Do you bid on 'A hope and a promise'?

Streptocarpus 'Fred's Moon Lines' (Bellairs) grown by Dale Martens

Parents of 'Fred's Yellow Ice' and 'Fred's Moon Lines'

Story # 131,

            I went to the Gesneriad Society National Convention in Nashville to show Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’ and came home with a new Streptocarpus.

            Thankful to be judged with the Best Commercial Display, it was worth the effort to show multiple ways S. ‘Li’l Georgie’ can be used in Terrariums and Miniature Gardens.

            The hobbyists who show at Convention are true experts in the culture and hybridization of these infinitely diverse plants.  There was a new Streptocarpus in the silent auction grown and donated by Dale Martens, the genius leader of the Gesneriad Hybridizers Association.

            The hybrid, S. ‘Fred’s Yellow Ice’ was in the judged flower show and the entry card showed the hybridizer as Fred Bellairs in Michigan.  The parents of S.  ’Fred’s Yellow Ice’ are S. ‘Keigetsu’ (K. Hirose) and S. ‘Fashion Statement’ (D. Thompson).

            The plant for sale was muti-flowered with large crisp flowers and distinctive line markings.  I’ve grown S. ‘Keigetsu’ and know it to be a strong plant, while the pollen parent was an unknown.  Maybe it’s worth taking a chance.

            The silent auction is a way to donate money and get something that you want.  I was successful in the bidding but had to pay $130 to get it.

            Will my prize be a good one?  One strategy in hybridizing is simply cross the best with the best and hope for the best.

             Streptocarpus ‘Fred’s Yellow Ice’ has flowered all summer.  Some leaves have rooted and may be salable by Christmas.

            ‘Fred’s Yellow Ice’ is a very nice selection by Fred Bellairs and has a nice story to go with it.  Thank you to Dale Martens for introducing it.

Streptocarpus ''Fred's Yellow Ice' (Bellairs) grown by Dale Martens - Nashville 2014

Flower color is the only thing that matters.

Streptocarpus 'Wow'

Story # 124, Part X, Final in a series,

Flower color is the only thing that matters.

            Nobody buys flowers they don’t like.  Flower color is the most important selection criteria.

            In Streptocarpus, every other variable characteristic needs to be optimized through hybridization and smart selection.

            If Streptocarpus is to become a major plant category it must have pretty flowers and be tougher than it is now.

            It can be done but will need a champion to pull it up!

Is Streptocarpus flowering seasonal?

Streptocarpus 'Harlequin Blue'

Story # 124, Part IX,

            Is Streptocarpus flowering seasonal?

            With modern Streptocarpus hybrids we don’t worry about day length to induce flowering.  They are day neutral and will flower at any time of the year.

            Some Streptocarpus species may be seasonal but it’s hard to know if it’s day length.  It seems to be more temperature related --- like cool nights or drought related --- rainy season.

            My observed conclusion is that ultimate flowering is in months March and October.  They do the best when grown bright and cool.  So grown through the cool winter, they respond to the higher light intensity of March, April.  Grown across late summer, they respond to the cooler nights of October, November.

            There is no reason to have selections that don’t flower year around.

Does anything count more than bud count?

Streptocarpus 'Cape Essence'

Story # 124, Part VIII,

            Does anything count more than bud count?

            The way to get big flower power is either big flowers or with many small flowers.

            Bud count in Streptocarpus is genetically variable.  You can get from 1 to 24+ flowers per spike (peduncle).  Buds are formed in pairs up the stem in succession. 

            Because we know that high bud count is possible, there is no reason to release hybrids that don’t have a reasonable amount (2-4, 4-6).

            The trade-off is flower size which can compensate for lower bud count.  Stem strength and length are variable too but we don’t pay much attention to it.  S. ‘Mary Sakamoto’ is one where the huge flowers are too heavy for the stems, requiring staking. 

            Sometimes you may have a flower with color, shape or size that must be saved.  But the variety should not be release with a bud count of one.

            High bud count is genetically possible so we should move in that direction.

                                      

                                       Streptocarpus 'Mary Sakamoto'

Symmetrical leaves in Streptocarpus

Streptocarpus 'Heartland's Baby Kisses by Dale Martens

Story # 124, Part VII,

            Symmetrical leaves in Streptocarpus.

            Streptocarpus grow with one long leaf and one short leaf per fan.  The result is unsymmetrical clusters of leaves that are unwieldy. 

            Some Streptocarpus species are very symmetrical and have been dubbed ‘star’ shaped so we know that uniformity is genetically possible.

            No one is worrying about this symmetry yet but it is there waiting to be transferred into breeding lines.

Streptocarpus with a head of flowers

Streptocarpus 'Rose Halo'

Story # 124, Part VI, 

            Which is better --- a flush of flowers or continuous flowering?

            The first Streptocarpus hybrids I had 40 years ago like ‘Constant Nymph’ were continuous flowering but you would be lucky to have more than one or two flowers open at a time.

            Some varieties now will get a flush where 4-5 flowering stems will open together giving a big show then recycling later with another flush.

            Which is better?

Commercial crops are selected for uniformity and maximum flower power.  If we’re going to attract buyers we need a flush of flowers that last!

Non breakable leaves on Streptocarpus

Streptocarpus 'Myfanwy'

Story # 124, Part V,

            Many Streptocarpus with pretty flowers have long or wide leaves that break with handling.  Commercial crops are often sleeved for shipment and sometimes sold that way.  If the plant has long non-flexible leaves, they crack and break, leaving a mess.

            I don’t know of any Streptocarpus with flexible leaves but we have varieties with short leaves.  We could have wide leaves if they were short.

            Some of you are cringing.  Short and fat leaves with flowers coming out of the center sounds like we are trying to make it look like an African Violet.

            Trust me, Streptocarpus flowers on a compact plant will not be confused with a violet.

Hang-on-tight Streptocarpus flowers

Streptocarpus 'Fernwood's Cherries Jubilee'

Story # 12 4, Part IV,        

Hang-on tight flowers.

        We know that some Streptocarpus flowers stay attached to its calyx better than others.  It appears to me to be a mechanical problem.  But it is genetic and can be selected for.

       A secondary problem is accidental self-pollination.  This happens when the positioning of anthers (pollen sac) are in direct line with the stigma (female receptor) as the style grows out through the corolla.  The stigma runs into the anthers, breaking them open and the pollen falls onto the stigma causing pollination.

   So what?

    When a successful pollination occurs, the physical response is that the corolla detaches --- flower drop.  This is just as serious a problem as weak flower attachment.

     Simple solution ----- only select varieties that have hang-on- tight flowers.  If you select a must have pretty flower with flower drop, cross it into tight flowers until you get the corolla to stay on.

     Hang-on-tight flowers ---- It’s mandatory!

Heat tolerance in Streptocarpus

Streptocarpus 'Jealous Heart' - very heat tolerant

Story # 124, Part III,

            We know that Streptocarpus wilt in temperatures above 85 degrees F.

            Is this a problem?

A.     Yes.  They are difficult to produce in the summer in the North and most anytime in the South’s heat.

B.    No.  They do best in bright and cool so just produce them September to June.

     No plant performs to its ultimate all year around so be happy with what you get.  Each has its season.

     It’s technically possible to produce Poinsettias year around.  But why would we want to?

     Heat tolerance is not what’s holding back Streptocarpus but it certainly would improve the plant’s year around survivability.  

What is the most important improvement in Streptocarpus?

Streptocarpus 'Azur Giant'

Story # 124, Part II,

            What is the most important improvement needed for Streptocarpus to make it a standard commercial crop?

            The last story concluded that Streptocarpus are just not tough enough.  What improvements need to be made?

            I view Streptocarpus to be in the same stage of development as African Violets were 60 years ago.  Why is African Violet the top selling flowering houseplant in the World?

            Step 1.  Hobbyist collected and traded the first violets.  Hobbyists hybridized new varieties and specialized small greenhouses started producing them.

            Step 2.  Someone championed the crop and invested in massive hybridizing and selection projects to improve the major faults.  Holtkamp’s Greenhouses toughened them up with hang-on-tight flowers and less breakable leaves.

            Step 3.  The champion (Holtkamp) mastered production techniques such that the quality went up and the price went down.  Distribution put beautiful flowering African Violets everywhere.

            Streptocarpus is at stage 1.  There are approximately 1,000 named varieties but nobody but hobbyists know about them.  Their main distinctive characteristic is flower color and size.

            All the other variable inherited traits are riding along without any critical culling.  We know what some of them are:

A.     Heat tolerance.

B.    Hang-on-tight flowers.

C.     Leaf length.

D.    Flush versus continuous flowering

E.     Rosette leaf pattern versus non-symmetrical

F.     Bud count

G.    Day neutral versus seasonal flowering.

It’s hard to say which weakness is the most in need of improvement but commercial growers will be cautious until the crop is more fool-proof.

Streptocarpus everywhere!

Assorted Streptocarpus for sale

Story # 124, Part I,

            What is the one thing that would make Streptocarpus ubiquitous? 

            Streptocarpus is such a minor crop that they are seldom seen in garden centers.  What is the problem?  --- Supply or demand?  I have a few customers that could sell Streptocarpus if they had them.  Everybody else is afraid of them because Streptocarpus don’t hold up in a retail environment.

            Why don’t they hold up?  The leaves can break, the flowers can fall off, the leaves watermark with cold water, they wilt in hot weather and flowering is sporadic. 

            I’ve tried to figure it out and will discuss hybridizing goals in future stories.  But what is the limiting factor in Streptocarpus success?

            Streptocarpus are just not tough enough.

Commission me, Part II

Streptocarpus 'Cape Essence'

Story # 34, Part II


Commission me!


      What would it be worth to you to get to have the very first release of a new Streptocarpus or Sinningia?


      Amazon.com sends me e-mails announcing new books for my Kindle. Often I read the reviews and get interested in ordering it, when I finally notice that it won’t be released until some future date.  That usually stops me since I want it now, not next week.  Since they can’t run out of e-book copies, why do I need to reserve one ahead of time?


      Physical goods are different.  There is a finite limit to how many are first available.  When xSinvana ‘Heartland’s Maverick’ first came out of tissue culture and was for sale in flower, did anyone care?


      Everybody likes the new and different.  If I had heard about a new plant, I would try to get it and expect to pay a premium for it.


      If a new plant was commissioned and successfully produced, that would be a very big deal and some people would pay a lot to get the first ones.

Commission me!

Streptocarpus 'Silvia'

Story # 34,

Commission me!

      Everyone wishes that: ‘If I only had the money I would do xxxxxxx. ' 

      The lottery is self-sustaining.  It's worth playing just because somebody always wins and it might be you.  The biggest payouts get the most players even though the odds of winning are statistically the same whether you buy a ticket or not--------approaching zero.

      If I had a million dollars I would hybridize Gesneriads full time.

      Established craftsmen or book writers, who have earned a reputation from a life time of work, sometimes get commissioned to create new ‘Art’.  With an advance, the theory is that a talented artist can create without worrying about making a living.

      If someone commissioned me to give them a different Streptocarpus, I could do that in one year.  If it needed to be different and better, that might take three years.  If it needed to be the best ever, that would take a lifetime.

      The odds of someone commissioning me to create a Streptocarpus or winning the lottery are about the same.

What is the perfect Streptocarpus for the future, Part IV

Streptocarpus 'Rose Halo' from Dibley's

Story # 17, Part IV,

            What is the perfect Streptocarpus for the future, Part IV?

            When picking an order for delivery to a retail store, I pick the plants with the most flowers open and the most buds showing.  The idea is that the customer will see the flower that they like and have the buds open at their house.

            The problem with this strategy is that the Streptocarpus may never get bought in the first place since it is not showy Now.  The ‘Flush’ characteristic solves this.  To have many flowers open at once is a good thing.  If they hold up nicely in the house then we will call it success.

            Next we would like it to reflower.  Now that we have gone from ideal greenhouse conditions to infinitely different and variable home conditions, reflowering is uncertain.

            A flush of flowers that hold on tight for several weeks is more important than continuous flowering.

            If we can have both, then we have something.

What is the perfect Streptocarpus of the future, Part III

Streptocarpus 'Jealous Heart' grown by Jon Lindstrom

Story # 17, Part III,

            What is the perfect Streptocarpus of the future?

            Streptocarpus wilts when the temperature is over 85 degrees F., even if watered.  Many growers, not knowing this, have rushed to water the wilted plant when it does not need water.  It needs cool.

            Many experienced hobbyist are disappointed that they can not keep Streptocarpus alive during the heat of the summer.  Global warming or not, we usually have periods of 100+  degrees every summer in Pennsylvania.

            Last summer I observed that S. ‘Jealous Heart’ did not wilt down in the two weeks of 100 degree heat. So by dumb luck, I discovered at least one clone that has heat tolerance.  If this is transferable, then we can create a series of heat tolerant Streptocarpus.

            This could be a ten year project but it could help make Streptocarpus the next ‘Big’ thing.  At present commercial growers do not attempt to finish Streptocarpus crops in the summer time.

            Heat tolerance could change everything. 

What is the perfect Streptocarpus of the future, Part II?

Streptocarpus 'Ako Lemon Spirit' with 'Flush' of buds



Story # 17, Part II,

            From the varieties that we have already, we know that a new release better be more than a pretty flower.

            Flower size seems to be inversely correlated.  If you get big flowers, there are less of them.  But since we know 12 – 16 flowers per peduncle are possible, why not always expect that?  The unusual hybrid ‘Dale’s Scarlet Macaw’ routinely  get 26 flowers per cluster.

            We have varieties with short leaves.  Why not always have short leaves so they don’t get broken off.

            Dale Martens, a genius amateur Gesneriad hybridizer, has shown that a ‘Starfish’ plant habit is possible.  If this symmetrical shape could replace the annoying ‘one big leaf, one little leaf’ growth habit of Streptocarpus, we would have something to rival African Violets.

            Another characteristic that I observed while watching S. ‘Ako Lemon Spirit’ set bud and flower is what I would call a ‘Flush’.  Many flower spikes came up at once giving a ‘Flush’ of flowers.  This is a very important thing to happen in commercial crops----uniform flowering.

What is the perfect Streptocarpus of the future?

Streptocarpus 'Ambra' from Poland



Story # 17, Part I,

            This question could take a lifetime to answer.  As a declared amateur hybridizer, I see many plans of attack to improve Streptocarpus hybrids.

            Many variable plant characteristics are evident in modern hybrids.  Since we know that all genetic characteristics segregate independently, the combination of the best can be achieved if you have enough time.

            When I used to give talks about hybridizing Streptocarpus, I would ask the question:  ‘What is the most important thing to select for?’

            It was never intended to be a trick question.  We think about bud count, earliness to flower, continuous flowering or heat tolerance.

            The most important selection criteria has to be the flower color.