Chirita Propagation help

Ok, I have 2 chirita's, one is getting very large the other one looks great. BUT here again, I do not have any blooms! ARGHHH!!

I know I have seen someone here telling about Chirita Propagation, if anyone runs across it or knows where else I can find info., if you would let me know I would greatly appreciate it.and I have googled it with few results. OK, I haven't looked that hard-LOL

I always put Chirita leaves down the very same way I put down AV leaves and I've had good luck with that. Some Chiritas can be slow and stingy bloomers, I may have read somewhere that it's because they're "seasonal bloomers". I'll go look that info up and see if I can find it.

Here's a few links for you:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1013223/

http://www.maavs.org/html/growing_cheritas.htm - from this link: "The species can be grown from seed, but all chiritas can be grown very easily from leaf cuttings, exactly like Saintpaulia."

http://www.dibleys.com/chiritas/index.htm

http://www3.telus.net/vavgs/intro_chirita.pdf

http://www3.telus.net/vavgs/intro_propagation.pdf - general Gesneriad propagation info

I hope those help! ^_^

If those don't help me, I'm in real trouble!!

Thanks so much, eyes getting buggy from reading, will read up tomorrow.

Thanks again!!
Laura H

Ok, today I trimmed my chiritas, they are: Star Dust and eburnea hybrid that I got last year from Violet Barn. I trimmed and put the leaves down in perlite, I did dip the tips in rooting hormone. I used the 3 oz. cups for Star dust and a Cream cheese tub for the hybrid, both are coverd in plastic wrap with a rubber band holding them the hybrid leaves were a lot fatter. KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED!!

I have new babies (these are my first)-they are mandan dandy, I have repotted them into a cup, but kept them together and used plastic wrap as well.

This week I put down AV's-blue dragon and green dragon and a couple of streps before that, (can't remember their names).

If and WHEN these ever grow up to be big boys and girls I will gladly share if anyone would like any.

Laura H

I am curious, Laura. Did one of those links suggest just perlite for propagating them? I use 1/2 perlite and 1/2 vermiculite for avs, but I use both ways for chirita leaves..........meaning they really root faster in a light soil less mix.

These are chirita leaves on their 2nd sticking. They produced big babies and I just stuck them about 3 weeks ago because the mother leaves had good roots.............

I should have had time in a few months to make a lot of chirita babies..........(I have one tray of babies already but going for a second production)

I do believe the mother leaves are tired and ready to give up having babies in such a short time (LOL) in this soil less mix.

If I am afraid I might lose a chirita leaf, I just use 1/2 perlite and 1/2 vermiculite.......it takes longer but I never lose a leaf. (and these are all new cultivars to me)

Hi Gail, are you running an illegal Chirita Mill over there?? LOLOL

I put a couple in perlite and mixed the other, since I have never tried this before thought I'd better "mix it up"!! I did use root hormone powder on a couple of them as well.

If you do not have Stardust and the other one let me know, I would share some leaves with you.

Laura H

We can trade chirita leaves this fall.............I don't have the eburnea (sp?) Is that 'Blue Nile'?
I just like to have all kinds of gessies growing all the time...........

I think I am running a home for an old eccentric woman obsessed with plants!!!

Hey Gail, I got plants and I'm the crazy dog lady too!!! HA! I really do not know anything about the chiritas, I purchased the 3 or 5 can't remember sellers choice from Voilet Barn.

They are fun to grow and don't require as much light and care as other gessies. Let me see if I can find any old pictures. My pics aren't organized so I never know what I am going to find.

I need to go back and look at old pictures to see which ones I really loved. Here is Dreamtime and I don't even have her now. She was a beauty.

Bad picture with old camera but I think this is 'Diane Marie'

I think this was a species, USberg.......something.....