African Violets and Gesneriads: Advice on Strep cultivation and care, 1 by VA_Wild_Rose

VA_Wild_Rose wrote:
Evening everyone!

I've always thought much of the group of people on the gessie forum (and still do!), and while I've become more of a lurker this past year, I still grow and love my plants! There is quite a large group of you that grows streps, and obviously really well by all the beautiful photos! While episcias have always been my favorites, and I have no problems growing them... I dearly love the streps for their big, colorful blooms! I have tried and tried and tried to grow them, and nearly always end in failure! :o(

A little while back, I bought a number of leaves from Nancy on the DG Marketplace and stuck them down. They have come along, and most now have babies. I really don't want to mess them up this time. All you experts out there (and you know who you are!) please help! Please post any and all advice on this thread... when to detach the babies, the best growing medium, to wick or not to wick, etc., etc. Don't hold back.

I'll give and example. Streps I've had in the past, they do OK for a few weeks and then all of a sudden the leaves go limp and seem to get... mushy? It's hard to put an exact word to it... they don't dry up... they stay green... but they get soft and feel... mushy. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? What is happening to them and what am I doing wrong???

More than a year ago, when it first came out, I went wild for 'Spin Art'... had to have it! Bought one, a baby... babied it along... the same thing would happen! When it would do that, I would quickly pull off the best leaf or leaves, and stick them down real quick, and would start new babies. The original plant would die, but I would get a few babies and try again. Just this fall I thought I really had it down this time. 'Spin Art' was growing beautifully, and I had a couple of leaves that were over four inches long. And "Woo-Hoo!"... I even had a bud develop! I was so excited. It would be my first bloom! Then.... yep! It happened again! So I took the two big leaves and stuck them down... just a week ago in fact. Below is all that is left of my little plant! I am trying to baby it along... but I don't know.

Please, please help me! I kind of consider myself to have a pretty good green thumb, but these streps are hard!

Thanks alot!!!

Strep 'Spin Art'... pitiful, huh?