And then what happened?

'Beyond' - Jan 13, 2024

 

'Beyond' - Jan 23, 2024

     This is not a trick.

     The pictures are 10 days apart.  How is xA. 'Beyond ' holding up at the windowsill?

Achimenantha 'Beyond' must be seen

Achimenantha  'Beyond'

             We knew Achimenantha 'Beyond' was a very good Achimenes X Smithiantha hybrid created by Serge Saliba, premier hybridizer from Romania.

              We had seen the big pretty pink flowers last year, but how to grow it for sale?

                A few pots happened to get in the mix with our Miniature Achimenes project under LED lights with 16 hours day length.  We learned that the plants grow and flower extremely short.  Can this be a good thing?  Maybe an inch taller?

            We have limited stock, having started with one rhizome.  The scaling method will give us more.

            A Little Spot of Color - There is great potential here.

The Million Dollar Begonia

 

     You heard it here first --- This Begonia hybrid, (malachosticta X amphioxus),  will be a successful commercial houseplant.

    Since none have been sold yet, this is a wild prediction.  Check back in 3-4 years to see what happens.

    The one parent --- amphioxus, has proven to be good houseplant.  It has shiny pointed leaves with pink spots.  We call it 'Spotted Lizard' --- It's pointed on both ends.

    I'm trying to collect any hybrid with amphioxus in it.  This is the best one so far.  It grows quickly, branches, and has bigger leaves than amphioxus.  Until a hybrid name shows up, we will call it 'Painted Lizard'.

    I have evaluated a lot of new plants over the years and I am betting on this one.

    There will be 1-2 years of stock build up and testing.  We will sell it in the third and fourth year.

    Hide and watch.

    

    

Less than Perfect Vietnamese Violet in Flower

Vietnamese Violet in Flower



I always want to show plants in show quality conditions, but that is not real life.

This Vietnamese Violet (Primulina tamiana) is not worrying about what it should look like, it just knows that it's supposed to keep flowering.

Lipstick plants that flower --- A New Concept

Aeschynanthus with many flowers and buds

Lipstick plants that flower --- A New concept.

 

            The lipstick plant is the best example of a common name put to good use.  Nobody can say or spell Aeschynanthus --- the Genus name.

 

            Everyone would buy a lipstick plant if they could see it in flower.  Thousands could be sold.  The problem is we don’t know how to make that happen.

 

            The flowering response --- what triggers flowering is elusive.  Is it the day length, the temperature or age.  If you know, tell me.

 

            Major commercial crops must perform on schedule.  Waiting for the lipsticks to flower, soon eliminates them from production.

 

            This pictured plant has flowers up and down the stems, We don’t know why?

 

            I had collected many Aeschynanthus varieties but this one just decided to flower.  Why?

 

            We will propagate it to see if flowering can be duplicated on a branched plant.

  

You Need a Little Spot Of Color!

A Little Spot of Color!

Your need a Little Spot of Color

 

            Color is a major contributor to life.  Have you bought a new car lately?  With all the options built in, the only decision is:  What color do you want?  It they don’t have your color , it’s usually a deal breaker.  My color is blue, but I got red.  The pandemic had crippled the supply at the time.

 

            A national brand selling plants, The Sill, has a great saying:  ‘Plants make people happy!’

 

            Just as universal is: ‘Color makes people happy!’ 

 

            Our Miniature Achimenes need a brand name to capture our new category of houseplant.

 

            ‘A Little Spot of Color’ is being considered.

 

            It describes our small Achimenes exactly.  Flowering plants in a 2.5” pot are little spots of color.

 

            Why would you want one and what would you do with it?

 

            Your desk is crowded.  Get a pretty ceramic container that you can just pop in a little flowering plant.  Replace it as needed.  Always have a little spot of color on your desk.

 

            Place settings at a party, especially bridal parties need a little spot of color at each setting.  We get requests all the time for a small plant that is the bridal shower gift --- a little spot of color like a mini-Violet, Mini succulent or now a Miniature Achimenes.

 

            This morning the internet told me people want simple.

 

            Sometimes you just want a little spot of color.

 

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?