(calling MsC ....)
Mine is seriously unhappy - I think it's getting too much light. (And, as usual, too little water).
I'm going to repot it and move it, but should I keep it under the lights or move it to a windowsill? I know a lot of columneas and aschynanthus just prefer windows... (maybe it's the night temp drops etc...)
columnea schiediana
Hiya Key,
I've never had mine inside.
Mine has always been an outdoor plant. I don't do much to it except to water it ever so gently(ya know I kill things with my watering skills:)
I fertilize it once or twice in the spring. Back in Texas it was in a mostly shaded & under a covered area that got morning sun. It stayed there all year, even during our lil snow storm.
Here in AZ it is still outside & in the same placement.It doesn't seem to mind the heat or the lack of humidity.
I'm in need of repotting mine & I'm a little scared of touching it...lol
I would put it out on your patio area & see if it perks up.
I edited to add that a few books I read note the tend to need a drop in temp to set blooms??? Wonder how that explains the summer blooms?? Anyway I don't think the temps are an issue.
Hope that helps.
MsC
This message was edited Jul 9, 2006 1:08 PM
hmmmm thank you. I can attest it it not needing temp drops at all, because I get the odd bloom now and then - though I suspect it's survival instinct kicking in, lol. But perhaps temp drops at night would get it to set more buds.
I think I'm going to try the office window then - if the air in AZ is okay, I think the office might be fine.....
You are very welcomed.
It is a fascinating plant when in bloom & one of my favorites!
MsC
For the life of me I can't keep a columnea schiediana alive. I have had two of them and they just die die I say.
LOL...they can be tricky lil rascals... I have to put mine where I don't see it often..or up really high where my watering skills don't reach it.
hugs
MsC
the fact that mine stays bone dry for 2.5 weeks between my "once every three weeks" watering schedule, and still isn't dead, I think it might think it's a succulent.
poor thing, bleached white from too much light.....
They will certainly survive being drier than being wet...trust me I KNOW about these things...lol
They seem to be listed as wanting treatment like an ephyte. They apparently grow up on trees and don't take to much soil.??
Mine is planted in sphagnum , alil perlite & a dash of AV soil. So far so good.Mine is about 10 years old. I won it as a door prize at one of our begonia meetings.
MsC
ooh wow :-)
I love hearing about the history of cuttings people send me. (mine is a baby from MsC)
Just pulled the pot and checked out the roots. It has some serious strong clinging roots!!! they don't look epiphytic, however, so I'm guessing this grows in pockets of debris on trees, rather than climbing up bark....?
I took some cuttings because the lower parts have lost leaves.
I also found that I have a second pot of it!
MsC - how big is your pot?
Key,
My original plant was in a 10 inch hanging basket.
I had no idea what type of plant it was when I won it and at the time I had not started on my journey with Gesneriads...need I say more..lol
Well, I watered it along with everything else, then I happened to figure out the hard way it did not need all my loving watering. It had dwiddled to half of that 10 in basket.
Mine has gotten straggley as well so....I went out & finally bit my lip & said a prayer & just repotted it.:) It did have more roots than I expected. I cut it back pretty hard. I've also put the trimmings down to root.
Right now I'd say I have a nice full 6 inch basket IF it recovers.
It was planted in about a 50/50 mix of spaghnum & soil...it was mostly roots! No wonder it wasn't doing well...lol
I just did the same to my Tropican Goldfish plant too.
Say a few prayers????
MsC