Strep leaves...so far, so good...

Several of us have discussed, on multiple occasions, putting down Strep leaves. Seems to be general consensus among the members of this forum that cutting out the midrib and putting down the little slices of leaves has an extremely low success rate. I tried it again with some extra pieces from one of the Strep leaves Gail sent me. I put them down on June 1st, and they are still green! This is not a success story at all - not yet anyway. However, I've never had them stay green more than a couple days. Usually by day 2 or 3, they're either crunchy and brown, or mushy and brown. They're on day 5 right now and only have a small dried area on a couple of them and a couple others are still completely green, so I do have the slightest glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, something good will happen this time. :o)

I put them in this little rectangular plastic bowl with NO holes in the bottom. I watered them the first time with dechlorinated water with fish emulsion added in. There was only the slightest amount of water standing in the bottom. Yesterday, I noticed the potting mix was still damp, but there was no standing water in the bottom. I added just enough water that I can see a tiny bit standing in the bottom. I have no clue if this will, in the end, be successful or not, but thought I'd share that they're still green for now. I'm really excited about it! LOL Maybe if we all keep trying, someone will come up with a method that works.

Think they've got a chance?

That was the front side. Here's the back.

hey, I would be sharing too. I've found they either rot within days, or the rot after I first have to add water.

keep us posted.

Same here, so I expected them to be rotted this morning, since I added water yesterday. Time will tell, but at least they've lasted longer this time than ever before, so maybe we'll learn something. I've got them in a west window, rather than under the lights. It's bright all day, and they're getting some direct sun late in the evening.

You have given me hope! I'm giving my first try at starting strep leaves. I read what I could find in the stickies. Then I cut some of them in the chevron shape and some straight across and then I did some with the rib cut and the leaves laid sideways. I put them down a little over two weeks ago and they still look green and good. If I would have read how difficult they were first I probably wouldn't even have tried but now that there down we shall see. They are in an empty costco tomato container in a warm corner of my kitchen under my under cabinet lights. I had success with AV leaves in this spot this past winter so I thought I'd try it there. It will be a sheer miracle if they make it with my lack of experience but since they look so green and healthy after more than two weeks something is right so far. Yea!

Yay!! :o) I'd love to see a picture of them. Please keep us posted on how yours fare. I'm really hoping we can figure it out, because they're supposed to put up many more babies this way. :o)

Raingazer,
I so hope this will be successful for you since many growers use this method for getting lots of plantlets. On my last attempt, the leaves stayed nice for quite a while and I even began to think huh maybe it will work for me after all. Nope. Slowly they started rotting. So, I'm back to putting leaf sections down with the midrib intact. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

You've given us all hope, Amy! I am new to streps and have four small ones that I've gotten in trades! I tried this on one leaf that broke off a plant, just because it's so hard to throw out leaves if you can get little babies from them .... well, it turned brown and crunchy and I haven't tried again. Now ... maybe I'll give your method a try!

MsC is watching & learning ... here's my experience with them.
I had luck with 2 leaves I did last summer using a very light AV mixed 1/2 & 1/2 with coarse vermiculte, then I put them in a sealed ziplock freezer bag & forgot about them...next time I found them I had babies on both, but when I removed them from the baggie & "lifted them up" & set them down again at some point they fizzeled on me.:(

MsC

Ok, no laughing allowed, I'm new at this! : ) I just stuck a variety of strep leaves that had been cut a variety of ways into the plastic tomato box which I had filled with a very light AV mix I had made up. I have paper towels layered underneath of the box on the platter and I am pouring water with VF 11 onto the paper towels and then it soaks up through the bottom of the tray. Everybody looks happy so far and I did this on May 26th. Here it is with the box closed.

Box open....

Wow! Gives me hope! They sure look healthy bmedel!

Back of leaves......I drew a diagram of the box and the leaves (squiggly lines) so I could remember what was what. I have Massen's White - Bristol's Surprise Party - Bristol's Stormy Skies and Bristol's Ribbon Candy leaves in here. If I get one baby out of all of this I will be tickled pink!

Oh brother, forgot the picture on the last one....

Wonderful!
We'll all cross our fingers & toes for you..I think plants are like people...some just like others better..lol

Keep us posted on how they grow for you!!!

MsC

Snow and Lin, we'll get there yet. I'm determined to figure this one out. There's just no logical reason that we all can't do this. Do either of you have any idea of why yours rotted?

bmedel, there's no reason for us to laugh! I think you've got a fabulous setup there! I love your idea of using paper towels as a capillary mat - I never would have thought of that. See? You've taught me something already! I think they look great! Please keep us updated on how they're doing and keep sending those pictures. :o)

What type of under-cabinet lights do you have? Are they fluorescent?

Yours look terrific bmedel!!!!

LOL ... Amy, I only tried ONE leaf ... haven't taken the time to do it again! But, eventually I'm gonna give it a try. My few Strep's are so small, they only have two leaves each, so I think it will be awhile before I can bear to cut the leaves off!

Bmedel: I wouldn't laugh at anyone who can do this as well as you. I laugh at myself because I tend to give up very easily and when it fails for me the first try, it may be years before I try again! :) You do have a great setup there and you are teaching this newbie a few things, so Thank You!

Yes Raingazer it is just a fluorescent light. You can all bet that if I get a baby to pop up in this box I'll be posting like crazy! And if they flop I'm going to be trying again just because it's just too fun and I enjoy it so. I did order my first real grow light and a heat pad and humidity dome type set up because I was fortunate enough to get in on the hoya co-op but I'll be using it for streps and whatever else too. I think if I set it up in the extra bathroom my husband might never see it :0)))

I promise you I live in a smaller space than you do........there is always room for one more set of gro light stands..........I now have lights in the kitchen, gro-light stands in two bedrooms and the dining room............that leaves my bedroom for one more stand .............and I am wondering if i really will miss all my books in my office where at least two stands could go..............what fun!!!!

PLEASE CONSIDER THIS:
I am totally innundated with streptocarpus both babies and mature plants. I am giving them away as fast as I can to local people, and the number never seems to shrink!
In order to give you an idea of that happens, I just checked one of the most productive product of two length wise leaf halfs resulted in 1" to 1.5" plantlets : at least thirty,
Gwen at least 15-20, etc. All are not quite that prolific, but if I only get three or four, I consider it a failure. Moonlight is almost irritating in how fast she multiplies. The babies grow larger almost over night.
About three years ago I started out with Cherry Pie, Blue Mars, and Kitten Face. Now, including the leaves that are successful, I probably have more than thirty varieties.
Now let me tell you the simple way I do it.
l. Materials: a flat bottom take out salad box with a hinged lid, perlite, markers (I use venetian blinds) to keep track of the varieties, a sharp clean knife, and good light. I use flourescent lights.
2. Put about l.5" of perlite in the salad box and wet (not soak)the perlite.
3. Place your leave green side down and gently cut out the
rib from bottom to top.
from start to finish.
4. Place your two leaf halves cut side down into the perlite.
You can make a little groove so the leaf is in secure
contact with the perlite.
5. Frequently I don't use a marker for the box but write the
names of the streps on top of the box with a sharpie. Usually a salad box can accommodate four kinds of streps.

6. Snap the lid closed and just leave it. After a month or so they will begin making the plantlets. Allow that to go on for a long time. Finally, when you are very comfortable with the size, transplant them to pots (I use styrafoam 8oz cups) and write the name of the strep on the cup. From this point they grow very quickly.

7. I just made a trade in which I sent my trader ten mature streps, and I don't even miss them. She now has the beginnings of a collection; we will trade later, and I will send her different varieties. Then she WILL have a collection! I have given all my doctors, many of their receptionists, two cashiers at my grocery store, half the people in my prayer group, countless others such as any willing taker in my book group, etc. It is a wonderful thing to have so many lovely plants. Everyone is always pleased.
8. So try my method and share the wealth of plants that result from about twenty minutes of effort for four kinds of streps in one box.

I am not trying to brag, but it is so simple, productive, and rewarding.
If nothing else, THIS IS SUCCESS.

Thank you very much for sharing your method, Gloria! Sounds like you're really got it figured out. Very clear, detailed instruction, too, which is exactly what I need. I think I'll try this today. I have a clear plastic strawberry container that's been begging me to plant something in it! LOL Do you have any pictures you could post for us?

I am excited about this new method..............and i am going to try it!!!!!

am verrrrry excited about finally knowing what a seed pod is that you all described as twisting....look at this one.....it is brown and twisting..................so, WHEN DO I ATTACH A BAGGIE AROUND IT???

GloriaG .... Thanks so much for those instructions! I think the reason I failed with the one leaf I tried is because I didn't cut the rib vein out of the leaf completely and that's the side I put down ... with the rib still attached! I had a big salad for dinner last night and I'm going to retrieve that container from the recycle bin, sterilize it and try it maybe on just one leaf right now, since I only have 4 very little Streps!


Gail ... I would think with as brown as that seed pod is, you could go ahead and bag it up right now! I have one Strep still blooming right now, wonder if I will get any seed pods on it? By the way, which Strep is that one? Is that variegated foliage I see?? Show me a pic of that flower, please?? Looks sooo pretty!

Lin, she is Iced Pink Flamingo......isn't she pretty? I did cut the twisted pod off...........now we will see what happens
******I need to talk to you.....you have dmail

Oh My ... Gail, she is soooo Beautiful! Great Growin! Love that one!

Gloria,
Thanks for letting us in on your way... I have one surviving strep left & I am going to try your method...what do have to loose??lol

Now any suggestions for keeping them alive afterwards???

I've killed over $100.00 worth of these beauties & can't afford to buy more til I can find a way to keep them alive.
For me my fear of over watering took an extreme & I think I underwatered them to the point of death....

Thanks ,
MsC

Gail, that's just beautiful! I've got the leaves you sent me down in both the usual (like an AV leaf) way and those are also the leaves I have in the container pictured above. Those leaves are HUGE! I'm so hoping it will work! I'm going to try Gloria's method on another one. Didn't get to it yet today, but maybe later this evening. :o)

MsC, often my Streps don't get watered til I see them starting to wilt. They usually perk right back up and never miss a step with budding and blooming. :o)

So, do these plants not like much water? I have been watering these little bitty ones of mine every other day! They have a lot of perlite in the mix and seem to dry out very quickly!

Lin, I am like Rain......I water when they first start to droop......I have a lot of them on the grids and using the permanest tray as a reservoir.....just water the tray....as they are wicked...

Well, I've come to believe that how much water a plant likes is a very relative thing...lol
So much of it for me has depended on the plant, the soil & where the heck I was living...Texas is way easier than the Arizona desert that for darn sure!!!

raingazer I do believe I let them dry out to the point of no return during my not so happy period out in the desert. The dryness there is so unbelievable especially in the winter with the heat on...you just have to experience it to understand...no just take my word for it ok..lol


MsC

They don't like too much, or they'll rot, but they don't like to wilt, either. I just don't keep up with them like I should, but they're kind enough not to pout when I let them go a little bit too long.

I don't advise you to try this at all, but while we were on vacation, my Streps didn't get a drop of water for 18 days. When I got home, all the leaves were laying down on the plant stand shelves and were floppy and limp as a ragdoll. I watered them and they perked back up within a day or so, and only a couple of them lost their buds. They're tough plants (for me, anyway), but not indestructible.

You shouldn't let the little tiny ones dry out (but don't keep them soaked either). I think that's what's wrong with the two that refuse to perk up at all. They didn't have a good root system to begin with and when they got that dry, all the roots they did have died. I've got them in a terrarium now, but I really don't expect them to make it.

I believe water is a relative thing, too, MsC, along with light, potting mix, and about a hundred other things. It really *does* matter where you live and what exact environment one provides for their plants.

It's dry enough here in the winter...I'll gladly take your word for it! ;o)

ON a brighter note.. I'm doing the experiment that gloria & begonia crazy gave instructions for.... now somebody please figure out a way for me to grow them ...I REALLY love them but don't want to kill anymore of them.

I'm so envious of yours gail they are just breath taking !!!!!

Any tips on soil etc???


MsC

I have to admit that anything I know I learned on this AV forum.....this is a new passion that started about 4 months ago with a Walmart AV because I had seen this forum.
I asked two really good growers of the gessie family and they both told me the same thing about potting medium. Everything I grow (except for leaves) I use 1/2 AV soil from Selective Gardener and 1/2 perlite (I think I use a little more than half perlite).
I use Rachel's Reflection on growing leaves of any kind....so far, so good.....don't think I have ever lost more than one or 2 leaves in straight vermiculite.....and then put them in these mini greenhouses from www.violetshowcase.com
They are less than a dollar apiece and last forever....snap the top shut and ignore the leaves until they need my help getting out. (actually I start a wee bit of fertilizer once I see new growth of any kind)
I am trying strep leaves for the first time this way in this way.....straight vermiculite....only I have to use a bio dome to cover as I am using 3/4 of the leaf (cut the top part off)
I will report the progress

***This first picture shows 3/4 of the leaf in vermiculite in a bio dome

now look at these little mini plastic greenhouses for .89 ....
Those not in a mini greenhouse already have babies showing
The mini that is open has a baby chimera and a baby Kohleria in it.....it gets to have the lid open for 2-3 hours a day.....

On the bottom shelf is an experiment of wedges of steps leaves in the regular mix I talked about above??? just a wait and see game

Ok.. those are great & I do have something similar but slightly larger I've been using...

What I really need is the info after they are outta the box...I probable just need you to come help me grow them..lol
I have such a hard time with "inbetween" watering I either under water or over water...I do still have one and it's putting out 2 new lil babies & some blooms...I took a leaf & am doing the experiment like everyone is showing. I also took a lil leaf and am doing it the straight up & down method. it seems to me one way the babies bloom faster but I don't remember which way.


Thanks Gail...

MsC, do you want it set up so you can water every day, or do you want it so you can water now and then? I bet "now and then" in your world is "water constantly" in mine. I hate watering.

We can talk extremes for a moment. You may know that streps can be grown mounted on slabs of tree fern and such - many streps grow on banks and rocks in nature.

So if you wanted, you could mount it and water it daily.

It might even be possible to grow them in a mix of lava rock and pea gravel, or lava rock and perlite, or pea gravel and perlite, or fine grade Leca (expanded clay pellets). Or pea gravel and chopped sphag.

For sporadic watering, you could try a very very light mix (lotsa perlite) and some water crystals (cuz dry peat mix is DRY) in a clay pot.

Just some things to think about. Now that you have more humidity than in AZ, it should be a little easier.....

Key,
Yes, those are very helpful methods and I will try them on the babies
(positive thinking in tact) that will come from my experiment in perlite..lol

I think that the "mounted or mounded method" might be my only hope...the one strep I have left I potted in a SW pot and mounded it up with perlite & charcoal on the bottom..then kinda loosely spread the rootball over the light av /perlite mix & ony add water to the pot. In Az I did have to restart the wicking action by top watering but so ar here in TX it's putting out new babies & budding up.

They are just so beautiful I really wat to find a method to grow them but it may just be my stubbornrss that I should be able to grow them..lol

MsC