If you would start a Gesneriad Farm...

Mini Sinningias - Assorted

If you would start a Gesneriad Farm, what would you do?

            Let’s suppose that the houseplant boom of the 1970’s is starting again.

            The leading commercial horticulture trade magazine, Grower Talks, gave its lead story to this idea.  The Sill, of NYC, gets a mention as a rising star by building a retail mail order source for foliage houseplants.  They also just opened their second storefront in Manhattan.

            If every apartment dweller in NYC suddenly sees the need for a plant, we will need a lot of plants.

            The grower at Costa Farms, FL, makes this novel observation:  “Urban markets are exploding with small apartments and rental units, and houseplants are, in a way, taking the place of pets.”

            Last time, the supply never did catch up with the demand.  Then it peaked, and houseplants proceeded to crash toward zero.

            While starting with easy surviving foliage plants, it quickly moved into more interesting oddities and flowering plants.  Enter---- Gesneriads.

            African Violets, the leading flowering houseplant in the World survived ---- most others did not.

            Are indoor gardeners ready for Streptocarpus, Nematanthus, Columnea, Aeschynanthus, Primulina and Sinningias?  Since there is very little supply, nobody knows.

            As Seth Godin says:  “Start small, start now!”

Streptocarpus 'Rose Halo'

Northeast Regional Gesneriad Convention, October 3 and 4

Nematanthus australis 

Here is a posting by Paul Susi, with the details of the flower show this weekend---- 3 and 4 October.  Spread the word. 

This major east coast event will be taking place just a week from now and the show looks to be large and varied. We will most likely have close to (if not over) 100 entries in horticulture, artistic, arts and education. The two-day show and sale will take place at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown, NJ (no parking or admission fees). If you are interested in hearing either Nancy Kast, Gary Hunter or Dale Martens speak, you need to register (either for the entire event or just for the day). Complete registration and program information is available here. Registrations will be accepted on Saturday and Sunday.

Of course, you can also come for the day, see Gesneriads on Broadway and buy some plants. We will have lots of plants from members and several vendors, including Gary's Specialty Plants. 

--

Paul

http://www.gesneriadsociety.org/

https://www.facebook.com/gesneriads

Primulina could become a common houseplant!

Primulina 'Loki' growing at the West window

Story # 135,

            This picture of Primulina ‘Loki’ is why I’ve changed my mind about Primulina as a potential houseplant.

            I’ve grown hundreds of thousands of houseplants in the greenhouse but have seldom been able to keep a plant alive in the house.

            These two plants have been growing at the West kitchen window for months.  One went to Nashville and was entered in the national Gesneriad Society flower show and came back.  The leaf damage is from the wind knocking them off the shelf, not a plant fault.

            They can be dry without harm and are now budded.

            What’s not to like?

Primulina ---- Like an African Violet, but better!

What if we hold a flower show and everybody comes?

Ladyspipper Streptocarpus 'Blue Ice'

Story # 49,


      What if we hold a flower show and everybody comes?


      The first ever Mid-Atlantic Regional Gesneriad Show, Sale and Symposium will be held on September 29, 30, 2012.  Details are here.http://gesneriadsociety.org/chapters/DAVS/files/RegionalShow.pdf


      The idea of a Gesneriad show on the East coast was proposed by Quentin Schlieder, past President of the Delaware African Violet and Gesneriad Society.  The idea was to have a show in the Fall as a competition with members of the three nearby chapters----Liberty Bell of Philadelphia, the National Capital Area and Delaware.


      The Delaware chapter is hosting the first event at Townsend Hall,  531 South College Avenue, University of Delaware, Newark.  The show is free and open to the public on Sunday, September 30 from 10 to 4.


      In all the planning that Quentin and his committees have done, the question is always-------How many people will come?


      It takes a lot to move people.  There are so many things to see and do, including nothing, it’s amazing that anything new gets attention.


      My part is, together with Mary Schaeffer, to manage the plant sale.  We will have many collector Gesneriads that hobbyist seek.  Once you learn about the Gesneriad family of plants, it is additive.


      I will be supplying finished plants similar to what goes to my commercial wholesale market.  They will be shown here as the show approaches.




Ladyslipper Streptocarpus 'Pinot'