Primulina - The Red Leaves Mystery

Primulina 'Loki' By Paul -- Red leaves

 

            The mystery of Red leaves in the center of Primulina continues.  There has been speculation about this for 10 years.

             The working theory is that it is the light spectrum.

            Or a combination of various environmental factors, like cold.

            If I find out and can duplicate it, I will not tell you.  It will be a proprietary trade secret.

            It remains to be seen if the market will care.  Will you buy a red center Primulina ahead of a green center Primulina? 

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette' - The best Miniature Achimenes

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette'

                     Here is Achimenes 'Petite Fadette' on July 5, 2023 in preparation to go to the Gesneriad Convention in Richmond VA.

                      So what happens to the plants after the rough handling of the show tear-down and the travel home when it no longer matters if the plant is perfect?

                      Here it is,  four weeks later.

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette' - Four weeks later

Landisville Flower Trials --- My Groupies

Interns at Landisville Flower Trials

 

Here are my Groupies at the Landisville Flower Trials Field Day.

 

Penn State University Extension has its annual flower trials at the farm in Landisville PA.  National seed companies and propagators of vegetative annuals enter their best and newest varieties to be grown in big pots in the field for comparison.

 

This event is held for commercial growers and garden center managers to meet to evaluate new varieties for next Spring sales.

 

I was there as a vender looking for new customers for our Mini Houseplants.

 

I was giving out pots of Vietnamese Violets and these Trial Garden Interns stopped by.  They are to report back to me of their success with my new category of plants.

Where are your Vietnamese Violets?

Metapetrocosmea tamiana - Gesneriad Convention 2023

 

Where are your Vietnamese Violets?

 

Vietnamese Violets are new and a different category of houseplants.

 

Metapetrocosmea tamiana is the first and only member of the group.

 

When and where will there be more?

 

There are two possibilities.

 

First, there are descriptions of 5 species in the genius Metapetrocosmea.  M. tamiana is the only one in cultivation in the United States.  Attempts are being made to establish the other rare species.  Hybrids among these species are unknown, but the potential is there.

 

Second, a newly introduced plant, Michaelmoelleria vietnamensis qualifies as a Vietnamese Violet.  The plant grows like an African Violet and is native to South Vietnam.  The leaf markings are variable so different clones can be named.  A project has been started to select and purify distinctive clones.  There is potential for hybrids between Metapetrocosmea and Primulina.  If that is successful, many interesting plants will join as Vietnamese Violets.

 

Vietnamese Violets are coming.

The case for only one Achimenes

Achimenes 'Blue Swan' grown outside by Barb, July 2023

 

The case for promoting only one Achimenes for commercial production.

 

Achimenes is a new, different category of flowering houseplant that can go outside.

 

Can it have any chance of success if there is only one variety to pick from?

 

Most plant introductions have a series of colors to choose from.

 

If ‘Blue Swan’ is judged to be the best variety due to the most important characteristic:  Heat Tolerance, will it be enough to establish Achimenes?

 

It has a sturdy upright habit with large blue flowers.

 

Production schedules are still being worked out.  By starting plants in the Winter, flowering can begin mid-May in time for Spring/Summer growing.  If ‘Blue Swan’ can be grown well, then other colors can be added in 2-3 years.

 

Marketing is often winner-take-all, so start with the very best variety, brought to you by the leading Achimenes developer, Gary’s Gesneriad Farm LLC,

 

Selected 10 years ago, ‘Blue Swan’ has proven itself in practical testing.

 

‘Blue Swan’ --- The one to have, if you’re only having one.

Streptocarpus 'Jealous Heart' -- More Clues

 

Streptocarpus 'Jealous Heart' - 2013

I’m searching for the most heat tolerant Streptocarpus, which, in my judgement, is ‘Jealous Heart’.

 

I’ve found a reference to this plant in Gesneriads, vol 63, number 3, Third Quarter 2013.  Mary Schaeffer reported that ‘Jealous Heart’ was picked for the Challenge Class at the Philadelphia Flower Show – 2013.

 

I had forgotten that I was involved with that pick and grew the starter plants that were distributed to the growers who entered to show that they were the best home growers. 

 

The significance of this history is that we know that the pool of people who know this variety is bigger than expected.

 

Does anyone still have it?

One Hundred Dollar Reward

Streptocarpus 'Jealous Heart' - Heat tolerant

Houseplants have multiple variable genetic characteristics.  Flower color is the one we observe and manipulate the most.

 

Now, heat tolerance is becoming more important.  Your favorite houseplant may thrive in your air-conditioned kitchen, but you may have never bought it if it was wilted down in the heat of your Garden Center.

 

Streptocarpus is famous for wilting when growing in temperatures above 85 degrees.  They recover when given cool, but it is an annoying trait.

 

Ten years ago, I had identified a variety that never wilted in the summer heat --- ‘Jealous Heart’ --- a pretty pink.

 

If I had it, I would cross it onto many other pretty hybrids to see if we can transfer heat tolerance into all Streptocarpus.

 

I would like to have it back again.  There is a one-hundred-dollar reward for its return.

 

Please email if you have one to share.