I bought my first two streptocarpus a few weeks ago and they keep almost dying on me because I'm not so used to watering them as often as they would like. So, I was wondering if they can be wicked just like our AVs? And can the chiritas be wicked also? I have been reading the stickies but I did not see this particular question answered.
Jesse
Can streptocarpus and chiritas be wicked?
Jesse in the link I gave you how to grow Chirita's it says you can wick but either way light soil-less mix. Also wicked ones grow larger. Some of mine are wicked some are not. Either way I end up water them from top and just putting water in their saucer when dry.
Both Streptocarpus and Chiritas like it on the dry side. They will die if over watered. I do not water my Streps until they are dry. If they are dry and wilt water they will come back. If they are wet and wilt from over water they will die.
That is a good idea for me to repot all 3 of them since I didn't do it when I brought them home. And I think that I have a good mix of ⅓ African Violet soil and ⅔ Perlite. The perlite is really good for them but I put just a touch of regular AV soil and I've had very good results with it so far. Whatever they use at Bluebird dries out so fast that it needs to be watered everyday. And I do not water mine that often, especially now since most of them are using wicks. So that is on my list of things to do today, repot 2 streptocarpus and 1 chirita. Thanks for helping me with this Allison.
Jesse
Your welcome Jesse I think were the only ones awake or around this Holiday morning ! I've was awake a lot of the night choking and woke around 5 AM ready for a nap soon lol
Yes the two of us have been gabbing all night while everyone else was asleep. But I have a hard time sleeping sometimes and so I just sit here and hope someone is awake to talk to.
Jesse
Were you up all night Jesse ? I went to bed fairly early but woke and got on the computer at 5 Am :))
But I was up half the night choking so I am getting tired.
Since they like to be on the dry side, I wouldn't wick them. When I think of wicking I think of continual water intake from the wick that is resting in a resevoir. This wouldn't work for strep.
For mine I water from the top when they are dry. But I know people that wick and do fine. I bet enviroments play a role.
Now my large Chirita has 4 good size wicks coiled from bottom of pot up threw the top this helps the water to come up to the roots evenly. Lots of time my large pots get 2 or more wicks depending on the plant and size of pot. I like to coil the wick a few times in the bottom of the pot and bring it to the top of the pot. My plants have always been happy this way.
You have to play around and find what's best for you.
More info