I'm new here... I have about 40 AV's and 10 Streps- from VioletBarn and David Thompson. (I would have more, but I need to get DH acclimated to all these plants slowly, lol!)
My AV's are growing well.
My streps are all sickly. I saved leaves and trashed 2 of them already.
Leaves are all ruffled and curling. New baby leaves are soft like butter, almost mushy. Tiny buds right near the leaves, but they're not growing up into flowers. What could be wrong?
I'm letting them dry out completely between waterings- I'd thought I'd killed one, the leaves were totally limp, but it sprang back after watering. They're in my East window or about 10" below shoplights. They're all in original containers, so I haven't overpotted. (I mistakenly overpotted some, but then I potted back down- but this problem is affecting my new streps that I haven't repotted at all!) Lights are on 10 hours/day. Help! I'll post pictures soon!
Thanks,
Ellen
GRRrrrr... my Streps are sick!
Streps like to be kept cool,and maybe depending on your mix they arent drying out as good as you might think,and sometimes they dont do well after they were grown somewhere else,thats why when i get small streps im happy,they have better chances of surviving,with me if the come small,not that the biggums dont do good,just they need time to get used to my condiions
JIM
Jim, I have to admit that I have only ordered streps one time from Violet Barn.....he just sends them so small..........I always repot into my own soil without disturbing the roots and just add my soil around his. (staying in a small container).......I just don't have luck with Rob's streps even though I love them........
Has anyone else had this experience? He has great choices...........and I always want to order from him.........but I have better luck from Lyndon Lyons Greenhouses.......
i find those tough too to grow,dont matter where i get them,some just dont want to grow for me,brist party girl can never get that one big
JIM
Thanks Jim and Gail,
So, the ones you start from leaves grow well? I'm excited awaiting my leaves from Gail this week!
Streps are so pretty- when they're flowering! I must learn to get the knack of raising them!
I do agree with Jim........you don't want them to wait for water until they are wilted..........but the worst thing you can do is overwater them......kills them every time no matter the size!
I think the secret to growing babies is to use a mix basically of one part peat, one part vermiculite and 2 parts perlite...........just get the mix moist..........and dome them...........be very careful when you think they need water not to water too much and do it from the bottom of the pots........if you overwater the stuck leaves, be sure you leave the dome off long enough for the soil to get 'just moist' again and not wet..........then put the dome back on...........
What do you say, Jim?
just for kicks.......go to www.streptocarpus.com
and see what they say.........also go to rob's violet barn and read his instructions.........it is just trial and error until you find what works for you!!!
Your leaves are going out on Monday...........should have them in two to three days........Jim can tell you that rehydrating them in water until the veins bulge..........really works to keep the leaves from drying out...........until they can form some roots.............
I agree with Gail on everything except im not using verimiculite anymore,and if you have charcoal use some if it,
JIM
I've had that problem with Very Berry from Rob. I've ordered it twice and each time it was so small and didn't survive very long. It didn't even grow. I've had luck with some of his other streps, though.
Jim, you are absolutely right...........no vermiculite is needed...............in fact, you can just use your mix and some perlite................they do tend to stay too wet in growing them with vermiculite added to it...............You can get the charcoal at any fish store.....or Walmart...............
im getting ready to repot some things and make some room for new arrivials,love getting new plants,if i could do a hand stand and cartwheel i would,thats how excited i get, lol .but i dont think the floor would hold
JIM
We are all that way, Jim!!!! Better feeling than a little kid getting candy for the first time!!
Morning!
raisingsouls,I have the same problem with steps in the summer.My house is to hot for them but now the weathers cooler there doing good again.Maybe you could put them on the bottom shelf of your plant stand?
LOL.Jim,please have your wife snap a picture of you doing a cartwheel or handstand.That's a picture I would like to see:) ^_^
My house is about 70-75 degrees- could that be too hot?
Where are you getting your new plants from, Jim? congrats!
I used 1 part promix and 1 part perlite to start a few leaves- should that be ok?
Good idea, jannich!! I keep my strep in rooms that have two air conditioning vents in them.........
I think Jim ought to have to post a picture doing either a cartwheel or a handstand. Let's hold him to it!!!
Raisingsouls,
Jim and I both bought strep leaves from one another on ebay..........It was easier for me to ship him two boxes of plants than try and figure out which leaves he doesn't have..........but I will send him leaves when I catch up with my orders on ebay.......
that cartwheel will be fun, lol!
You make me feel better that I'm not the only one that can't get Rob's streps to grow- and I'd thought there was something wrong with me! Perhaps when you grow from a leaf, the plant gets used to your conditions from the beginning?
That should be cool enough,how about fans,do you have any,if you could take a pic I might be able to help
well I went to get Beth (thats my wife) to take a pic of me doing a handstand but the camera broke ,darn the luck, LOL
jim
Anyone wanting kohlerias? jannich has some on ebay...........she is floweraddiction I think.........going to her site...............she also has a lot of ones that got mismarked.....so she didn't list them...............
Hey......kholerias lovers out there...............
Thats what i think ,raising from a leaf is so much better then they get used to your place
JIM
Im looking for ..... smithianthias,and a few select kohlerias,I like kohlerias with patterns on the folage,goldleaf sent me snakeskin last year and its doing wonderful ,infact its gonna bloom for me me soon,ill get pictures if i can convince the camera i wont make it take a pic of me doing cartwheels,think i scared the poor little camera
Before our show and sale in Corpus Christi in February I need to get some weird gesneriads as I am the only one in the club who usually grows them............
maybe if it makes some rhizomes i can send a few of them,
JIM
you know daves violets is have a fall tuber sale,you could get some and sell them at the club show,tubers will keep for months
Jim, do u think 1/2 perlite and 1/2 promix is a good medium for rooting strep leaves? what's your recipe?
Ellen,
Jim is gone for the day but I know that is what he uses................exactly 1/2 perlite and 1/2 promix. I was coming on DG to tell you that I am going to make it real easy for you to be successful at rooting strep leaves by sending you small leaves ...........and no cuttings.........cuttings are much more difficult...........and 3-4" leaves are easy............
Have already packed up your av leaves and now working on your strep leaves............
Thanks so much, Gail!
I really appreciate it! :)
Why are leaves easier than cuttings? I trimmed a few of my streps and rooted the cuttings- let's see what happens!
When you use a cutting, you are using all the veins in the leaf. Each one can produce a baby but they also don't root as quickly. If you have a main stem (petiole) instead of a straight cut you for sure will have at least one giant baby................
That will be a good experience for you to see the difference..........if you master the cuttings that is great!!!
Remember the further up the leaf the cutting is the weaker the leaf is..........compared to the bottom stem of the leaf.............