Hi all, I am not new to gessie's, I have many Av's and Streps and a couple Epi's among other "regular" plants including Hoya's which I just recently found.
In a recent plant order I got in the mail, a free plant I recieved was a Columnea. In looking at it on their website I decided to order a couple more gessies, A Nematamthus and a Aeschynanthus. I know they are simular to Av's and Streps, which mine are all wick watered or in self watering pot's, some are under lights and some are in window's, both way's they are flowering like crazy. I don't use anything to raise the humidity. Do I treat the new ones the same? Would they all do OK being wick watered or do they need to dry some between waterings? I plan to put them under lights(which are on for 10-12 hours) . Sorry for all the question's, I would like to keep them alive.
Thanks in advance and wish me luck,
Sandi
Tips for new plants... Please :)
Hi, and welcome. Which aeschy and nematanthus? There is quite a range in those two genera.
WOW quick response. I'm sorry I should have given the names, they are A. Lobiannus Variegated and N. Tessmanii. The Columnea is nicaraguensis Atlanta BG.
Thank you,
Sandi
Nice plants!
I would imagine they would enjoy being outside during the summer if you have a good spot for them.
They should all be relatively easy in normal humidity, although they would enjoy more. I think you will find that they will get a bit big and awkward for a light stand after a while. I have my lobbianus hanging over the edge of one so it's possible.... The only tricky time I had with that one is when I had long growths and few roots - it needed higher humidity for a while then.
I haven't grown the other two, but I have similar things. Being epiphytes they will prefer good drainage - more than AVs.I think my mix for them is about the same as for the streps. Although they like drainage, they also like to be watered regularly (I am learning my lesson). You should still be able to wick water if the mix is light. I wonder if your columnea will grow like schiediana which is one tough cookie that will take a ton of abuse.
A couple of links for you and others...
http://mpeixoto.sites.uol.com.br/gesneriads/nematanthus/tesmannii.html
http://www.gesneriads.ca/aeschy94.htm