How did this happen?

Sinniniga 'Esther' - four buds

            Remember when I told you about Sinningia ‘Esther’?

            This red flowered Sinningia has cardinalis-type flowers but it is limited by only one flower per leaf axil.

            This picture of a rooted side shoot from my original plant is budded and flowering.

            Four flowers per leaf.  How can this happen?

Sinningia 'Esther' -- How?

Hey Jude

Columnea 'Jude' grown by Ron

            This spectacular Columnea grown by Ron in Canada and shown at various Gesneriad shows had a tough journey to my greenhouse.

            The picture of Ron’s plant grown in his home always attracts a lot of ‘Wows’.  And, where can I get that?

            I met Ron years ago, at National Gesneriad conventions ---- he has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gesneriads and is a skilled grower.

            When I asked, Ron offered to get me stock of Columnea ‘Jude’ for commercial production.  Now, for persistence --- The first batch of cuttings sent in November froze, the second batch in March froze (every leaf fell off) but the meristem was green.  I propagated and hoped for one cutting to establish itself.  I got one or two.  Ron then saved the project by hand carrying his show plant to the Delaware National Gesneriad Convention in 2016.  After winning an award, he gave his plant to me.  Finally, a stock base.

            My goal is grow stock baskets ---- when tips are budded, direct stick into 9.5 cm (4”) pots, 3 cuttings per pot.  By the time they root, the cuttings are flowering ---- sell.

           

            Will they look like Ron’s specimen plant?  Highly unlikely.

            But, it is a good clone.  The salmon pink flowers at every leaf last for weeks.  It’s not a wimpy hybrid.

            The fatal flaw of Columnea is that cold water and sun burn the leaves, which is why they are not seen often.

            But, Columnea ’Jude’ is worth the effort.

Columnea 'Jude' grown by Gary's Specialty Plants

Codonanthe carnosa 'Libby'

Codonanthe carnosa 'Libby'

           

         Libby is one of our advanced hobby growers in the Delaware African Violet and Gesneriad Society (DAVS).  For many years, she maintained a big basket of a Codonanthe with large white flowers, relative to others I have seen.  Every time Libby would show her award-winning Codonanthe, I’d think we must propagate and distribute it before it’s lost.

            When Libby had to down-size her growing area, she donated, with Mary’s help, her plant to me.  I got one batch of cuttings going that we distributed to DAVS members.  Since then, I’ve been building up stock for larger commercial sale.

            The plant is very hardy--- doesn’t mind drying out a little.  It grows slowly but will branch and flower in small pots.  It will be spectacular in 4 ½” hanging baskets.

            The name of Libby’s plant is uncertain, so it’s unknown if it is in cultivation elsewhere --- thus, the urgency to save the clone.

            Through some clues, it may be the original Codonanthe carnosa.  The Codonanthe clones that I had 40 years ago, went through name changes of carnosa to digna to devosiana.  The free-flowering clone that I have is Codonanthe devosiana ‘Paula'.

            Libby’s clone has white flowers twice the size of ‘Paula’.  So, until further notice I’m designating this exceptional plant:

            Codonanthe carnosa ‘Libby’

Codonanthe devosiana 'Paula' (top), Codonanthe carnosa 'Libby' (bottom)

Now, I can tell you where to go...

Peperomia prostrata

            Now, I can tell you where to go to find my plants at a nearby Garden Center.

            Both my Website, www.GarysSpecialtyPlants.com and this Blog show a link to Google maps with locations that stock my plants.

            I’ve had numerous requests for unique plants discussed on this Blog.  Now you have a place to start.  Check with stores near you to see if they have plants you want.

There will be no Cabin Fever in Southeast Pennsylvania !

Petunias for Spring

            Commercial horticulture counts on Spring.  When Spring breaks, the entire gardening public descends on Garden Centers for their Spring and Summer color.

            Traditionally, we are hibernating, but building plant inventory for the eight-week crush in April and May.

            This year, the weather has been mild with no deep-freezing weeks and only a few minor snows that quickly melted away.

            Everyone has been freely moving around.  There is no cabin fever in sight.

            What will this do to the Spring sales if there is no pent-up demand?

Just thinking, O. T.

Hey, what do you think we should do?

                   These guys are thinking about the Presidency of the United States.

Why Lipstick Plants Flower? --- My Conclusions

Lipstick Plant Buds

What problem are we trying to solve here?

            Commercial horticulture demands that flowering crops can be consistently grown into a salable product in the shortest possible time.  This depends on knowing the flowering response ---- what triggers flowering?

            There is a vague understanding of what makes Lipstick (Aeschynanthus) plants flower.  Flowering is variety specific.  My conclusions are for the clone with classic red lipstick tube and flower.  This clone may be A. lobbianus.  Regardless of the name, the stock material that I have available to me, flowers in hanging basket form around Christmas.

            The goal will be to produce 4” or 6” baskets in the Fall for December flowering.  8” or 10” baskets are too heavy for indoor use.  If a 4” pot can be produced from budded shoots --- even better.

Everyone agrees that Lipsticks are seasonal, but what does that mean?

            I believe that day-length is not a trigger.  If it were, growers would already be cranking them out on a Mum schedule year around.

            The Fall flowering must be either from the total accumulation of light from Summer or a lowering of temperature.  Or Both.

            The maturity/age of the branch is mandatory.  Young growth does not flower.  After the main flush of flowers, any sporadic later flowering is probably from younger growth that has matured.

            So, in the absence of controlled experiments where we can test one piece of environment at a time, my conclusion is this:

1.      Propagate Spring and Summer.

2.     Get maturity Summer and Fall

3.     Wait for cooler Fall temperatures.

4.     Budding will occur Oct/Nov

5.     Flowering in Dec/Jan/Feb