Hi to the lurkers and "newbies" :-)

Well I feel downright silly talking to the void, but there's a thread over on Dave's - you may have seen it http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/684929/ He's started some "beginner" forums because some new-to-Davers find the plant-specific forums a tad intimidating.

I do hope our forum isn't intimidating, but maybe it is....

And I really do hope we have some lurkers checking us out :P yoohoo~~~ Welcome!

Some of the regulars might want to take a wander over to the beginner houseplants forum now and then http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/b_houseplants/all/

[photo is of an unlabeled Streptocarpus of the Streptocarpella type seen at the Allan Gardens in Toronto, Canada]

and I have a seed offer for lurkers and new-to-seed folks. Just send me a dmail with your addy and I will send you a couple of dozen seeds to try.

As usual, this offer is pretty much open to anyone but:

- If I've previously sent you seeds and you haven't sown them, please sit this one out. (If you sowed them and they didn't grow, I would love to send you more.)

- If you're new to DG, you must make at least 5 posts somewhere on DG (not including "please send me" posts) before I will mail you seeds. This is just to weed out people who sign up just to respond to free plant/seed offers and never participate in the forums. (It has happened....)

Love the strep, Ki.

Critter, is the pictured strep similar to the cuttings you gave me in November?

Those Streptocarpella's are fun to grow and Butterflies love them !

Nanna, yes it is! Mine is labeled 'Concord Blue'. I was hoping my pot would fill out and become lush like that picture after I trimmed it back (it was looking leggy, hence the cuttings)... but it has a good ways to go, LOL... I'm starting to think it needs more light.

Key, thanks for letting us know about that forum... I've heard Dave is starting up a whole new site for beginner gardeners (no subscription fee)...

Oh what a Gorgeous plant!

Key sent me 3 little Streptocarpella plants for postage back in late October .... two of them are still hanging in there, don't look great, but they are alive. One didn't make it. I'm hoping the remaining two will eventually take off and thrive! If I remember correctly these were labeled 'Concord Blue' .... boy, if I could get them to look half as good as that photo, I would be really, really happy! I think I need to re-pot them and maybe feed them a little.

Key ... what kind of seeds are you offering "Newbies"?? I still consider myself a newbie of sorts .... AND I "Lurk" around a bunch of the different forums, reading all the posts .... still learning so much from so many folks here in the "Garden".

Lin

I'm very excited about the Concord Blue. I'll bet you are right about the light. My little ones are in the kitchen window. They haven't grown much. They must be waiting for warmer weather.

This message was edited Jan 19, 2007 7:04 PM

Bumping this up. Seed offer is still open.

My Streptocarpella plants that I got from Key last October didn't survive. At least they look deader than a doornail! :( So, If I couldn't keep the plants alive, I probably wouldn't have much luck with growing from seeds, don't know. I have grown some things from seeds. Many years ago I grew a bunch of desert cactus from a packet of seeds. They grew and flourished. And, I've grown some other common plants from seed. But, I'm thinking Streps are a maybe a bit more advanced.

Lin

Hi Keyring, and hi to everyone else! I am new to Dave's Garden, but not new to houseplants and indoor gardening. I live in an apt and it is the only way I can garden... except in the summer when I can place things out on the balcony.

I enjoy gesneriads, but just don't have good luck with AVs. I have a nice epicsia, and I really want to try streps and sinningia. My mom had the strep you have in the photo and it looked just as beautiful, but I haven't been able to find it since. At that time we treated it as an annual hanging basket, not knowing any better. :-(

I have posted a few times (just subscribed today) but I don't know if it's five yet. I would love to have some seeds though, whenever i am allowed to have them... and thank you for your thoughtfulness of sharing with new people!

Thank you and I look forward to learning from others, readeing posts, and maybe even sharing once in a while.

Have a nice weekend!

Of course! I just sent you dmail.

Welcome to DG VAWildRose! You will really LOVE it here in this Garden! So many knowledgeable, generous people ... always willing to share seeds, plants and great advice.

Happy Gardening!

Lin

VAWildRose, I just started growing AV's in the last few months and the people on this forum have held my hand through each failure and success....glad you are joining us.
gail

Thank you all! I was impressed by a variegated AV I saw yesterday on here, and it made me want to try them again! I'm sure I'll be asking lots of questions!

I wanted to thank Keyring for sharing with me, the "newbie". She sent me a nice card with three little packets of seed to help me start my Gessie collection. I see a new passion blooming! Just wanted you all to know how much I appreciate this, and how much I enjoy the posts here... I am learning alot... but I promise you, I will have more questions! ;-)

Thank you for letting me "play"!

A new gardening friend... Karen

This morning, I sent off the last of the envelopes for requests made so far. Happy sowing everyone!

Thank you so very much! I'm an avid lurker here and am starting to love Av's , streps etc. I won a certificate from Bluebird nursery and ordered a colonanthe , Av and two streps. I love them. Now, if only I can get these seeds to do well , I will be so excited! I received them today, and planted them this evening. Your generosity is appreciated. I hope these grow and I can "pay it forward" down the road with plants from these seeds. Lou

Ki, I can't wait to see how I do with these 'oh-so-tiny' seeds. As soon as I have moved out the seedlings for spring planting, I will give them a try and a prayer ;0)

everybody should report back here with their successes! (I won't consider failures because even trying is a success because it's a learning experience)

thanks so much
jan (aka gram)

LOL.....I'm not so much a "lurker" as a sponge. I have started growing AV's just in the past year and have so much to learn. Nobody has seemed intimidating here!

OK folks... the soil is sterilized, warmed, and moistened. I plant the seeds this evening! Wish me luck!!!!

Karen

Good luck, Karen! I'm waiting until the spring rush outside is over so I can give them proper attention.