August Photos and Chit-Chat

Lynn,
I use peat. Why? Because I have well water that has dissolved limestone (calcium carbonate) so I do not use ProMix because it contains lime also.

Product Description of ProMix
Pro-Mix High Porosity (HP) provides a superior growing environment for plants that require increased drainage and oxygen. In addition to Canadian Sphagnum peat moss, perlite, major- and micronutrients, and dolomite and calcitic limestone.

If i did use ProMix it would only raise the pH more and i don't need that with my well water.

Violets grow best slightly acid. Is your water alkaline (pH above 7)? If so, I wouldn't use anything that contains more lime. The reason being if the pH is too high, nutrients are not as available and can result in pale leaves and slow growth.

On the other hand, people who live in areas with soft water...which is more aciditic...would benefit from some lime to keep their mix from being too acid which can cause problems too.

Excellent advice, Heidi!

I just wanted to add that frequent repotting is another thing that can make life much easier since the mix will eventually break down and become too acidic and saturated with minerals of all kinds.

It's also a good thing to do a little bit of homework on the particular plants you want to grow. A lot of Chiritas/Primulinas, for example, just LOVE extra lime and don't mind lime scale on the soil surface one bit.

That's true, Olaf. I try to repot every three months. On the plant label I put the date of the potting along with the name of the plant.

That Strep is a beauty, Heidi!

Sinningia eumorpha 'Saltao' x piresiana. Looking its best so far.

me thinks this is going to be another wonderful month of pictures are coming up.It's off to a great start already ^_^

A blue noid:

A pink frilled noid:

Wow! Great pictures everybody,

Lyn

Very nice Violets, Tommy!

Thanks, Lynn!

Episcia 'Genevieve'. One more time.

Kohleria 'Peridots Kitlope' x 'Pink Shadows':

Episcia cupreata. Seedlings:

Sinningia 'Ozark Scentimental Journey'. This flower has a random, white streak.

Sinningia 'Ozark Scentimental Journey'. Side view.

Beautiful Olaf!

BTW,a friend is looking for a desciption of Sinningia "Scentsation Fantasy" or could be Scensation.Do you have any ideas?

Lynn

Thanks Lynn!

Could the plant in question be S. 'Heartland's Scentsation' by Dale Martens?

http://torontogesneriadsociety.org/tgspictures/index.php/Show-Albums/2010-Show-Gallery/IMG_0068-copy1

I can't find a description but I could ask Dale Martens if that's the plant in question.

Olaf

Thanks Olaf.She definitely said fantasy.

I just don't seem to be able to track down anything regarding this particular one. Let me ask the folks on gphiles...

Kohleria 'Mother's Lipstick':

Sinningia 'Wild Razzleberry':

Olaf, Your Aug 6 th pic.posted here of Sininngia Eumorpha 'Saltao'X piresiana' really caught my fancy! Thank you! I started a few seed of my old pal S. Pusilla that came from a seed cap from a commercial source, but I have grown this var. a few times and I am fairly optimistic about the outcome!....now, don't get me started ! GREENSIDEUP a.k.a. Lee Sherwood McDonald

Chirita...whoops...primulina 'Sweet Dreams' is a large grower and the flowers are pretty too as this link to the blossoms show. Looking forward to my leaf producing plants.

http://www.gesneriads.ca/chirit57.htm

It's a very reliable bloomer!

Chirita 'Silver Surfer'

Which Chiritas have moved over to Primulina? Is there a website with the update anywhere?

I'm so excited! This Paliavana prasinata has been growing and shedding leaves for 3 years with no blooms - until now! Soon, soon.....

Hi jamie,
I wasn't familiar with Paliavana prasinata so I reserched it. Very cool looking green blossoms. Please post a photo when yours blooms and congrats it finally will!


Family: Gesneriaceae

"An unusual gesneriad from southern Brazil. This evergreen shrub to 7 feet is closely related to Sinningia, but does not produce tubers. The large, waxy campanulate clear green flowers are speckled with purple. Pollinated by bats, which are attracted to its abundant nectar and strong odor. Needs bright light to bloom freely. Although drought tolerant, it should be watered frequently while actively growing. By keeping potbound, it can be brought into bloom at a small size. Grow outdoors in mild climates."
The above quote from here -
http://www.kartuz.com/p/80076/Paliavana+prasinata.html

I have read where other people say they had theirs for years too before it bloomed so you are not alone.

All the rosette type chiritas are now called primulinas.

Heidi

Olaf, I love that cutie Kohleria 'Peridots Kitlope' x 'Pink Shadows'.

Hey Jamie!

Great Chiritas/Primulinas. :) And that Paliavana is wonderful! I love the flowers. They look like they're made of green wax.

As for the splitting of the genus Chirita:

All the rosulate species and their hybrids (Essentially most Chiritas in cultivation) are now Primulina. Chirita sinensis is now Primulina dryas because Primulina tabacum was originally published as P. sinensis before Chirita sinensis was published as such and therefore can't become Primulina sinensis. Isn't taxonomy fun? LOL

The annual species like Chirita micromusa or Chirita hamosa are now Microchirita.

Some of the lesser known and grown Chiritas have been transferred into various genera such as Henckelia, Opithandra and Liebigia.

I think that taxonomists and the makers of plant labels have this conspiracy going in order to boost sales... LOL

Thanks Heidi! This cross has been one of the most floriferous Kohlerias this season. :)

I think I will just call them Chiritas!! ^_^

One more time. This time with more flowers open: Sinningia eumorpha 'Saltao' x piresiana

And a single flower closeup:

The flowers also look pretty cool from the outside:

Thanks Heidi & Olaf!
Now I'll know how to relabel the Chiritas. My P. prasinata is around 3ft (the trunk is very twisted & would be taller if straightened out). It has Southern exposure and requires water every other day. It's been topped thrice to make new plants & propagates well that way. Lastly, it's quite root bound in a 5in square pot. So, the requirements are fulfilled! I'll post blooms later, fingers crossed.

Olaf- your Sinningias are lovely. Keep those pics coming. The S. 'Country Tiger X Self' that u sent my ways has a nice large tuber and lush growth. I've just placed it into a larger pot. The Primulina tobaccum is looking nice too.

Has anyone gotten results yet with P. tobaccum & (previous)Chirita crosses? I wonder what I could try crossing Paliavana with?

Hey Jamie!

Intergenerics with Paliavana have been made with the closely related Sinningia (xSinvana) and Vanhouttea (xVanvana).

http://www.bradsgarden37166.com/mountmagazine.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonsplants/3528287243/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonsplants/5139665549/

i love your episcia seedlings,anybody know a good sourse for them
thanks

JIM

Wow, those crosses made beautiful blooms. I have some Vanhouttea's and Sinningia's blooming now too. Thanks so much Olaf. I'll give it a try, though I'm rarely successful getting seed to set after crossing.

Go for it, Jamie! It'll either work or not. You'll usually notice within hours if the Stigma accepts or rejects the pollen. In case of rejection, the whole pedicel will collapse pretty much immediately...

Kohleria 'Peridots Mango Martini'. This flower has a curled up extra petal.

Kohleria 'Peridots Mango Martini'. Different flower, no extra petal.

I have to get some Sinningia pusilla seeds! The DG market place doesn't show any for sale. Does anyone have any to spare? I'll pay with palpal if that's alright.