episcia offer

as usual, I am trimming back some episcias for the winter (I have space issues).

Up for grabs are some unrooted cuttings of Episcia Silver Dust and Episcia Strawberry Patch. As many of you know, these two are among my favorites. I think most people who did the mixed plants for postage last year (wow, it's already a year) got one or both of these.

Anyway, cuttings of both for postage. Priority mail ($3.85) is safest and easiest because I'll use the post office's boxes.

This one is Silver Dust. Neat growth habit, low light.... Dusty silver green....

and this is Strawberry Patch.

Likes more sun and heat and humidity than AVs, but will do fine with less. I stuck it in a window box last year with direct morning sun (this is in the D.C. area) and it did very well. The photo was taken soon after I put it outside so it's still a young cutting.

I don't have a better photo, but you can see MsC's here:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/457067/

Count me in for 'Strawberry Patch,' Keyring! Wow......that's lovely! And, I just found the PERFECT spot to make my episcias happy (finally).......blooming like crazy!

I'll send a stamp tomorrow?

LMK,
MKJ

OK, you must clue me in, please. What are perfect conditions for episcia? Sarah just sent me a gorgeous little one, and I want to make it happy!

Tempted though I am, I should probably see how this first episcia of mine fares before trying others!

What a lovely offer, though, Keyring. Thanks!

I know I've typed this out somewhere before but I can't find it.

Most episcias are easy if you grow AVs - same care, same light etc. One thing to remember is that they really do not like temperatures to go below 65F. Some of them can look ratty at this temp.

The ones with mostly green leaves with orange/red flowers are totally in this category, like Silver Dust. No special care needed.

Some of them prefer a bit more humidity but are ok in normal home conditions (even up north in winter) - so long as it's warm. These include the fuzzy pink leaves like Pink Acajou.

Some of them need more humidity and really want to stay about 75-78F. These include the green leaves with blue or white flowers. Most of these have the species lilacina in the background and can be a bit tricky for home growers. Mine looks fine in spring and fall, but hates summer and threatens to jump off the shelf into the trash can during winter.

Then there are the shiny pink white and green ones that Rob has listed under variegated episicias. These NEED high humidity so are best in a terrarium or covered bowl.

The lovely thing about episcias is that they are very very easy to root. For e.g., all you really need to get a plant is a tip cutting of 4 leaves - it can be very young and small (1/2-1inch leaf span, depending on the size of the plant - some are minis). Root in a puffed up bag. Or if you have a full plant, you can pin down the stolons to the soil and they will root.

An episcia that doesn't look happy will usually recover when placed in a humid environment. You would want the soil moist (not wet wet). Add a wet sheet of paper or towel to the terrarium/sweater box to increase humidity if necessary.

You all know that Robs http://robsviolet.com/episcia.htm has some pictures. Another place for lots of pictures (none for sale, thank goodness) is Dolly Yeh's site http://www.dollyyeh.idv.tw/picture_other.htm.

Keyring~~ Oh, I would like to have one of each, if I could, please! What is your preference as to getting the postage to you?
Thank you! Betsy

Keyring:
Your episicias look SO pretty! Maybe you can help me with mine.
I have 2....this one in the picture (I don't know the name - but it has bright orange blooms) and a young "Faded Jade" that I bought from Rob's a couple months ago. the one in the picture seems to be leggy and not very full. If I cut it back will that help? How shall I go about doing that?
I didn't realize some of them like humidity so much. Hmmm...maybe that has something to do with why it doesn't look very nice? Does it do well in a greenhouse environment?
Thanks for all your help! Betsy

Critter, I was at my wits' end trying to make mine happy--I have two. They were both no ID's at HD, but they look just like 'Spearmint' and 'Blackfoot.' Neither of them would do anything but exist. As a last ditch effort, I put them in the same pot (to consolidate space....lol) and stuck them on a tiled window shelf in an extra bathroom. You know, the bathtub/shower ends with a shelf at the top, with a window? Anyway, it's north-facing and cooler than other rooms--I keep the door closed for humidity........there's alot of "won't do anything, gotta go somewhere" plants in there!

Anyway, ALL of the plants that I stick in there take amazing turns, putting out growth and blooms! They take turns rotating to other rooms when they blooms (the AVs) and then go back for more Bathroom Breaks. =)

The Episcias both put on lots of growth, putting out fluffy full growth and stolons everywhere. I was shocked one morning when I went to water and found both in full bloom! Hadn't seen blooms since I bought them!

Anyway, they're in a 5" pan pot, atop a saucer filled with gravel for additional humidity.

And, they NEVER get rotated out of the bathroom.......I just visit them alot!

=) MKJ

Thanks for all the good advice, folks! I did check the culture info at Rob's, but your more specific suggestions were definitely better info! For now, I will put mine into the re-purposed fish tank where my AV leaf pots are. It will get very bright, indirect light and lots of humidity there. I don't think temperature will be a problem there. Even in winter, the glass of the aquarium and the gravel at the bottom should help to moderate night time temperatures... and frankly, I'm a wimp and don't set the thermostat that far below 65 at night anyway. :-) BTW, the one I have is 'Unpredictable Valley', and it's got nonfuzzy pink & cream variegated leaves.

Has anyone tried planting their episcias in a mixed plant terrarium? I have several little plants now that I'd like to combine in a terrarium setting once I pick the right container... maybe I'll start with just a stolon of this one and see how it goes. That's a winter project, for when I'm dying to play in the dirt!

Oooooooooooh, lovely episcia, Critter! =)

an episcia in a terrarium is like ivy. It will throw out runners and root everywhere..........

unpredicable valley - related to unpredicatble helen? Some leaves/stolons are more pink than others etc? (I.e., unpredictable)

Definitely one of the shiny pale green and pink that would really prefer a terrarium. Some of those types grow really slow as well.

hmmm maybe not so unpredictable.
http://www.aggs.org/conv_98/award_html/98conv20.html
can you imagine growing one like that? well worthy of the award!

Gorgeous! Critter has a treasure, for sure!

.... and I will share!

Hopefully it will grow like gangbusters and I'll be sending stolons out with all my spring trade boxes! Then we can all thank SarahJo for her generosity to me! :-)

The coloration seems fairly consistant, but it only has 3 or 4 clumps of leaves at present.

quick follow-up question...

When you put an episcia under glass, does it care if its leaves are touching the sides of the container here & there?

Keyring, I would like a cutting of both if you have any left. Is you address in the exchange?

Thanks,
Cindy

Betsy, Cindy - I sent you dmail.

Critter - the leaves can touch the sides. But, it's best not to have a lot of condensation on the glass or the leaves will rot off. (I think some people have reported leaves dying even when there is no condensation, but I think this is rare.)

Betsy - Episcias can get scraggly with age, and they can also be a bit lanky if not given enough light. Some are also naturally leggier than others (I think Faded Jade is not a very compact grower, but I could be wrong).

Rob's has some good tips on grooming episcias somewhere on their site. It is not easy to turn around a scraggly plant and make it look good. BUT, it is VERY easy to take cuttings and grow them in better conditions. Most grow quickly - and yours probably will too.

I'll try to get tips on rooting cuttings up soon-ish.

Keyring, do you have more cuttings available? I would love to try the Silver Dust. Let me know. :)

Thanks,
Dana

Hello everyone! I just found this thread :) I'm like Critter, I just got each of us an episcia at the 3G's show I was at... so I'd better see that this one I brought home will grow before I look at more :) The one I gave Critter had the stolons on it, and I kept the one that had buds on it. So, I'll post pics when they start opening :)

Mine is 'Peppermint Brocade'... It's very pretty... it will be a fun surprise to see what color the blooms are!

We actually have my grandmother, the gesneriad queen for these lovely specimens :) She gave them to me from the sale, free of charge! :) I love that I can go "shop" her plantroom at will... I'm veeery lucky :)

Thanks for all the kudos, Critter ;)... I'm blushing!

Sarah

> *edited to say: I'd like to point out that my grandma is the gesneriad queen OF THE FAMILY... Keyring still rules supreme at DG ;)>

This message was edited Sep 24, 2005 10:35 AM

This message was edited Sep 24, 2005 10:36 AM

lol, sarah! Keyring does grow some, "Oh, THAT's what they're supposed to look like!" gesneriads! =)

Ha! Yep, I know that feeling mkjones! :)

lol. thanks guys. There are others here with lots of experience too. And thoughts go out to MsC and Donna and anyone else in the hurricane areas this year.

I got into AVs because my mom grew them when we lived in the UK, and I got into other gesneriads because a friend started giving me pieces. Then we figured out that I'm fairly decent with seeds and cuttings so she would give me a few each time - better chance of actually getting plants between two people. Gessies are just made for sharing.

I think I sent my address to everyone who asked. I think I may be out of cuttings at this point. I'm sure there'll be more epscias up for trade in this forum come spring.

Also, please don't delay in getting me the postage because I start travelling a lot come mid October, and the weather will turn cold anyway.

ok, tips on rooting episcias here:
http://kyi.info/gesneriads/episcia-cuttings.htm

fyi, I'm getting ready to ship on Tuesday. I have postage from mkjones, betsyJ, danak, cmalon.

and yes, I sent them today :-)

The unnamed cutting in the box is Columnea Aladdin's Lamp. Columneas are best rooted in equal parts perlite and vermiculite, in medium light. Remove the bottom few leaves first. If the cutting is long, it can be cut into two pieces. The very tip can be cut off now or later - you'll want to pinch it at some point to encourage branching.

Now, please do tell me if they don't arrive in good shape. It's always hard to guess how much moisture they need at this time of year - too little and they die, too much and they rot.....

If they are ok but look a little bit limp, they can be soaked in a warm bath of water and sugar for an hour or more. Re-cut it under water so that it take up water better. Remember to dry off the growing tip with some kitchen paper or something - allow the paper to wick the water away from the tip.

With all cuttings, I find it better to re-cut them before putting them down to root. I tried to pick long cuttings so that you can do some trimming yourselves. (Also see the link a couple of posts up for how to cut up a cutting into individual pieces.)

This message was edited Oct 13, 2005 1:48 PM

keyring--I just found this thread (like where have I been) and am so sorry I missed out. Those are really gorgeous!!

Keyring. My cuttings arrived in great shape. Thank you very much. I have them rooting in the vermiculite and perlite. They really look great.

Thanks again,
Cindy

So did mine! All are doing well, and the columnea cutting was a nice treat--thank you! Such beautiful plants f/you, once again. =)

MKJ

Me too, Keyring...ME TOO! Got 'em today. They were a bit droopy but a couple hours soaking up some water and they look great.
I'm off to get them rooting.....thanks again!

Thanks so much! I received mine in great condition.