerberas, New Guinea Impatiens, Roses.  The new ones --- Angelonia, Calibrachoa, Bacopa.

 

            Achimenes must start a new category.  Why have a big trade show exhibit if there is no supply?

 

            I see the end game as a regional introduction to a new flowering plant.  Achimenes in flower will be commonly available at Independent Garden Centers on the East coast.  Home gardeners will learn to love their cheery display of colors in the shade.  Achimenes rhizomes will be available nationally from retail eCommerce sellers.  The best Achimenes varieties from the World-class hybridizer, Serge Saliba, will be introduced every year.

 

            There will be one source of supply from the developer of the Achimenes crop --- Gary’s Gesneriad Farm LLC.

 

            After several years of regional success, then it will go bigger or stabilize.

 

            To go bigger requires a lot of muscle.  Competitors will take up Achimenes or the project will be taken over by big players.

 

            Only then, will Achimenes be shown at the big trade shows and gardeners will find their new flowering shade plant everywhere.

Field Trial

Sunny Gloxinia erinoides by Vicky

Field trial

 

            Gloxinia erinoides may be better than we ever knew.

 

            This is the beginning of one field trial by Vicky.  The plant is greenhouse grown and now moved to indoor windowsill conditions.  It’s in the sunny West window.

 

            This plant makes small rhizomes that we use for propagation.  Like all minor Gesneriads, supply is the limiting factor.

 

            But first we need to be sure it’s a good plant that will be successful for casual indoor gardeners.  Everyone wants small flowering houseplants.  Why aren’t there more?

 

            Vicky will keep watching it.

 

Hiding in plain sight

Gloxinia erinoides

Hiding in plain sight.

 

            What plants are in the most demand?

 

            Garden center buyers will tell you that they want variegated and flowering.  And the underlying feature --- cute.

 

            The Gesneriad world has many of these plants that are hidden away --- only to show up occasionally in hobby plant shows.

 

            The plant, Gloxinia erinoides, is a species from South America that is tougher than it looks.  Growing from a rhizome, the clone I have from Barb, may be ‘Red Satin’.  It has spotted leaves and flowers easily with multiple spikes with delicate looking flowers.  It’s very cute close up.

 

            I’m testing it on my west kitchen window.  So far, the flowers continue to open and there are no brown leaves --- apparently it doesn’t need extra humidity.  It can be in a terrarium, but who needs it.

 

            This flowering houseplant has been in cultivation for years by almost no one.

 

            It just needs to get out there.

World's Best Achimenes

Achimenes 'Blue Swan'

I will tell you I have the World’s best Achimenes.

 

            But who decides?

 

Wise men say: ‘Let the market decide’.  What does that even mean?  Put it out there.  If they want it, they will buy it.  If they buy it twice, it may be good enough.

 

Nobody knows about Achimenes nor is paying any attention.

 

The best Achimenes compared to what?  Within all the known Achimenes varieties, my selection is the best.

 

Achimenes ‘Blue Swan’ is very heat tolerant. It doesn’t wilt at 100 F.  With large (2”+) blue flowers and dark green foliage, it grows vigorously all summer.  It grows well in part shade and the flowers hang on while other buds open.

 

Coming from the world class hybridizer, Serge Saliba, it will lead other durable colors into commercial production.

 

But saying you’re the best is not good marketing strategy.  You need to be different.

 

The heat tolerance will be the feature that will give it repeat acceptance.

 

Hide and watch.

 

A New Commercial Crop

Achimenes 'Blue Swan' grown by Gary's Gesneriad Farm 

 

            “A major horticultural company has decided to introduce a new commercial crop into the United States market.  The CEO has gotten approval for the project from the Board of Directors and a quarter of a million dollars has been allocated for development.

 

            A long forgotten crop --- Achimenes, has been chosen to make a come-back to take advantage of the booming houseplant market.

 

            The search is on for the best varieties in the world.  Hybrids are secured and trials will begin for the best production techniques.  It’s apparent that day length will need to be manipulated, so LED light stands are installed.  Long days can be used to start Achimenes growth in the winter, so flowering plants can be complete for the spring market.

 

            Trials for growth retardants are started.  Propagation of scales from rhizomes is perfected.  The best 10 varieties of various colors are selected.  Production guidelines are quickly determined --- light, temperature, fertilizer, water, fungicides are settled.

 

            Perfect Achimenes crops are produced the first year.

 

            Garden centers sell out immediately as the perfectly grown plants arrive weekly.

 

            The spring demand absorbs this new flowering shade plant in pots and hanging baskets.

 

            The CEO is happy.”

 

            Will this fairy tale come true?