anyone getting their columnea to bloom well?

Mine defoliate something awful (yes, I know, I'm sure I'm not watering enough) and when they bloom, I only get a few flowers. This time I have a whopping 3 on Lava Flow (pictured) - several buds dropped off before they opened......

I think they naturally drop leaves along the lower stem but still it looks ratty.

My growing areas are severely limited, so I have a choice of leaving it where it is (under lights) or putting it in the office window (where the succulents grow well - very arid). I might have to try the office window if only for the day-night temp fluctuation.

When I started growing these, I was told not to over pot, not to over water, not to over feed, and not to uproot it often. I'm not at all sure that it's working that well.....

By the way, if I could get this to put on a show, it should be pretty spectacular. The flowers are almost 3" long so they aren't small. It could eat up the codonanthe flowers like hershey's kisses.....

That looks great! I ordered one...think it's called Light Prince??? Anyways, it should arrive towards the end of the month. Thanks for warning me they're tempermental. ; )

That is a most unique and interesting flower, keyring. I love the patterning and larger size. Lava Flow is supposed to be a compact grower? If so, that is good where space is an issue as it seems to be for most of us.

The only columnea I have right now is the variegated Light Prince too, cjolene. I had it growing upstairs in natural light and found it got a bit stringy. So, I made three pots of cuttings and tossed the rest. They are under lights now in my downstairs plant room and look so much better. The fuzzy red stems are redder and the variegation seems to look crisper. Rooting is so fast and easy on this one. The stems actually had some arial roots forming already. I stuck the cuttings in a wicked pot and covered with a baggie.

Here's a pic of the cuttings starting to grow quickly now

I have a little C.Sylvia that I forgot I had.I found it yesterday flowering for the first time.



Forgot to mention ladies.Beautiful pictures.

This message was edited Apr 11, 2007 7:28 AM

You saw the picture of my Columnea in my other thread of pictures. No blooms for me. It lost a lot of leaves over the winter, and the tips died back, as well. I cut those off and it seems to be branching out a little. Mine is way overpotted, hardly ever watered (you know me!), and very rarely fertilized. I don't know what does work for them, but clearly my method does not work. It does look healthier now than it has in a while. I'm hoping that for the last year it was filling that pot with roots and will start doing something I can actually see now.

Jan, how in the world did you get that little thing to bloom? It's adorable!!

That Light Prince is gorgeous! That's one I'll have to get soon. At least it looks lovely even if it's not blooming. :o)

RainGazer - when this weather warms up, remind me and I will send you some Light Prince, the charming little weed that he is.

Beautiful, jannich! The leaves look nice and dark on C.Sylvia which sets the blossoms off so well.

I'm hoping Nannanavarro will come along and tell us how she does it.... As I recall, she has some lovely columneas that bloom well for her!

Wow, impressive! Sylvia looks pretty and will be stunning when mature. How have you been growing it, and do you know how long since the cuttings were out down?

There is some difference in flowering habit among the columneas. Some are know to require a cool winter, while others are said to be ever bloomers. Then you have the reluctant bloomers. Lol.

I should add that I've tried early bird twice and killed it both times - said to be the easiest grower and bloomer of them all....

Snowrose, thank you! I would love to have some of your Light Prince! Wish all my weeds looked like that. LOL

Reluctant bloomers LOL That's what most of my plants are! ;o)

Oh wow...it looks great even when it's not in bloom.

Jannich- I'm impressed you've gotten yours to bloom while still so small. What a green thumb you must have, to get it to bloom when you've completely forgotten about it!! lol ; )

Thank you.The poor little thing was stuck behind a big AV.So it lives without water or fert and grown under the lights..I looked at emails and it was a tip cutting already rooted.It had a good drink today and I thanked it for giving me flowers.lol...

Light Prince looks like it would drop leaves as soon as I forget to water it. I don't think I'm even going to try... It's lovely though, and I've seen photos of it in bloom that are just stunning.

Keyring - in about a month, these cuttings should be ready to snip on and you are more than welcome to try Light Prince. Can't beat the price ;0) Oh, have you ever seen or grown columnea 'Midget'?

no, but I love it! a columnea hybrid with tricantha blood!
http://www.gesneriads.ca/colum201.htm

Thanks for the offer but I think I'm staying away from Light Prince. Even if I could grow it, I understand that it needs cool nights to bloom, and there is no way I can provide that in this apartment.....

I'm really keen on midget, too. I like the whole package.

Oh what Pretty Plants .... Love the Bloom on yours Key .... and Really Love the Variegatied Foliage on yours Snow! And .... that c. Sylvia of yours Jan ... too cute!

I have never tried these plants but got one in a trade from Starfly a couple of months ago. It's 'Aladdins Lamp'. When I repotted there were two in the pot, so I divided it. Seems to be doing okay, not growing very quickly, but looks healthy. It reminds me of the Nematanthus "Goldfish Plant". I hope to see some blooms someday.

I'm off to google and try and find some more photo's of Columnea Plants!

edited to say: WOW ... went to that link and that photo of 'Midget' Is Gorgeous!

This message was edited Apr 12, 2007 10:07 AM

Aladdin's is a lovely deep red. I have about as much luck with it as lava flow though....

If nanna grows them well, I suspect window and regular but careful watering is needed...*sigh*

I'm not much of a houseplant person, but this is the one plant I can grow! :)
Mine started out as a 3-4 inch long rooted cutting in January "06. I counted 60 flowers in December 06. It's getting ready to put on another show, I quit counting at 61 buds, there are already 2 flowers.
http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.katt/Houseplants1/photo#5023862769621605570

http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.katt/Houseplants1/photo#5023862670837357730

http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.katt/Houseplants1/photo#5039299675765198930

Mine is hanging in the bathroom. It gets diffused bright light almost all day, lots of humidity and it stays well watered. That's all I do.

Michelle

Hey ... I'm gonna repot mine to a hanging basket and move it to my bathroom that has a window!

Great Growin, MsKatt!

thanks for posting!

I'm going to increase the watering. argh.