Sinningia 'Li'l Georgie' Returns

Sinningia 'Li'l Georgie' -- The Best Miniature Flowering Houseplant

Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’ returns.

            Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’ is the most amazing miniature flowering houseplant.  Much has been written about it here, here, and here.

            I will not break my rule of saying what is going to happen before it happens.  Delays and failures are always lurking.

            I will only say that ‘Li’l Georgie’ may return for sale within the year.

Sinningia 'Li'l Georgie' - Perfectly Grown

Sinningia 'Li'l Georgie' perfectly grown by Judy White

Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’ is an amazing plant.  You can follow the history by reading through my blog stories.

Today, celebrate the success of my friend, Judy, who has grown this plant for three years at her kitchen window.  Yes, it has flowered out occasionally with a brown top, but with patience, it resprouts from the tuber and gives you this.

Could everybody do this?  No.  You must pay attention and water once in a while.

As she should be, she is proud of her success.  As a grower and promoter of ‘Li’l Georgie’, it is inspiration for trying to re-establish production. This plant is too good to not see it available to everyone.

The other Sinningia 'Li'l Georgie' grown by Judy

The Anniversary Issue...

Sinningia 'Prudence Risley' grown by Gary's Specialty Plants

My anniversary story is early this year.   I usually miss the date, so here it is now.

            This blog started April 8, 2012 --- soon to be six years ago.  Thank you, Google.

            I’ve reread many of the stories.  Many are irrelevant or time sensitive (fleeting).  Some are actually very good.

            My form is a picture and some words about a single idea.  My inspiration is Seth Godin, who has had a daily story over 7,000 times.  Only a genius can do that.

            That first post said: “My target reader will be, first of all, me.”  This has taken the pressure off.

            Forcing yourself to write an idea is so much more exacting that a bunch of jumbled thoughts.

            I should have started sooner.

To Champion...

Sinningia 'Prudence Risley' - Where are you?

To Champion…

            Synonyms:  advocate, promote, defend, uphold, support, back, stand up for, crusade for…

            “To Champion” a particular plant takes a lot.

Sinningia 'An's Nyx' - Where are you?

What ever happened to S. 'Li'l Georgie' ?

Sinningia 'Li'l Georgie' grown by the late John Lindstrom

What ever happened to S. ‘Li’l Georgie’?

            Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’ was and is a most amazing plant.  The hybrid Sinningia (S. concinna x S. muscicola) made by Jim Steuerlein in Florida was a breakthrough.  Through testing, we learned that this micro-miniature Sinningia could be grown in the open without any extra humidity.

            It’s not false advertising to say that it is one of the World’s smallest everblooming houseplants.

            I gave the history, starting here, of my attempt to distribute it into commercial horticulture channels.  We sold several thousand.

            And then what happened?

            My second tissue culture lab closed its business.  With the end of the only practical source of propagation, the ‘Li’l Georgie’ project died.      

            Will it come back to life?

            The plant is too good to stay hidden.

Sinningia 'Li'l Georgie' - Always flowering

Sinningia 'Esther' Project

Sinningia 'Esther' with seed pods

Sinningia ‘Esther’ flowers were easy to pollinate and Sinningia cardinalis-types give you hundreds of seeds.

With S. ‘Esther’ being a hybrid of uncertain background, the seedlings will be variable.  But, hopefully, they will give a showy cluster of red flowers on upright branching plants.

            Since seedlings will be plentiful and cheap, I can plant 2-3 in a 4” pot for a reasonably priced novel flowering houseplant.

Is this a Flowering Plant that you would buy?

Sinningia 'Esther' grown by Gary's Specialty Plants

            I’ve been waiting for the bright red buds to open on Sinningia ‘Esther’.  Mel Grice shared this interesting Sinningia cardinalis-type hybrid with me at the National Gesneriad Convention in Delaware this year.

            Is it good enough to propagate for sales?  Red is always a good color to have.  The drawback seems to be only one flower per leaf axil.

            This plant is from a side shoot tip cutting.  There looks like a lot of pollen, so a seed pod may be a good method of getting a lot of plants that should be similar.

            Worth a try?

Sinningia 'Esther'

'Li'l Georgie' will be back soon

1,000 Sinningia 'Li'l Georgie' ready for pick up at Dan River Plants

Story # 128,

            Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’ will be back on the availability list soon.

            The production of the best ‘Mini’ flowering plant for Miniature Gardens is 100% dependent on the success of tissue culture propagation.

            When I lost my source of a lab with the tragic death of Dr Jon Lindstrom at the University of Arkansas, I had to start over.

            Through the recommendation of Matt Taylor, Ph.D., Research Coordinator at Longwood Gardens, I found Dan River Plants in Danville, VA.  Mark Osborne, general manager, agreed to attempt to establish S. ‘Li’l Georgie’ in culture and ship me unrooted plantlets.  We now have the second batch of 1,000 and finished flowering plants will be growing out soon.

            Indoor gardeners are looking for the perfect small flowering plant ---- The supply line is fixed.

You're going to miss me when...

Sinningia 'Li'l Georgie'

Story # 125,

            You’re going to miss me when I’m gone!

            This is a ditty that will get in your head.  I’ve found various versions of this cup song but I listen to Anna Kendrick.  She will pep you up.

            Seth Godin preaches to create something of significance, something different.  But how will you know?  He says to make it so the people will talk about it and they will miss you when you’re gone.

            When I did not have plants for sale from 2008 to 2011, did anyone miss me?  I don’t know.  But when I started producing some of the same plants that I had before from Hunter’s Greenhouse, they were easy to sell because no grower had come in to take my place.

            Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’ is still unknown to the Miniature Garden market.  It is a leap of faith to say that you’re going to miss ‘Georgie’ when it’s gone.

            2014 will be the year that Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’ will be tested with adequate supply.  There will be some demand and Garden Centers will talk about it.

            If there are repeat orders than that could prove that ‘they’re going to miss ‘Georgie’ when he’s gone.’

I've changed my mind

Sinningia 'An's Nyx' with potential

Story # 109,


I’ve changed my mind


“It will be lucky to be a collector’s plant” ----- November 16, 2012

“It will not be a commercial plant “----- June 18, 2013

“It should be produced commercially and see what happens”----- NOW

        Sinningia ‘An’s Nyx’ has very striking yellow/cream flowers which hang down, but they are held out far enough for all to see.   We always knew that---- it was the initial attraction.  The problem was the plant appeared weak and there were not enough flowers at once.


      My one plant appears to have overcome these faults.  The second flowering from stronger growth off the tuber has produced several flowers at once with buds waiting.  Multiple flowers can be achieved with multiple shoots from either pinching or planting 2-3 plants per pot.


      The double calyx novelty (flower petals form where the calyx normally grows) ensures that the flowers will not fall off.  Of course, this means that flowers gone past will have to be cut off --- you can’t have it both ways.


      Commercial plants only survive if they are pretty.  Collector plants survive if they are interesting.


      Sinningia ‘An’s Nyx’ could be both.

When do readers look at this blog?



Sinningia 'Prudence Risley' - Blue ribbon at the Philadelphia Flower Show 2013
Challenge Class grown by Brandon Huber

 Story # 93,


     When do readers look at this blog?


           The most consistent spike in readership is when someone else recommends that you look!

Plants for sale at the Philadelphia Flower Show

Ladyslipper Streptocarpus for sale

Story # 91,


      Announcing the sale of Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’ at the Philadelphia Flower Show, March 2 – 10, by Meadowbrook Farms.


      Look for them there.


      There will be Ladyslipper Streptocarpus,  a few Columnea, Sinningia ‘Prudence Risley’, S. ‘Gabriel’s Horn’ and S. ‘Kristobel’ ------ Look for ‘Prudence Risley’ in the Challenge Class.


      Assorted ‘Mini’ plants for Miniature Gardens will go fast.  Get there early in the week or ask when the next shipment is coming.

Will there ever be a micro Sinningia better than 'Li'l Georgie'?

Sinningia 'Li'l Georgie' with 20 buds grown by Gary's Specialty Plants

Story # 89,


Will there ever be a better micro mini Sinningia better than ‘Li’l Georgie’?


      The trial is over.  Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’ is exceptional in every way.  It is a cute miniature flowering houseplant.  Once established it flowers continuously in medium to high light.  It has been shown to be capable of many flowers and buds.


      The story about Nematanthus ‘Cheerio’ showed that it has survived 35 years in production because it could be propagated by vegetative cuttings, by any grower that was interested.


      The limiting factor with ‘Li’l Georgie’ will be continued propagation by tissue culture.


      The current successful tissue culture propagation and tricky rooting has involved a lot of trial and error.  ‘Li’l Georgie’ will require a dedicated grower committed to its widespread distribution.


      Without that supply line, it will disappear, with no other practical method of propagation.


      Is there any other micro mini Sinningia out there to challenge it   

               I don’t think so!

So what's it really like?

Sinningia 'An's Nyx' grown by Gary's Specialty Plants

Story # 72,


      This picture is the first flowering of Sinningia ‘An’s Nyx’ that was described in Story # 70.


      So what’s it really like?


      It is not as Yellow as I hoped that it would be.  More cream.


      It only has four possible flowers at first showing.


      It‘s unlikely to be a commercial plant.


     It will be lucky to be collector’s plant unless it produces better when more vigorous cuttings can be tested.  I’m glad that I get to see it first hand.

Slipper Gloxinias are more interesting!

Sinningia 'Pristine' grown by Jon Lindstrom

Story # 63,


     Slipper Gloxinias are more interesting!

      Gloxinias (Sinningia speciosa) come in three flower shapes ----single bell, double bell and slipper.


      For years the most common was single upright bell in red, white, purple, bicolor speckled or ruffled.  When double flowered were hybridized the supply was limited because the seed lines were difficult and unstable.  Tissue culture changed that and select clones are produced in big quantities for showy pot plants.


      My favorite style is slipper-shaped, which are seldom grown.


      The hybrid by Charlene Marietti, Sinningia ‘Pristine’, was selected for tissue culture propagation and will be showing up soon.


      It is pink with many flowers possible.


      You’ll like it, too!

Catch up!

Euphorbia heterophylla with color

Story # 57,

     Catch up!

      Somehow you stumbled into this blog today about specialty plants like Sinningias and Streptocarpus.

      It is a loosely connected continuing story.

      You can read it from the beginning in less than 15 minutes.

Sinningia versus Streptocarpus?

Streptocarpus 'Fernwood's Cherries Jubilee'

Story # 56,


 Sinningias versus Streptocarpus?


      So what about categories?


      In the last year, Ferns as a category lead the list.  We always say that colorful beats green and flowering beats foliage.  So why do people buy Ferns?


      The total of Begonias (rhizomatous and Rex) are second best.  Again, non-flowering foliage plants.


      ‘half-pint’ Poinsettias (3 ½”) sell well but Crown of Thorns beat them.


      But this story wants to know about Sinningias versus Streptocarpus?


           It’s Streptocarpus 2 to 1 over Sinningias.

I can see clearly now...

Miniature Garden at the trade show

Story # 53,


      I can see clearly now…..


           If you make something that people ‘remark’ about,
           then it could be remarkable. 

                          Paraphrasing Seth Godin


      Did you see it?


      If this is the buzz after a trade show, then something new and good must have happened.


       At the OFA International Horticultural Trade Show in July, there was a large segment of the 8,000 attendees that were collecting information about Fairy Gardens and Miniature Gardens.


      Presuming that this will carry into next year’s show with more products and players, I can see Sinningias flowing into this mix.

Not a Sinningia in Sight!

Story # 43,

 Not a Sinningia in sight.

      One of my missions each year at the OFA international horticultural trade show is to look for any Sinningias that are entering the market.  Once again------- there are none.  The exception is a line of Gloxinias shown as new varieties.

      But we call them Gloxinias not their botanical name of Sinningia speciosa.  I’m looking for compact or miniature Sinningias like I am producing.

      So what does this mean?

      There are none because nobody wants them or nobody has produced them to find out if anybody wants them.

      Horticulture thrives on the new and unusual, but Geraniums and Petunias pay the bills.  Commercial horticulture has been really slammed by the depressed economy.  Growers are very cautious about trying new stuff until the sales increase over the mess we are in.

      Sinningias are flowering houseplants.  The sales will be there once the supply is increased.

The double calyx research project!

Sinningia 'Party Dress' by Thad Scaggs showing double calyx flowers

Story # 39,


The double calyx research project!


      I am interested in researching all the information I can find about double calyx Sinningias.  This flower type is different in that the corolla has extra petals growing from the normal location of the calyx.


      I’ve only recently paid any attention to these novelty flowers and their commercial potential.  This will be an academic exercise since I don’t have any answers nor know how this will develop.


      Privately, as I have time, I will be contacting growers in the Sinningia world to ask what they know.


      Publicly, here on the blog, I am asking for help from readers who can contribute what they know about varieties, hybridizing history or current successful hybrids with double calyx flowers.  You may make your knowledge part of the blog comments so others can build on it.


      Or e-mail me directly with leads at gary@GarysSpecialtyPlants.com


     I’ll do my best to sift through the data to record stories about the intriguing category of double calyx Sinningias.