Has anyone started Gloxinias from seeds ? How long does it take for the plant to mature?
TIA
Patti
Gloxinia Question
If you mean the florist's gloxinia, it takes about 6 months. If you mean the genus gloxinia, not sure - never grown them, but they look like a 6-monther... (really guessing, lol).
I'm a big fan of seeds for pretty much all gesneriads (expect for specific cultivars).
Keyring,
Can you please explain to me what is the difference between the two Gloxinias? I only know of the Gloxinias you can buy at the supermarket sometimes. Please educate me, I need it. LOL :0)
TIA
Patti
This message was edited Dec 3, 2005 9:44 PM
you probably mean the florist's gloxinia then. We don't have them in our supermarkets, though :-(
First the real gloxinia (it's easier). Gloxinia is the name of a genus and there are many species and hybrids in it. You can see some here http://gesneriads.ca/gendiagl.htm - scroll down past the Diastemas. I think these are not common in cultivation, but now and again I run into a non-gesneriad person who grows them.
Florist's Gloxinia is the common name given to a type of Sinningia speciosa. It's useful to have this common name because, well, not all Sinningia speciosa are florist's gloxinias. The natural speciosa has a slipper shaped flower. http://gesneriads.ca/sinni077.htm But, some of them are peloric - instead of having longer petals on the bottom (makes the flower look like a slipper), the petals are big and the same size all around. These are nice and flowery, so they've been hybridized extensively and are known as florist's gloxinias - I think they make good cut flowers too. Here's one that was hybridized for fragrance - I grew a selfing of this one from seed and it flowered in about 6 months. http://gesneriads.ca/sinni121.htm
Keyring,
I have seen Sinningia Speciosa in grocery store, but not resently. They are beautiful . Thank you for the information. I really enjoyed reading it. The next time I see one in the store I will have to get one. :0)
Thanks again.
Patti