How long does it take to get to Canada? and do you need to fill out special forms to ship to Canada? I never have.
If Chris goes back on the 19th I will have him pick up one for you and one for Laurie. If he doesn't..I honestly don't know when the next time I go will be. They are only open during the week and I work weekdays..so I will probably only be going every 3 months or so and keeping stock at the house.
Nematanthus Identification
I have Had so many requests for this plant :) I love ya all but I can only send a couple of cuttings out of this plant and this point :)
LOL and certain people I trade with frequently (laurie and Allison) get first dibs.
I also put one up on ebay before I knew I would have so many requests.
I am hoping Chris will make that trip to my supplier on the 19th..If he does..I will ask him to pick up a couple more of the plants but they take up a lot of room in the truck..they are large hanging baskets and he will have my dad's luggage and such..and I have had 2 requests for full sized plants and I will need another full sized plant for me...since I am sellling som eof this one off..In other words....I will see what I can do :)
This message was edited Apr 10, 2006 1:56 PM
Bumpng up some info I read; :))
Thank you ! I was reading how a Nemantanthus is a fibrous-rooted gesneriad a " Kissing cousin" of the African violet. :)) It usually has succulent, shiney foliage growing in opposite pairs on long, long, arching stems. For this reason it makes a fine choice for growing in a hanging basket ! The leaves can range in size from 3/4 " to 4" or more, and their color can vary from almost black to apple green. The flowers are somewhat difficult to describe since some varieties will have short pedicles ( the flower stem) while others will apear to have the flower hanging by a thread (" Thread Flower" has been applied to these in the past ) This difference in flower type was due to the renaming of several varities that once belonged to the Hypocyrta species. The flower colors are in the red-orange-yellow range. The shape of the bloom is pouched, and it varies in size from 1/2 " to 1 1/2 " long. I don;t have this book but would like it. The Miracle Housplants by Virginie and george Elbert ( have one of their books but not this one) has more detail on these plants , more detailed descriptions and individual species and hybrids of this plant too. This book has lots of info about many plants. Does anyone own it ?
Oh yes Nematanthus are difficult to bloom . Nematanthus should be fertilized with a high phosphate formula fertilizer . ( the second number the highest 10-30-20) only when in active growth and bloom and not at all when plants are standing still, which is frequently a protracted period. They hate to be over watered, especially during hot weather, as this can quickly lead to rot. Tempertures between 65-85 degrees are preferred. Tempertures above or below will cause Nematanthus to shed its leaves-.
The PH of the soil should be somewhat more acid than that used for African violets. Some say Columnea and Nematanthus grow well when grown in long-fiber sphagnum moss. The Nematanthus along with high phosphate fertilizer need to be a little pot-bound to bloom.
What I'm looking for is like 50 blooms at one time like the pictures in the Gesneriads Reference Web ! I bought a gorw light special for it :))
I've been reading all I can find on it :))
Books and web :))
On the Reference Web sight the one with 50 flowers says
" A hybrid of two large-growing species, N. longipes and N. fritschii, N. 'Stoplight' is itself quite large-growing. It has a branching and spreading habit, with large, succulent leaves with decorative red backs. The very large flowers are produced on long pedicels, and dangle beneath the branches. I grew this plant hanging underneath flourescent lights -- it had been kept on the dry side, but watered and fertilized regularly. Almost fifty flowers were produced at one time."
Everywhere I read on growing them inside they used lights ?
http://gesneriads.ca/nematan6.htm
Stop LIght may be in the same family line as they have almost the same foliage :)) Maybe they share a parent.
Look at this one ! Same type foliage pink flowers !
http://gesneriads.ca/nemata42.htm
This is indeed, Nematanthus "Champagne Jam" a hybrid developed by Hans Wiehler when he was at the Gesneriad Research Foundation.
Wow the lady where Lorry bought thme insisted they are Nematanthus Champagne ?
Do you have any other info ?
NematanthusNut you must have a lot of Nematanthus's !!! Which ones do you grow ? Do you have any pictures ? How do you like to grow your's ? Lights, Windows, outsdie all indoors ?
Thanks, Allison
Duh sorry I just re-read Ok it's name is
~ Nematanthus "Champagne Jam ~ ? Right ?
Yup Champagne Jam and miss Nematanthusnut is the one who found out that much :)
the lady I bought it from only called it champagne
This is wonderful ! I love History ! This is info on Hans Wiehler out there now more about these fascinatng plants. There are so many of them that have been around for years !
Hey Champagne Jam girls, I wanted to post this earlier, but as you know, was too sick to fiddle around with computers,
I tried cuttings of this one and they wilted by the end of the day, and were gonners by the next day. So I am trying the 'air layering' method of propagating it. I'll let you know how it goes in a few weeks if she roots.
yES i HAD THE SAME PRoblem but do have one baby going that just the crown lived rest of the baby ls wilted off.I tried water this method Ithoght was going to be good but was not for me, but will try both methods and more again !
Erm..I just stuck some cuttings in the dirt and they did ok.
I suppose I was just lucky!