I have 3 streps that I am trying to grow. I have no idea whether things are going right or not and would like an experienced opinion.
First, everything seems so slow to me--do these look healthy? The oldest, I have been trying to increase size since April and have finally seen some size but the older leaf seems to be blanched in spots --is it? Will post 2 photos. First of the 3 plants.
This is a closeup of the affected leaf. I have darkened the photo slightly to show area. (Comparing the coloring on the small plant leaf, this is very close to what it actually looks like)
This message was edited Oct 6, 2010 11:56 AM
they look young to me, however, you might want to transplant the bigger one,That usually helps, they like very cool temps, do not like heat at all, i grow them on my windowsills & under lights, they do well either place. Let them dry before watering again,even if they wilt, they will come back with a drink.Are you fertlizing them? if you are you can try some epson salts on them to green them up. I tablespoon to a gallon of water.
bonnie
I agree with Bonnie.They look young,but healthy.It looks like maybe a little salt or fertilizer buildup is on top.I think I would repot them and maybe add a little more perlite to the mix.
Lynn
Thank you, I'm going to take the suggestion and put the larger in a 4inch pot. (or should it be smaller); I fertilize with very weak solution about every other watering. Cool weather, huh? My house does not have central heat and they will be in a cooler room so maybe!!
I'm new to streps too and so glad to have a chance to ask a question: what is the right pot size for them when mature? My Black Ace is getting bigger and started blooming so I got the feeling the starter pot (2-3 in.) might be too small?
Streps like to have their roots "hugged" like A.V.s do. Most growers don't go over a 4 " pot, you can always divide them. Like Bonnie said, they like to stay at a cooler temp so I have a couple under lights on the bottom shelf. I lost mine this summer because they got too hot.
Connie
Hi;
I think one of the biggest things with streps is heat. I lost an entire collection one year before i got a air conditioner for the plant room. I live in an apt. & 1 bedroom is for all my plants,. we do have a wall unit for the entire apt. but it would get to 85 in the plant room because of the light fixtures throwing off heat.I lost all my streps.I was amazed, as they were doing great & then just like that they died. So i can't say enough about the heat,they just don't do well. It makes no sense to me why, because i have a friend in calif. who grows them like weeds in her spare rooms upstairs where it's so hot & she does really well.Just did not work for me. Now that i have a seperate air unit for the room they do fine.??? They do like the smaller pots until they are quite large, so maybe a 2 inc. pot would be fine until they are bigger. I wick all my plants, but you have you use alot of pearlite when you do that as they don't like have wet feet.
bonnie
I had problems with my streps because I watered them like African Violets and streps like to dry out between waterings. I never soak mine. I also had problems with spider mites and I regularly spray mine with insecticidal soap and they seem happy now.
Yours look nice.
Pat
good draining soil is a must,and keeping them cool is a must,also dont water with fert every time ,to encourge new grow take off the old leaves but leave a inch or so that makes them want to,also if you want your plant to get bigger,cut some of the blooms off so it can put its energy into making leaves and a stronger root system
jim
Awesome to see you posting Jim!
DITTO, Shanika.
I'm happy to see this post. I only have 1 small strep. and I learned a lot from this. One more question though. When is it time to prune old leaves? Is it streps that produce 1 flower stalk per leaf and then no more from that leaf again? Maybe that's for Sinningia? I've never grown those either and don't know.
I am hoping to add 6 new plants to my collection next week; plus, maybe, get 6 variegated variety leaves to try to grow out, so any and all additional suggestions appreciated. Plus I have 10 plants started from seeds Several people are telling me I am wasting my time with streps.
They have such a variety of beautiful flower colors I just gotta' try.
Wonder if gessiegail (I think that's her name) is still around? She used to post some of the most interesting post on all kinds of gessies, bet she could give us some good advise to go with all the fantastic suggestions so far. I have listened, my plants are saying "thank you".
No shes on funwithgessies on yahoo
No most will produce several flowers per leaf,if your leaf is old or having spotts or tunring yellow,time to remove it but when you do leave a little nub it will produce more leaves ,which means more flowers
JIM
Thanks Jim,
I was hoping someone who really knows Streps. would stop by and answer questions.
Lynn
oh shoot did i miss them ?
jim
thanks!!
ROTFL Jim!!
Jim, you know that I just can't seem to grow these beauties......no matter how hard I try! Gail sent me two leaves to play with last year. I have two very weak looking ones. Maybe one day....!
That's funny, Jim!!! Jim is the "go to guy". He is the strep expert so if there is something you need to know...he's the man.
I got my first streps this summer and they kept amaze me with their vigor and long-lasting blooms. I just got home and after 3 weeks of neglect I found them nearly bone dry and in bloom! hope they'll forgive me. MrsBonnie, do you recognize her?
Close-up
its hototogishu
sure is, lol
bonnie
She is very exotic-looking. Here is another one, she keeps blooming almost all the time and stays very petite, I wonder is there such thing as mini strep?
I am sure that is a mini strep.i had a few namely fernwoods silouette & minuite, both mini;s &the one in your picture looks like maybe a seedling i got from Dale Martin that she did not want to name.
Bonnie
Whoever it is it's very pretty!!
And I was very lucky to get them, thanks again Bonnie! Now pardon my ignorance, who is Dale Martin?
she is one of the biggest hybridizers there is. Wonderful person.lol
bonnie
I googled her name and couldn't find any website or even info on her plants, it would be interesting to learn more
carpatiangirl, her name is actually DALE MARTENS, google that and you will oodles of sites that mention her. Here is an article by her as a starter:
http://people.vanderbilt.edu/~julie.mavity-hudson/3Qexcerpts.pdf
This message was edited Nov 15, 2010 1:39 AM
Thanks gessieviolet! wouldn't it be nice if we could share interesting articles and info sometimes?
Maria
I gotta ask before I get too excited over what might be nothing!!
On 2 of my streps there are little tiny things that look like tiny leaves up and down the stalks of several of the leaves? Are these going to be bloom stalks, I hope!?
I have never grown streps, that I can remember, so I have no idea what they are doing.
My balloon is flying high right now, if it's gotta be popped, stick the needle against it fast before I float away and have to drop too far down!
Lane
I sure hope so...first blooms are so exciting!! I can't quite picture in my head what you are describing.Are there little stems coming up at the base of the leaves?
Lynn
Keep the balloon flying high, Lane. Sounds like it me me :)
Connie
had to post this picture, this is mary sakamoto, the bloom is 4 inches wide, always has the largest bloom i have ever seen.
bonnie
here is another that is in bloom today, br. showstopper, one of my favs.
bonnie
this is a sinningia out of towee, unusual name, but pretty bloom.
Bonnie
