I purchased a leaf of Strep "Allissa" at DAVS this past spring. I am not familiar with strep growth habit, so am concerned about this plant. No matter what I do it drops toward the pot. Is this normal or should some other precautions be taken. I don't want to lose this lovely blossomed plant.
This message was edited Jul 14, 2010 4:47 AM
looks fine to me, thats how some streps grow,some have very narly leaves, so this looks fine.
bonnie
Personally I believe the pot may be too big.
I am very familiar with those pots and they are 4 inch pots.
You plant really looks like it would be happier in a 2 1/2 inch or so.
I have a strep with about 8 leaves that I have been contemplating putting in a 4 inch pot but still don't think it's ready.
In a pot that big what will happen is accidently overwatering. In a 2 1/2 inch it's much easier to water only when needed.
I love those pots and wish they made them smaller also but honestly I would get it into less soil as soon as possible.
This is just my opinion.
Kim
Kim, right on on your observation. This is the kind of information I really need. It will be transferred shortly.
The pictures I have seen of this particular variety are beautiful and I surely want bloom. Can you refer me to a site that discusses the care of streps?
If you will go to this website and scroll down just a little, it will have some info for you.
http://www.robsviolet.com/lessons.htm Kim is right on the pot size.
Connie
Kim,
Got busy and potted down. I am swiftly coming to the conclusion I have to rethink my idea of pots; I am like the mama who thinks she shows love by not discipling her child with restrictions.
I seem to always pot too big.
Think I have fallen victim to same thinking in trying to put down AV leaves. Takes forever, IF I get babies. Somebody suggested recently that roots need to touch sides of container before putting out plants. Interesting. I have a lot of leaves down in pairs. Kim, your post inspired me to put 1 of ea of a dozen pairs (they have roots--no top growth) in smaller container to see if I get any observable differences in reproductive growth.
Here's the repotted strep.
I am the same way; I always think things are ready for a bigger pot and this is how I end up losing them so I have learned (the hard way) that smaller is actually better (more work I know) for gessies.
Many of us start leaves in TINY containers. Some use egg cartons, others use 1 oz medicine type cups and for bigger leaves 3 oz plastic bathroom cups. It is true that once the roots can touch the side of the container they will start to reproduce. It's almost like their roots need to be "hugged".
Good look and your strep looks happier already :)
Kim
I agree with Kim.I generally leave Streps. in a 3 oz Solo cup (which is what I start my leaves in) until first bloom.In some cases I have had to move them to a slightly larger pot because the leaves were very large and the plant was very rootbound.You will enjoy Alissa.It blooms for very long periods of time and the leaves tend to grow long and straight,rather than curled like some Streps.You might also enjoy Silvia.
Lynn
This Kolaria has been growing in leaps and bounds since April. Received it in a pckg, cut it in half by mistake and this is the top growth since. I feel I should put it in larger Pot? Yes? No/?
Don't know much about Kolarias. Seems very happy has lots of new growth. ???Helene
I have kohleria's & this does not look like it needs a larger pot. They grow pretty tall, so i would let it continue to grow for awhile before potting it up.
bonnie
I thank you Helene
