I have recently finished working on a large conservatory type rock wall. This wall has tons of areas for plants and I am interested in adding as much color and interesting things as possible. I seem to have a lack of begonias and I have been interested in them for years but never really started a collection. Now that I have this area I would like to try some of the more unique and brightly colored forms as possible.
Here is a picture were they will be planted.
Brian, are you looking for cuttings or plants? What about some trailing coleus? Bromileads?
Bromeliads are something I am after right now. I am not sure about trailing coleus I dont think I have seen it before do you have a pic?? It sounds interesting.
I am manly looking for colorful bromeliads gesneriads odd ferns and jungle cactus as well as any miniture or really odd orchids.
I am cutting a lot of stuff now manly orchids and cactus and I have plenty of aroids. If you have a list or can take some pics of some plants you might have. I have a lot but their are a lot of little miniture things I dont have. THANKS
Brian check your Dmail. I have B. convolvulacea and B. polygonoides (and one similar hybrid) as well as named Episcia starts.
Here is a small coleus, called Wedding Train I believe.
Here is another trailing coleus, not as petite, Chocolate Drop, maybe?
I have this form I probably would not find much interest in them. They are almost weeds in this situation. Do you have any variegated or brightly colored bromeliads or very small miniture forms? These would really be something I am after. The episcias would would be great as well or any other brightly colored gesneriad or hanging forms.
Brian, have you ever tried Kartuz? http://www.kartuz.com/pc/20556/2BEG11/Begonia+polygonoides.html They have some very interesting plants, especially begonia.
I have been looking at their site. It really seems though no one is dealing with the unusual gesneriad species if so I have yet to find them. I have seen very interesting gesneriads at a few botanical gardens and that seems to be the only places that really carry them. If anyone is growing a lot of odd specie gesneriads I would love to hear about thanks.
Most of the unusual gesneriads are what I call 'hobby' plants. Only dedicated indoor growers and botanical garden (greenhouse) people seen to work with them. The cool growing kind find our summers deadly and the warm tolerant kind find our winters too cold. Down in the Miami area they have better luck. I know Palm Hammock Orchid Estates http://members.tripod.com/~PalmHammockOrchidEst/phoe.html have a few of the tropical kinds. Best bet would be the Gesneriad Society, everytime I have sent them an email I have gotten a good response and those people really network!
Here is a person in Brazil that carries many different seeds (no plants). http://mpeixoto.sites.uol.com.br/Seeds.html I have done business with him and he has a incredible selection of gesneriads. I have had a hard time finding info on some of his seeds, but, he provides lots of good information on his site and is more than happy to answer email questions.
We don't have much of a greenhouse industry around here. Most of the plants we have are for the garden and that limits what is available. Folks in FL don't have much interest in expanding the plant palette, they are happy with whatever is easily available, except a few of us mad scientist types.
Brian, you might want to take a look at the Gesneriad Sticky link I made. You'll find a list of suppliers that sell all sorts of species gessies. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/565223/
Pat's Pets and Belisle are good places.
so is Rob's violets, although they don't list a lot of species on the website. And also the gesneriad society's annual convention, if you happen to be in the neighborhood (Miami!) in July. http://gesneriadsociety.org/
