I bought a nice little 'Concord Blue' in a hanging pot last month. It's getting a little leggy looking now, and no blooms. I'm thinking it might need a brighter spot, but I'm also wondering about pinching it back. When I look at the base of the leaves, I can see little clusters of new leaves forming... If it were an herb plant, I would know that pinching right above these clusters would cause new branches to form... Is this also true of Streptocarpellas? If so, I'm thinking I should prune it back pretty well so it gets bushier.
I found out also that cuttings root well in water (accidently broke a piece off and stuck it in a glass with some other things, now it has roots forming), so if pruning is a good idea I'll also have a bunch of cuttings to start. :-)
Training/pinching a streptocarpella?
yeah, pinch away :-)
Mine is still outside and blooming its head off... but I should take cuttings soon so I have some for next year.....
Thanks, Ki! I knew you'd have the answer for me. :-)
Yes most easiet fun plant to grow. Grows well here as ground covering, hanging baskets, Butterflies love it ! It roots and grows like Coleus for us. We take a piece off stick in the ground or pot then water it, it may wilt some a few days next thing you know you have a pot full blooming beautiful flowers .
Hmmm, I might have to try to root a bunch of pieces in early spring when I stick cuttings of my trailing coleus to plant around borders and to fill in containers...
oh Yes good idea i like them with my purple leaf shamrock plants ( oxilas) SP? it has dainty pink flowers. I have grown it in ground with Coleus, in basket hanging and with streptocarpella !
streptocarpella can get so thick and bushy !
I did a pretty major pruning of my plant this evening, so hopefully it will soon get thick and bushy also!
Don't be taking too much putting it in shark. lol If I took one small cluster like sucker clump and filled a small pot and potted it up just like a crown until the foliage lays nice and touches the top of the soil water threw. Put in warm, humid, light area. It will root super fast. Then just every once in awhile I use to just pinch the new tiny top growth off and by itself it would branch out and fill out just like a trailer or colues. When I was well we have the same Colues plants from five years plus three moves . I would pinch them each day ! We had them all along our driveway like thick bushy hedges 3-4 ft tall and round !
When we move we took a hand full and just started growing it again ! So much fun !
I pruned it back as I would an herb plant, taking off 1/3 to 1/2 of any leggy branch, cutting it just above a likely looking set of leaf clusters waiting to form branches. I also pinched tips off some of the shorter branches to encourage them to branch again. I don't think I put it into shock... But if I did, I guess I will just hope that my dozen cuttings strike roots, LOL.
Sounds awesome ! I had one I grew and grew and grew every where and gave several away. I was always going to get some different ones their cool plants and Butterflies like them too !
Your mention of butterflies is what made me think that I need to start a bunch of little ones to put outside next spring! :-)
Oh yes Jill they will fill up hanging baskets in no time and always bloom so pretty !
Hey Critter,
Are they supposed to trail? I always cut them back....I have Blueberries n Cream and Boysenberry. I guess I will put them into a bigger container and let them do their thing.
What a dummie I am...LOL!
Joanne
I don't know, Joanne -- 'Concord Blue' is my first one! The LGS had them in hanging baskets, but they were more swoopy than trailing, with branches that went out and down from the rim of the pot just a bit before heading back upwards to the light. So I wouldn't describe it as trailing in the way that wandering jew trails, but it's not a strictly upright plant either, at least not for me.
Yours sound yummy!
Concord Blue was the first Streptocarpella I grew too. Love it !
http://gesneriads.ca/genstrep.htm
Little info about it.
Hello:
I am pretty new to the DG website and came across this thread about Streptocarpella plants. Does anyone know if they will grow in my area (Daytona Beach, Florida)? I clicked on the link above and what beautiful little flowers! Are they cold hardy if planted in the ground? Can they be grown inside as a houseplant? What type of care do they require? Anyone know a good source for purchasing one or two of these? Thanks for any info!
Lin
Lin I had mine while ago and bought on line. I have grown them inside, outside in hanging baskets and in the grounds as ground covers more like an annual that way for me.
Hi Lin,
I'm sending you dmail ;-)
Lin Streptocatpellas would grow great in hanging basket in your pool screen room or in your beautful home with your birdhuses !
Key: Thank you so much for your offer! I really look forward to trying these! I have loads of houseplants as well as stuff in the ground in my yard! I love plants of all kinds! I have about a dozen African Violets ... do these take the same kind of light and care as the AV's? I will have to study up on them a bit, but sure am excited about trying my hand with them! I will probably keep them in my screen room in pots, or hanging baskets to start, until I learn a little about the proper care. Are they pretty hardy plants, or sensitive types like the AV's?
Violet: You live on the West Coast of Florida, so the climate is a bit different over your way ... I don't think you get as cold in the winter as we do here on the East Coast. You say you grow these as Annuals, so do they just die back each year? Can you root cuttings, or do they go to seed?
I sure love this Website and am so glad I became a member! So much great info and great plant people too!
LIn
Lin they take very simular care as African violets . They do like it dryer and can handle and like cooler weather. Grown in a pot groomed re-potted when needed you could keep it alive for years. I fount when I plants them in the ground was different. But their really easy to take cuttings and root new plants fast.
They like humdity and I saw in your pictures you have a lot of palnts around your pool I bet they love this !
Streptocarpellas are so easy to grow and root news ones you can grow them inside and out :))
don't count on it just yet..... as I said in the dmail, they're still outside and I won't get to them until Sat. Night low tonight is 37F and they're in a windowbox so no extra warmth from the building or the ground...... I guess we'll know soon enough.
Key: I'll just hope your's don't freeze and you can dig them up this weekend!
What colors do these plants come in? I did a google search and saw one called Concord Blue that was really pretty. I may have to visit my local nursery to see if they have any of these plants, or if maybe they plan on getting any! I've not seen them around these parts before. Any idea of any on-line company that sells them? Maybe I should try one of the AV sights, since I think it said they are a member of that family. I have never purchased plants on-line, but I might think about giving that a try at some point too.
Keep me posted if your's don't freeze! I do understand about cold weather and plants! We had been having unseanonally high temp's down here, three days last week it was 92 & 93 degrees during the day and staying in the high 70's at night! Day before yesterday we had a cold front move through .... yesterday our high was 68 and our low was 45 and today it was around 71 .... I moved a lot of my cold sensitive plants inside (orchids, violets, and a few house plants! Tomorrow is supposed to be back up around 80 and by friday 85 .... more like it!
Will wait to hear from you about the Streptocarpella's and keep my fingers crossed that they survive your cold temp's up there!
Thanks,
Lin
I've got Concord Blue (which is really a bit purplish) and a white form. We'll see..... They were fine wet at 45, and dry down to 42 or so - it's still dry so I'm hopeful they'll be ok.
Key:
I will eagerly wait for the weekend to hear your results!
Lin
Few Vendors that sell Streptocarpella's
http://www.belislesviolethouse.com/Streptocarpella.html
Streptocarpella
The caulescent Streptocarpellas (with stems) have small, succulent leaves, and are all easy to grow. The abundant flowers stand out from the foliage on wiry stems. Indoors or out, they make wonderful hanging baskets, or can be kept small by occasional pinching and pruning. Hummingbirds find Streptocarpellas irresistable. Hardy under shade in frost-free climates.
About six types here
http://www.kartuz.com/c/1GES16/Streptocarpella.html
Thanks Violet:
Will check out these links!
Lin