Here's a pic of one of my favorite Episcias...Strawberry Patch. It is growing in a 10 inch hanging basket. Very pretty and the pic doesn't do it justice....
I really love them and they are more colorful than a regular Pothos ivy, but not much harder to grow...
Enjoy MsC
Wow these are very beautiful, if picture is not according to orignal then it means your plant will be very very pretty.
very nicely grown! good compact growth - looks happy.
Oh, my -- how lovely, MsC! You're gonna turn me from coleus if you keep this up... lol
Donna
Congrats! They are addictive aren't they???..lol
I am really loving mine and I'm getting a few more too!
They are so pretty and I'm finding them fairly easy to grow and propagate too.
Be sure to post some pics when they arrive...
MsC
Hi MsC, I've been living on the Weather Forum for about a month now and am plumb tukered out. These hurricanes are really wearing out their welcome FAST!! Just came over here to look at the pretty pictures of live plants and have a little R & R. *grin*
My poor violets are all dying slow deaths. The house is still boarded up and they only get a little crack of light. I have no other place to put them, every surface is covered with batteries, water jugs, cans of food, pots and pans for leaks, etc. My sweet minis are all lined up in the tiny kitchen window which I uncovered and have a piece of cardboard to shield them from the sun.
But, as the saying goes, this too shall pass. Your plant is lovely, and I promise the next time I post here it won't be to whine! I really need to get a normal life again (lol)
Pati
This message was edited Sep 22, 2004 4:52 PM
Almost everyone here has left their house boarded up because of the uncertainty of hurricane Jeanne and/or Lisa. My apartment is a mother-in-law apartment in my son's house. He is currently working in New Mexico and flew home before hurricane Frances to secure the house. He stayed through that and for hurricane Ivan, which fortunetly missed us, and then left to go back Monday. We kept our roof, but have many leaks. Dealing with insurance adjusters and FEMA is ongoing, and roofing companies are giving a 6 months repair date. There's quite a few DG'ers in the same boat. Now you know why I visit here to see and smell the flowers, (grin)
Pati
Hey Ya Pati....Glad to know you are surviving and all is well....I'll email ya later with some chit chat...the puppies are doing great and gaining weight- all is good! I'll post some pics in the pet forum soon...they are keeping me busy..:)
Hugs to ya,
MsC
Episcias are so much fun to grow everyone should have at least one in their collection :)) Also known as the flame violet. They like it warm and humid.
My favorite one is Alice Aussie which was my first and have plants from my very first one from years ago :))
I have Teddy Bear, Grey Lady, Blue Heaven , Chocolate soldier and to me as it was registered in 1968 as an Episcias Albosia Cygnet ..now they have given it it's own catorgory.
I will ones of them all to share in the Spring ! Are you growing any of these fun plants ?
I still have a few that are struggling... They hate my over watering habits that I'm still trying to break.
I bought some gorgeous ones and even had them flowering but the next thing ya know Poof they were dead and I don't have a clue why!
I love Alices Aussie but after killing a few beautiful ones I stopped buying them.Until I find a way to grow them with better success I think I will leave them alone.
Now, please tell me the secret to keeping them alive so I don't kill the remainders I have...lol
MsC
I've read that humidity but not overwatering is the key.
I don't have any , YET, but if I were to get just one. Which one would you recommend, without orange flowers, I'm not too partial to orange/red.
I'm gearing up to try it. But am worried about our summers. NO humidity at all, no rain, dry as a bone. I'll likely have to do a pebble tray. Or put it in my big cookie jar.
Well, the best luck I've had is by putting them in a bubble bowl and terrariums. They are harder for me to water so usually get ignored & live...lol
I do have a huge one of Kee Wee and it seems to be a die hard. The colors are that orangey red though.
My Unpredictable Valley is making a nice come back now with lots of pink in it and I think I'm going to put it on the light stand and see if that helps it out. It is only getting sun threw a window now.
MsC
most of them have orange or red flowers. The blue and white flowered varieties tend to be more difficult to grow - consistent humidity, consistent temps.... I would either go with one that is a compact grower and put it in a terrarium, or pick one you like a lot and remove all the flowers!
Episcias are so much fun to grow and share and anyone can grow them !
I have Sent them all over the Country and out :)) with always great out coming.
My sister Robin in RI kills everything. I have sent her dozens of blooming Av's and Strep's not one lived. But Alice " Alice's Aussie" ( my first Flame Violet my family fell in love with it as my Grandma's name was Alice") . My ssiter has had her plant over a year now. Alice shows no boundaries. I have shared her with no less than 50 people and those people have shared her too. I love her soft red foliage.
Most Episcias are grown for the beautiful foliage and shown without blooms in the foliage Gessie catorgory. But groomed and grown the right way the can given you an abundance of flowers.
Floqwea can be all different colores, Blue, Bright deep Yellow, Orange, Pink, Pink and yellow, Red, Deepest red with yellow throat and red polka dots on throat on Grey Lady I was wow when it bloomed.
Teddy Bear I have share a lot with people beautiful easy growing foliage with deep pink yellow throat flowers.
Star of Bethelhem So beautiful I gave them all away but want another in the Spring. It's blossoms are so fasicnated and no red in them ! I wish I still had my photo I will find one.
My blue heaven grow small and thick in it's full 5 inch pan pot ( I grow most of them in pan pots or hanging. It grows close to the light almost touching and always blooming.
All of my large Episcias are growing well in natural light they are large and not enough room on light stands.
They grow well on any table even a foot or two from window. They are always happy year round even when its cold and no humdity. Humdity is nice for Episcias but not a requierment , they will easliy adjust with some love, food, warm watering ( don't keep to wet) light. Now Albosia Ctgnet is another story it likes to be more moise than others and food , give it 12-16 hours a day of light it will bloom non-stop year round.
I also take all babies off and make new plants until the Episcias
growing is a point of size I'd like then I let babies trail and they bloom also. They do like it to be warm and most Vednors do not ship them past September 16 notr before May. My garden room has been cooler than I like 65-70 and livinf room about 70 also but their all doing fine.
I can cut a baby of Alice put it into a pot with smae soil-less mixture I use for Av's. I cut stem so I can put it into the pot all the way down until soil touch soil. Water.. Babies I like under light until rooted. It will root less than a week. Within 2 weeks its a beautfiul grown plants many branches and babies plants filling out and blooms. I love them !
I have never covered any of them.
Our house does not have a lot of humidity sense other than a few cold days our A/C runs year round
My husband grows some Episcias outside and they do really well also !
Another one I enjoy is Pink Panther easy growing amd deep pink in blossoms !
I could write a book on how esay Episcias are to grow. :))
Hope you'll all try one again, or for the First time. I will be putting them on my trade / or shipping cost list,.
Chocolate Soldier growing in a 5 " pan pot..
From Rob's a few Beauties
http://www.robsviolet.com/suomi.htm
Suomi. Spectacular! Very bright, deep yellow blooms cover dark, glossy, olive green leaves with silver veining. Very highly recommended. Everyone should have one. $5.00 Out of stock.
Pink Panther. The best of the pinks, it's almost always covered in very large, deep pink blooms. Light green and dark bronze leaves. A must have, because it's pink and because it's always in bloom. $4.00
http://www.robsviolet.com/episcia.htm
lilacina. A blue-flowered species that is extremely easy to grow and bloom. Velvety, deep bronze-green leaves with bright green center. Highly recommended. $4.00 Out of stock.
http://www.robsviolet.com/episcia_lilacina.htm
You can peak at more here :))
http://www.robsviolet.com/episcia.htm
My Teddy Bear..
5 Inch pan pot large now nwvwe stops blooming
You just have to look at these beauties
Episcia 'Sun Gold'
http://www.gesneriads.ca/episc43.htm
Episcia 'Star of Bethlehem'
" I must get another "
http://www.gesneriads.ca/episc35.htm
Episcia 'Tropical Topaz'
http://www.gesneriads.ca/episc37.htm
Episcia 'Blue Nile'
http://www.gesneriads.ca/episc36.htm
My Blue Heaven
More Blue Heaven
I know I have showed this before Alice with one of her babies but always my favorite
OK here she is again with some of her Cousins.
ok ...ok Ali, I'm sold. (actually you had me at hello....only kidding you Jerry McGuire fans) I will for sure try one. But always figured them to be fussy.
After my droopy violets today, I'm not feeling very good about my plant skills. (see my 'bargain violets' thread. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/562924/#new
so I fear starting any new 'habits' until I can get the AV thing under control.
That Blue Nile is fabulous! and I'd have a Faded Jade and just remove the flowers - its a beauty too. Or even e. lilacina love it too.
i'm still nursing along my gimping alsobia danthaflora (sp?) I've had her since May. It came in a lovely 5" hanging pot, about 2' long.
Here's whats left. I was just lucky enough that I noticed the adventicious roots and did a few cuttings in the greenhouse before I killed it.
I'm presently killing my streptocarpella too. i let it dry out and now it is refusing to speak to me.
Oh my I'd take any of these too. LOVE their foliage. I'm beginning to think I can get past the flower colors too.
http://www.robsviolet.com/variegated_episcias.htm
oh yes I knew you could lol in picture you just showed Episcia 'Pink Dreams' Variegated Episcias WOW
I HAVE Blue, deep pink , Pink yellow . Red, Deepest red with yellow throat and red polka dots on throat to send you in sPring to try .
Especially try to avoid chilly temperatures and dry conditions.
From Rob's
Often referred to as "flame violets", these gesneriads have the family's most beautiful foliage. All grow quickly and easily. Since they readily produce stolons, they can also be grown as basket plants as easily as table-potted plants.
Care is the same as for African violets, ******* though extra warmth and humidity are appreciated.********** Easily grown under artificial or natural light, most are ready bloomers all year-round.
I have strawberry patch! I agree..it is a lovely plant!
Mine is not quite as lovely as yours though! (Laugh)
I am still learning how to care for them
Episcias are fun to grow on a trellis too ! Hanging baskets, pan pots :))
my tiger stripe and my pink panther do well but my strawberry patch I am struggling with.
I love it to death though!
