Why does my Streptocarpus wilt?

Streptocarpus from Polish hybridizer

Story # 120,

Why does my Streptocarpus wilt?

            There are three possibilities for Streptocarpus to show wilt.

Case 1,  Dry

            The plant is in good health and has dry soil that is causing the wilt down.  When the pot is watered enough to saturate the soil, the plant will recover without harm.

Case 2,   Heat

            The plant is in good health and watered but it is wilted.  If the temperature is above 85 degrees F, Streptocarpus will naturally wilt as a survival mechanism.  Watering does not help.  The plant needs cool and will recover once the temp goes below 85 degrees.

Case 3,  Rot

            The soil is watered and the temperature is below 85, but the plant is still wilted continuously.  This is usually a sign that the plant has root rot and, to the extreme, will rot off and dies.  This can be the result of overwatering or continuously sitting in water.  You can attempt to reestablish roots by carefully monitoring watering.  Run on the dry side until new roots form.  If the clone is important to you, propagate immediately from leaf cuttings, in case the root rot kills your plant.

            Streptocarpus grow better in smaller pots and less soil volume.  Being dry occasionally is better than too wet all the time.

            Heat tolerance in Streptocarpus may be improved someday, but for now, wilt is normal in high temperatures.

Coleus 'Vanessa' has a story.

Coleus 'Vanessa' grown on Vicky's deck.

Story # 119,

Vanessa always wanted to have a plant named for her.  Since she is not a hybridizer of plants, she can’t create one on her own.

I can help her with that.

Plant species, which are all ‘weeds’ somewhere in the World, follow a strict set of rules for naming.  The Genus, Species naming system is important to take the chaos out of plant identification.

Hybrid names or selections of certain clones are a little more free form.  Names are picked by the hybridizer or originator.   Selections that can be commercially grown are given names that fit the marketing program --- ‘Knockout’ Roses.  Commercial names used in Europe are often changed for the U.S. market --- ‘Ladyslipper’ Streptocarpus.

I looked for a plant that could be ‘Vanessa’ and decided on Coleus ‘Combat’.  It is a European variety listed by an Israeli propagator.  It has a wild and crazy foliage pattern which would match Vanessa’s personality.  It’s bright and vibrant --- Definitely worth promoting.

If you didn’t get one this year then watch for Coleus ‘Vanessa’ next Spring at Longwood Gardens’ Plant Shop.

Is it better with flowers?

Hemizygia 'Candy Kisses'

Story # 118,

            Is it better with flowers?

            We had forgotten to watch for flowers on the Hemizygia ‘Candy Kisses’.  After finding a source for the variegated plant that has every appearance of being a Plectranthus,  I’ve grown tip cuttings as a ‘Mini’ plant.

            The short days of Fall have triggered the budding on the terminals.  It has an interesting pink flower, different from other Plectranthus I’ve seen, which are white or purple.

            It could be grown in a shallow tray to create a look similar to Bonsai.  It could be shaped and branched by trimming.  Winter flowering would be a bonus.

Variegated Artillery Fern - 'Mini' plants for Miniature Gardens

Variegated Artillery Fern

Tenth in a series,

Common name:  Variegated Artillery Fern

Botanical name:  Pilea microphylla variegata

Height:  6”                         Width:  4”

Why would you want it?

            It is a colorful foliage plant, perfect for Miniature Gardens. Of course, not a Fern  --- It has a lacy top and shoots its seeds giving the name -- Artillery Fern.  The variegated form does not shoot seeds.

What is its best feature?

            The pink and white variegation on a normally green plant gives the impression that it is flowering.

How would you grow it?

            It is a house plant that needs bright to indirect light.  Water when the soil is dry to prevent wilting.  Extreme dry will kill the plant.  It grows half as fast as the green form so it stays in bounds for Miniature Gardens.

What would you do with it in a Miniature Garden?

            Variegated artillery fern is perfect for a tree-form.  It can grow with a main stem like a tree trunk and form a branching head to make a canopy.

What are the 'half-pints' doing?

Poinsettia 'Tapestry'

Story # 117,

            The ‘half-pint’ Poinsettias will be appearing soon at Longwood Garden’s Plant Shop for the third year.  The original concept was to offer a Poinsettia slightly bigger than the miniatures from Holtkamp’s’ Greenhouse.

            Customers seem to like the idea of a small plant for small spaces.  We have many of the novelty colors, like ‘Marble’, ‘Monet’, ‘Winter Rose’, ‘Ice Punch’ and ‘Strawberries N Cream’.

            Around Thanksgiving we can start selling ‘Tapestry’ ---- a variegated leaf with red flowers.  I’m told that we will not need full color.  You decide?

           

            A new red – ‘Advent Red’ is being watched to see if it will be the first to reach full color before Thanksgiving. 

                                                               
                                                         Poinsettia 'Advent Red'

Celebrate!

Sinningia 'Stone's Yulia'

Story # 116,

Celebrate!

            Today celebrates this blog on its 1 ½ year anniversary. I've read through some of the stories and still agree with most of them.

            The title ‘10+ things that you should know about Streptocarpus & Sinningias andother Specialty Plants’ has gone into 115 stories.  I've added other plant interests --- ‘Mini’ plants for Miniature Gardens and ‘Eyelash’ Begonias.

            Writing is hard but sticking to it is easy if it’s something that you’re interested in.

            Julia and Denny asked where the new stories were when I needed to be rejuvenated and didn’t write.  That was the best compliment.

Sinningia 'Li'l Georgie' culture

Sinningia 'Li'l Georgie'



Story # 115,

            Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’ is a micro mini Sinningia that is tougher than we ever though was possible.  This hybrid made by Jim Steuerlein is a breakthrough in durability beyond the obscure small species that are its parents (S. muscicola x S. concinna).

            So how to grow this little plant?

Light:

            Sinningias grow in very bright light in Brazil where all the species are found.  So ‘Li’l Georgie’ can be in a very sunny location as a houseplant ---- bright light to moderate light.  The problem with full sun as a houseplant is not the high light but the heat which can cook the plant.      

            Serious plant hobbyists grow plants on shelving under fluorescent lights so sufficient light is on longer an issue.

Temperature:

            Whatever room temperature you like to live with.

            60 F  -- 85 F  Normal

            50 F – 95 F  Extreme

Water:

            Water when the soil surface is dry.  Constantly wet or setting in water will rot the tuber.  Extremely dry will cause the top to shrivel up and damage growth.

Tuber:

Sinningias grow a tuber for survival when conditions are not ideal.  If the top of your plant dies back, do not throw it away.  The tuber will resprout.  Water sparingly until you see new growth.  Give bright light to keep the shoot compact and grow to reflower.  The plant tends to grow off the tuber which has shallow roots.

Fertilizer:

            Any dilute houseplant fertilizer used once a month will help healthy growth.  Too much fertilizer will burn the roots and kill the plant.  Too little fertilizer will prevent green leaves and reduce flowering.

Success:

            One of my original ‘Li’l Georgie’ has flowered nonstop for 2 ½ years in a North window.  The plant is no longer attractive but it proves that continuous flowering is possible.  It is on wick watering, so I don’t have to pay much attention to it.  It has never had fertilizer.  The plants in the greenhouse have very bright light and weekly fertilizer to give dark green growth and flowering.

            ‘Li’l Georgie’ will not seed itself so you need to manage the tuber for regrowth.  Even though it appears to be no mandatory dormancy period, if the top goes bad, it can regrow. 

            ‘Li’l Georgie’ can be maintained for years to give you continuous little purple flowers.