Tell me about these Step things

Hi everyone,
As I try to learn more about violets I can't help but see pictures of various flowers called streps. I try not to look at them because I am seriously addicted to the violets and I don't need another addiction, but when I see a picture of one I just can't look away. Can someone tell me why I should (or should not add these to my collection)
other than I'm flower poor and running out of room, lol.

Thanks,
Susan

well, if you like to water your plants frequently, do NOT get any streps. If you are really honestly out of space, don't get any of the normal size streps - they get big. (But it's okay to trim the leaves, so maybe it doesn't matter.) Other than that, all things point towards getting them.....

I find them to be lots easier to grow than AVs. Actually, I much prefer them to AVs. Keyring is right that they don't like to be overwatered, which makes them perfect for those like me who forget to water. If they do need water, they'll wilt, but they perk right back up once you water them. Not that it's good to let them get *that* dry, mind you. They bloom quite easily and repeatedly. I'd certainly suggest that you try at least one!

oh i was into just a violets but my heart is fickel,i love the steps more there so easy,and they still love you if you forget to water
heres 4 of mine thats blooming now,waiting on the other 6 to bloom

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the tips and advice. It probably couldn't hurt to have one could it, wink wink..

Keyring-Thanks for answering, it's not that I don't have room I live in a pretty big house it's,just my plan was to only have plants in the dining room. Right now I have about 30 violets and and a bunch of other houseplants, I am kinda of running out of shelf space and yesterday some of the violets migrated to the kitchen window. I have a feeling these are going to spread from room to room until I am living in the garage :)

Raingazer, thanks for all the growing tips, it would be nice not to have to worrying about watering so much.

Starfly, ooooh, those are gorgeous! Maybe just one would be o.k. :) I don't know a lot about them but they sure are pretty plants.





This message was edited Apr 23, 2007 4:44 PM

Oh Sue ... Every Room in the house deserve's at least two or three plants! I have a very small house, but I have Plants in Every Room, except one bathroom that doesn't have any windows and is very dark!

O.K. I very firmly decided not to get into streps. Than I ordered 25 violet leaves from the lady mentioned in the bingo thread. God!! I have no self control but I could have a lot worse habits,lol.

Thanks for the help everyone,
Sue

I had gotten a strep in a hanging basket with other flowers several years ago..It is a large one and it was the only plant in the basket to survive..It has now filled the basket and and is in full bloom this spring.......Flowers covers it and it is just beautiful. SO it was my mission to find some other colors and I found a purple velvet one at a nursery store......Put it in a hanging basket also and hope it fills it like the last one........Once you have them you will drfinately want more.....

man I love those streps...

I only have 3 but more on the way (LOL)....they will have to go outside!!! The stands of gro lights are full!!!

I only have 10 Streps so far but I have 5 leaves down.........so more are on the way!

Sue - just do what I did........get rid of the husband and then you have lots of room for plants! LOL I now have 216 violets alone, not to mention other gessies & other plants
Dawna

lol, that is so funny and I'm sure very true.We've been married 25 years and he pretty much grumbles about everything I do. I just do it anyway :)
I now have 30 avs, plus 4 more on the way, I have 25 leaves down (for trades and freecycle) and 25 more leaves on order (for me). I just sent off all of my cactus plants to a lady who is trading me for a bunch of av babies and I am doing the No stress leaf trade. Plus I still want steps! Man, I think I'm addicted.

Sue

Gary Mitika Out of Africa has a good deal on streps....am waiting for my order now..
He offers 10 seller's choice for 33.00 and 8.00 shipping.....can hardly wait.....

Is there a web site for the Out Of Africa streps???

http://www.garys-out-of-africa.com/

Now I did have to go and ask for that site didn't I????????? YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!

he is slow, but the nicest man you would ever want to know.....doesn't he have wonderful things? It isn't the easiest site to order from....you have to print out the order form and mail it to him....he just HATES computers but stays in touch by email......

I called and spoke with Gary not too long ago. Very nice and knowledgeable man. Next time I order Streps, it will *definitely* be from him! I've not ordered from him yet, but have never heard a bad word about him or his plants.

Ok I have found people who think the same way I do about plants..scary..I bought my first strep yesterday and looked up info last night about it. All I saw were dainty little things. They were beautiful, but not really looked liked what I had. Mine is a monster compared to what I saw. I am so glad that Bluepoppy wrote about having hers in a hanging pot. I just love the colors- light purple and white and couldn't leave it at the nursery.
Colleen

Oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How beautiful is that plant.....I have never ever seen one offered in a nursery down here....that is soooooooo big...wish mine were not all babies, but I have to get started somewhere....
thanks for posting!!!!!
When you get brave and it is finished blooming, I wish you would just send me one leaf to propagate...that is one nice plant....
gail

streetcol - That is wonderful. I've never seen any nurseries around here carry anything to compare. Looks like a huge well grown plant.

Thanks gessiegail- I will be glad to send you a leaf or 2. I just need to know exsactly how to cut them and mail them. I have never mailed leaves before. Looks like this group does it all the time. The nursery had about 6 different shades of streps all that big. I honestly stood there debating which should come home with me. I am actually spoiled. The place is called Ott's and it is almost a tourtist attraction near my house. The mini AV's are so beautiful and only $3.50 each. I am having a blast reading the threads about AV's and streps.
Colleen

streetcol, that is one beautiful plant! How could you just walk away with only buying one?!

I need to know also how to start streps from a leaf...Do you do it like the AV????? Just stick the end in the dirt????????

Bluepoppy,I know Begoniacrazii posted an absolutely wonderful and easy to follow step by step tutorial on another thread on how to perfectly and easily start streps from leaves.Let me go see if I can find it and I will post the link here for you.be right back...

OK here is Begoniacrazii's tutorial on starting strep leaves.It it amazing and she makes it extremely easy to understand : ) Good Luck!!
http://flickr.com/photos/begonias-photos/sets/72057594093111273/

Isn't that fantastic!!!!

Just to warn anyone wanting a leaf - they are 8-10 inches long! I look forward to learning to grow from leaves. That link was awsome. Reading about it is one thing, but seeing it done was great.

This message was edited Apr 27, 2007 2:25 PM

Hi All;
It really is'ent all that hard, i have done it many times like alot of others, most of the time i get babies, however there are times they just rot, so if you try it & it just rots, don't be disappointed, try again, sometimes i think it's just older leaves.True the leaves are quite large so you can make alot of babies.
mrsbonnie

I started with streps about 1 month ago. I like them much better than av's. They are much easier and less finicky.

In case anyone doesn't know it, streetcol joined yesterday I do believe......welcome aboard!!!!!!
gail

Oh my gosh,

I found the AV site about 6 months ago (up until then I couldn't figure out what the big deal about AV's was all about)
We had 3 pitiful plants here at work that were being mistreated, almost dead, and that bothered me. So I logged on to see how to heal the poor plants and that was the beginning of my addiction.
Now they are healthy. blooming and I have already propogated 7 babies from them. The babies haven't reached flowering stage yet, but I was soooo excited when they actually grew. I took 4 more cuttings the other day.
You are all gonna get me in big trouble.
I just ordered 6 new AV plants and have a mile long list of others I want.
Now, I see a Strep mentioned and can just feel overwhelming need to have one of those. I followed the propogation thread and I am a in big trouble. I don't know what it is, but I just love to propogate plants. Rooting is just my speed, but I am going to try airlayering one of these days.
Does anyone know what kind of courses there are on hybridizing? I was reading a book, and they talked about it in there and it sounds fasinating.
But if I have to be addicted then I can't think of a better one.

fun isn't it, rustywoman!!!!!!!!

It is fun, I love all of my flowers!

I can not lose that site on that tutorial for streps!!!!!

Yes, it is true enjoyment

rustyswoman- There is something so deeply satisfying in growing plants. I think there is a deep rooted -yes a pun- in us that needs to see things grow and bloom. Gail and I have emailed about the joy and the stress reduction from growing and nuturing plants. When we surround ourselves with color, beauty and life it effects us. Too bad more people don't grow.

Laughing so hard as I just told streetcol in a dmail how tired I am this week.....but gardening is a good tired!!!!

Oh I agree whole heartedly. My mom loved to garden and I couldn't quite figure her out. Then I enjoyed veggie gardening (but couldn't understand why someone would want to grow something you couldn't eat) (OH MY GOSH)
Now, I appreciate the full spectrum. The beauty, the nourishment, the satisfaction of creating. I am a nurturer at heart.

It is still a little early here, but the weather has been warm and forcast says it will stay warm so yesterday I planted 12 tomato plants, 8 pepper plants, over 30 pumpkin plants (those are just too much fun) and balsam impatiens. I was hot, sweaty, sunburned and soooo happy.