If we're including other members of the AV family here, then I just wanted to share one of my newest babies. Does anyone else grow streptocarpus? I have a couple more with buds, and can share pics of those, too, when they bloom.
I've had a number of AVs over the years, but have only very recently branched out to its relatives. I also have chiritas and espicias now thanks to Keyring.
What other gesneriads do you grow?
Heather
Yes, it's a streptocarpus, and I just love the bloom shape and the long leaves. I should have had a ruler in the picture to show scale. The longest leaf on the right side of the picture is 8 1/2" long.
Pretty!
I have some streps! They are all from seed and so are still pretty small. One of them is in bloom and I will have seeds in a few weeks (I will post here). An online pal of mine also crossed some streps so I am growing a dozen from that seed pod. It'll be interesting to see if I get a range of colors.
What other gessies do I grow... lol.... I joined the AGGS last year and they send you a little pack of mixed gesneriad seeds.... All of a sudden I have all these wierd ones! It's been a lot of fun. I'll dig up some pics and post them.
Well, after Keyring intrigued me with the chiritas and espicias, I started looking at other gesneriads a little bit closer. And so I ended up buying a few streps to try on Ebay since I could not find them locally. It was a little cheaper than getting them through a few places I found them online (as long as I didn't get carried away with the bidding!) I bought them all from the same person and they look great and were packed wonderfully. If anyone is interested, I'd be happy to share the name of the person I bought them from. I would definitely buy more from her.
Susan, if you're going to be obsessed, then you might as well have several obsessions, right? What begonias do you like? I'm also obsessed with the angel wing begonias.
So, Keyring, you mentioned growing from seed. Is it difficult? What do the seed pods look like on the streps? Can you post a pic? I'd be willing to collect seeds and share if I get any and know how to do it.
Heather
That would be great! We'll have to compare lists sometime to see what we each have. Maybe we can trade some AVs, etc. while we're at it. :)
Great pic of your step! thanks for sharing that with all of us.
I'd say we are off to a greats start for a small forum.
Glad to see so many post no that I'm back from the weekend...
MsC
Here's a pic of the plant with seed pods.... It is severely underpotted, but the good side of that is that it keeps blooming. The leaves are a bit crisp because it lives in my office which has a negative relative humidity.... As always, apologies for the bad lighting.
And here's a closeup. The seed pods have a characteristic twist to them.
Thanks for posting the pics! I've read that the seeds are super tiny, but haven't found much info otherwise. How do you know they're ready, and how then are they collected? I can't imagine working with something so small. Sounds like I'd be better off trying to propagate mine by leaf cuttings.
The seed pod will turn brown and split along the seam. It's about a 2-3 month process. I usually put a coffee (or tea, if you can find them) filter under or over the seed pod because I forget to watch them.
Growing from seed vs. leaf... well, with one fresh ripe seed pod, you could end up with hundreds of seedlings. Yes, hundreds. It's efficient if you want the numbers. Also, if you cross two different parents, you will get a range of flowers in the offspring, which is fun in itself. Gesneriads are fun to hybridize because many flower in under a year (more like 6 months).
The whole hybridizing process seems rather daunting to me, but it might be fun to try sometime. It is fun to grow plants from seed and watch them mature. And then the added anticipation of what the bloom will look like must be great!
So, this may be a silly question, but here goes... did you do something to your strep to get the seed pods, or does it happen on its own?
lol. some will do it on their own.... but I (excuse the *vulgar* expression) shoved a pencil up the flower. Of course, you can use your finger, or a Q tip, or a brush.... Actually, I intended to take pollen from one flower and pollinate two others (and a pencil was handy), but in the process I ended up selfing the first flower as well, so now I have three seed pods.
Generally, newly open flowers tend to be more fertile, so pollinate while the flowers are fresh, not when they are drying out and about to fall off.
Is this Strep Aly's 'Magnetosphere' ? If so I am growing it ! I have not had it long . Ithas very many buds soon to open ! Nice plant ! I am happy to have it. Your pictures is very nice. Thanks for sharing, Allison
my one and only strep so far, I love this plant! blooms like crazy. I just went nuts on ebay and got 5 more -they are so gorgeous..
WOW Beautiful ! Do you grow it in natural light ? I like growing my Strep's in natural light ! Allison
Alison,
My kitchen has 4 windows total, so the room is just flooded with natural light, I have this plant stand in a corner, with a window on 2 sides, so they get southern and western exposure, and they went nuts in here! More blooms for much longer. It's what, Nov 3 today, and this plant is still blooming!
How about some pics of yours?
heather_v, I'd love to know where you got yours on ebay - send me a d-mail, please?
Cheryl
This message was edited Nov 3, 2005 11:29 AM
Are we aloud to post vendros ?
Well hope so. Gary Mikita owns " Out Of Africa
Blooming African Violets and Streptocarpus"
I do think he specilizes in Streps and does sell Episcias also.
His plants are big size and healthy.He does not have a web sight but if you email him with your address he will send you one of his Catalogs with pages and pages of Strep plants for great prices.
I also have bought Strep's from Blurbird greenhouse . I got Christmas Morning a couple months ago. She came as a good size plant in bloom and bud ! ( I have her picture need to get it devloped)
Rob's sells Streps nice prices too.
Last Christmas I got a hugh box of gifts of Strep leaves :))
I bought ten Streps couple months ago and I have 3 left I killed all the rest :((. I think I pver watered them ? Now I wait until their bone dry. I won't be spending much $$ on them too poor .
I do have leaves donw of the ones I over watered so may have babies in Spring. I have three streps blooming now.
I mostly buy leaves and grow by leaf. But after getting a box of plants from Violet Gallery yesterday their plants are so big when you get them ! I will be buying more from them and Bluebird Greenhouse and " Out Of Africa" Where I can get four times form my money :)) Allison
Oooooooooh! gorgeous! thanks for the info.
Allison,
I think DG's actually prefers you to place your comments in the Garden Watch Dog...that way the forums stay clean from being used as FREE advertisments for anyone. Also everyone can see the feedback for a seller there too.
Selling plants/or other things on the forums is not acceptable, by the way.
No harm in sending the info in a private DG mail to a single person but you can & should check out all the details in the DG's "Acceptable Use Policy" from the link at the bottom of the page.
Go here:
http://davesgarden.com/gwd/
Hope that info is helpful???
MsC
I asked Terry if I could mention a specific supplier in a post, and was told that's ok...
Well, I stand corrected then:)
Yes I was wondering as I saw so much posted about Violet-Gallery. That's why I said I had an order coming from there ! I have seen postings on people buying from Rob's.
That's why I asked. Anything I offer to anyone is not for sale, I would prefer it to be FREE.( rather than even trading ) As I have too many already. We have a small single wide trailer with one bed room. So not much room. I am addicted to growing by leaf, ity's my only joy with help I can do anymore and I enjoy sharing them with others.
If I was not on a low SSD check and on Hospice I would not even ask for postage. Allison
you go, girl, there's lots of us trading/sharing gardeners who are always happy to spread some flower power around!
2Zerus I love sharing Flower Power ! Soon Spring will be here and I can share some smiling Flowers with you ! It's hard to ship now to cold areas even heat packs and insolation wont keep them babies from freezing . Soon :)) Do you know flowers have always smiles to brighten are day ! African violet smiles are fun to grow and share :))
Hi Allison,
I was watering my few streps the other day, and my teeny tiny Crystal Ice has a practically microscopic bud starting - I tried taking a picture, but it is just a blur - so exciting!!
My Av seeds from that plant of mine just never sprouted - I've still got them in their little pot, with plastic over to keep it moist, but nuffinks..:((
I'm very patient (NOT!) while waiting for spring - we had two days of sun in a row!!!!! I went out and looked at all the new growth starting in my garden, sprouts on honeysuckle, clematis, etc - makes me feel gleeful just to see new green - flowers, well that's an extra!
I keep checking out my AV's in the kitchen window, to see if any flower buds - no sign of them yet.
You enablers have got me going everyplace that has AV's now, to see if I can find any good noids! My DH says "And where are you going to put that?" I said on the new shelf you're going to build me:)
hi 2zeus..the crystal ice is very nice...i am really getting hooked on the streps...i think they are really neat...
My Suzie just finished it's one bloom, but it looks like another is popping up. I got them last month from ebay. Captain Blood has tons of beautiful leaves, but no buds yet. I also put a leaf down on Suzie and she's gotten really big..the pic is from 2-4-06
Suzie sure growing Anita !
2z my Crystal Dawn has finaly have some blooms and it a nice big compact full plant. The flowers are small and dainty. I will see if I can get a pictures. I have had her sense September it's her first time blooming. They say they bloom the " Cyrstal series " all the time but most people write their never do. Now my other Streps bloom all the time !
I do have some Crystal Dawn babies growing and some other babies too !
You've got me curious now Allison, that was one of the comments I've read about the Crystal series, too - that they are supposed to be everblooming - I assume they have to reach a certain size first?
I'll be happy with any flowers, I think - I'm easily pleased!
Yes me too ! Mine the plant is large . And the new flowers tiny and dainty. Maybe this type needs more light ? I know other groups say their's never bloom. I paid pretty good for mine. If I remeber at least $ 10.00
and it came from Canada. IT's very healthy looking .
It's growing like my others that always bloom ?
