Please do not post on this thread until I am finished it will have a few postings I will let you know the end :)) Thanks you ! Hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I got it back a few years ago Gary out of Africa mailed it to me !
Discovering Streptocarpus
Presented at the 1998 AVSA Convention Show, Sacramento, California
By Dr. Ralph Robinson, April 24, 1998
Our General Culture for Streptocarpus
Water: from the top for plants in 2" and 5" pots, by capillary for plants in 3" pots
Soil: soil-less mix, 1/2 Pro-mix BX, 1/2 coarse vermiculite , 2 cups #10 charcoal per 5 gals. Before using , 5 gal. soil is premoistened with 1 gal. fertilized water. ( Mine are in Pro-Mix /50 percent or more Periltie)
Light: both natural ( greenhouse) and artificial ( florescent) light, using both cool-white and Gro-lux WS bulbs...2"and 3" pots , lights kept 10-11" above pot rim, for 5" pots, about 18-20" above the rim.
Fertilizer : Peter's 15-16-17 virtually every watering ( sometimes 20-20-20 ) , used at 1/4 tsp. /gal. top watered, less when mat watered.
Enviromant : our humidity is generally moderate to high. Streps will tolerate lower temperatures than will violets, modem hybrids will tolerate higher tempertures as well.
Why I Love Strep: ( and why you can too )
They are tough: Our experience has been that people who have had little luck with violets can successfully grow streps. They are a great flowering houseplant for people without " green thumbs"-which is true for many of the customers coming to our shop.
They do equally well under natural and artificial light. We grow under both, and they don't seem to care. We place them in the worst areas of the greehouse where we wouldn't think of putting violets. They can do well in almost any window of the house, great for windowsill gardeners.
Ease of growing : Since they grow multicrowned , there's no need to remove suckers. Have a discolored leaf or the plant is too big?-just trim it to any shape or size you want with scissors.
Flowering potential . Unlike violets that usually only produce one bloom stalk per leaf axil, streps will produce 6-10 bloom stalks in succession from each leaf. A mature plant with lots of healthy leaves can produce lots of bloom.
Ease of propagation. A 2" length of leaf, rooted in a 2 1/4 pot produce 20-60 plantlets.
Fewer pest problems. They are susceptible to the same pest as violets-mites, mealies, thrips, and the like. Mealy bug is the most likely problem, but ( from our experience) they are less likely to attract mite and thrip.
They're Spectacular. There's few things more spectacular than a mature plant in full bloom ( and they mature quickly).
Most visitors to our shop come with the intention of buying violets. Most leave with a strep-and more of our return customers are strep buyers.
On to second Post Please
Discovering Streptocarpus
How to Grow Streptocarpus ( at least how we do)
To propagate, cut a length of leaf, then remove the center vein ( or rib). Placing two remaining halves ( sides of leaf),center ( or vien) down into rooting mix. Younger, heavily veined leaves will porduce more plantlets.
Unlike violet plantlets, ( which produce pairs of leaves) each leaf that apears from the cutting is a plant-you needn't wait for pairs of leaves to appear. Plant each "plantlet", ( I.E.leaf) into it's own 2" pot.
The plantlet will produce its its first bloom in 1-3 months, depending upon variety and conditions. At this time we pot the plant into a 3" pot, where it should continue to grow and bloom.
Unless a small or compact variety, most streps will then need repotting into a 5" pot ( shallow azalea pots or pan pots are best ) in another 6-10 weeks. Except for the very for the very varieties, this is the
the largest pot necessary.
About every 5-6 months , repot the strep, dividing the plant if necessary, removing some of the old soil and rootball, adding fresh soil.
Stay tune for post three please.
allison..thank you...so interested in this
Some Streptocarpus Problems
Generally speaking , streps are harder to kill than violets, being more tolerant of neglect. This is particulary true of the better modem hybrids.
Species and many older hybrids. It is true that these can be intolerant of warm tempertures-say , a prolonger period of tempertures of 80 degrees and above
Unifoliate and/or "annual" species. Some of the species are " Unifoliate", meaning the produce only one mature leaf. Though not necessarily difficult, these are not recommended for novices, I.E. if the leaf dies, the plant dies. Many other species are " annuals" in that the will bloom, set seed, and the expire. These are best kept growing by continually sowing see and / or rooting leaves.
Overwatering and/or dense a soil mix. This is reallt rhe only way one can kill most modem streptocarpus hybrids. Streps almost always will recover from lack of water, even when almost totally limp, but can be killed by continual watering. For some reason , a light soil mix is always preferred over a heavy one.
" Browned or Yellowed " leaf tips or margins. This can be caused by many kinds of stress , but the most common causes are infrequent or improper repotting and /or lack of grooming. Sometimes that leaf is yellow simply beacasue it's old and should be removed ! These symptoms may also appear if the strep is very rootbound.
Crowded and /or deformed center growth. Streps are very fast , vigorous growers, and need to be (divided and ) repotted into fresh soil at least every 6 months. When very rootbound ( especially) in very old soil ), center growth may show these symptoms-in extrems cases, it can be mistaken for a mite infestation.
Lack of bloom. This is rarely a problem for us- we have some plants that have been in bloom ( ir about to bloom) every day of the year for four or five years running. If it does stop blooming , and culture ( i.e.feeding, light, ect..) is good, it may be beacasue there is too much " old" growth. Each leaf will produce 6-10 bloom stalks, but after that will stop producing more buds. Unless there are new , healthy , leaves being produced eventually blooming will cease. Re-potting- giving the plant a "fresh start"
usually solves this problem.
Please go one to post 4 :))
Some Suggestions
Use very light soil mixes, especially if you wick-water or otherwise keep plants constantly moist. If wicking, we would suggest using a mix of at least 50 percent perlite. It's always a good idea to let the reservoir go dry occasionally before refilling ( this goes for violet, too. ) Keeping a too-dense soil, too wet, is the most common problem growers have. Keep those roots happy !
Use a balanced fertilizer. " Bloom boosting" ( High phosphorus) fertilizers are not necessary for good blooming. If you have healthy roots and leaves, blooms will come. Streps are very vigorous growers and need to be fed regularly and adequately.
Grooming and pruning . Don't be afraid to remover old leaves, especially if they've already produced a number of blooms stalks. Also remove leaves that seem to be " competing" for the same space, or "getting in each other's way ". Remember also, that leaves can be trimmered with virtually no effect on blooming-we've had pots of " stubble" in heavy bloom !
Regular repotting. If the strep has healthy roots, it's happy. If it doesn't , it won't be. Proper pot size , and fresh soil are needed for a new, healthy, root development. Neglect here is the second most common problem . Be sure to water sparingly until roots have begun ti fill the added soil. Warm water.
Don't overcrown. This goes for violets too. Don't create a "jungle-like" enviroment. Plants need plenty of space between each other and good air circulation.
Future possibilities ( what we look for in seedlings)
This is out ultimate goal in hybridizing-
Small, compact growers with glossy, sometimes dark and /or red/back leaves, growing in a flat ) not upright) manner, with rounded ( even rosette) form.
Double ( or triple) stick-tite blossoms-frilly or velvety blooms. Fantasies, multicolors, edges. The possible colors and combinations are nearly limitless.
Many of these have already been achieved by us and other hybridizers-the future is exciting !!!
The End
Hope you enjoy this as much as I have !
allison thank you for the most interesting info...i hunger for this kind of thing...i find it so exciting.....bob
Thank Bob your welcome ! I have had this a few years and read it dozens of times, each time it helped me and a great learning tool for growing Streptocarpus and even hints on African violets. Dr. Ralph ownes Violet Barn as almost everyone here knows and have ordered from him and is thehybridizer of so many gorgeous Streptocarpus plants ! Stephanie posted a link the other day with his new scented ones I am going to have to have :))
Allison
well i haven't had any in so many years but i always like them..and i appreciate all the helpful info....i don't know have of these sites..but it is fun catching up....i saw a yellwo blossomed epicisia on ebay tonight...from hirts in Strongsville Ohio...funny..when i was a kid...it was nothing but farms in strongsville..and i picked beans for 35cents a half bushel basket...lol
Oh yes theirs a few of us with yellow ones that I know will be happy to send you some. i will send you the ones I have. I habe baby Streps growing also but their not big enough for travel yet. Soon !
Fabulous info! We should definitely put a link to this thread in the gessie sticky -- please, begonia?
I have some streps...so this info is invaluable to me..thanks Allison!
yep grteat inifo and should be in sticky...by the way..i find the sticky..to be absolutely wonderful...what a great source of info
Hey Bob...I have some strep leaves you can take home with you also if ya like.....I am going to try to propogate those to share.
They are not much more then a series of leaves right now...but when they bloom wow!
Also remind me to send a Tamiana with home you..I have an extra that needs a home..and a cygnet! The rest I will leave up to you to pick out from the leaves and plantlets LOL
We are going to have such fun!
well i'm going to bring you a bunch of things..including the WORLD'S GREATEST PLANLT....he he...according to me...that being the California Marigold...ie cosmos sulphureus.....i put some in allison's package...they are so cheerful..burpee sells them as bright llight cosmos...but please folks don't buy them..i have millions of seeds and plants of them to share...some will get 6 feet tall..and every morning they greet one with such cheer....they're even blooming now out front...they love heat and cold....why don't i go take a pic...he he...hang on..be right back..ok back..lol...ck the pic below..the calif margiolds are so neat..and what's the name of the blue flower behind...comes up everyplace and so pretty...i will bring some..
Those are beautiful Bob ! Thank you so much for mine ! I can't wait and if they don't mind cold hubby can plant them out tomorrow :)) Thanks for my wonderful box :)) I am totaly in love with Plumerias ..
And thank you for the beautiful African violet too !
What a fun box !
You two are so lucky you live close ! I wish I could be there too ! Have fun ! Allison
Allison....they calif mari's as i call them..can take heat and cold...they were so cheerful in the 32 degree weather this morning...he he...i call those succulent i included in the boxfl kalenchoes..is that the correct name?..meant to tell you the thickest of the plumerias is called Miami Rose and a dandy...smells like cocoanut sun tan lotion...lol...did the african violet get crushed?...hope not...glad you like it...i think it's pretty...I am so looking forward to meeting Lorry..it will be great fun...
anybody know what the name of the blue plant behind the california marigolds in my thread above is...i can't remember and it's driving me nutz?....lol
Oh no Allison,Now I have put one on my wish list.LOL.They look lovely.
Jungle, it looks like a kind of ageratum (sp) - hang on and I'll try and find it. I think I have some potted up in my GH.
A Strep on your wish list Jan :)) What color !
any color is fine Allison.you pick it.thanks:)
I have babies growing :)) they will be great size by Spring :)) I may have a lot. hehe :))