Best Columneas?

Which columneas would you recommend for each of the categories below:
1.) Most prolific bloomer
2.) Ever bloomer
3.) Sturdy/tough
4.) Most difficult

Thanks!

GH

I don't have that much experience with them, so please salt to taste :P

1. My vote would go to Lava Flow, but only by preference.
2. under lights, everyone seems to agree that Early Bird is the best. It doesn't need seasonal or nightly temp fluctuations to bloom.
3. schiediana. I suspect MsC might agree ;-)
4. hmmm..... I think this completely depends on growing conditions and habits. For me, Early Bird is really difficult. It hates to dry out - I've killed it twice and won't grow it again unless I wick it. Light Prince is supposed to be difficult to bloom unless you can give it some cool temps in the winter - I'm growing it for the first time this year so I can't speak from experience....

It's rather funny that you're asking for a recommendation for the most difficult columnea to grow. LOL. No request for the one with wierdest flowers?

:) Ki, I ask for the most difficult one so that I stay away from that one! I had an 'Early Bird' a couple of years ago and killed it- let it get too dry once too often. Last year, I bought a variegated form, C. 'Whistling Hills'(or something like that) and killed it- not sure why, but I think it was because I let it dry too often. And, I grew it on a windowsill during winter, so perhaps it didn't like that.

I really like the looks of Schiediana and 'Carnival', but I'm partial to the yellow or orange flowering Columneas.:) The reds are nice, but I reserve this color for my Aeschynanthus. Pretty much the only color it blooms anyway, I believe. LOL

LOL.

Lava Flow is yellow AND orange and won't get too annoyed if it dries out every so often, should love a window, and the flowers are huge. And I have the plant. *hint*

I think I had a cutting of Carnival but failed to move it into my own mix and lost it. Thin-leaved like Early Bird, if I remember right.... I'm not sad because it probably would have suffered anyway ;-)

Okay, so you know I had to go and google 'Lava Flow'. LOL WOWSER!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG, it's beautiful. It's eye-popping, wouldn't you say? Huge blooms entice me. LOL

You're getting a Dmail shortly. LOL

GH

Yep! Pretty lil Schiediana... toughest plant I had...loved to bloom in spring..stayed out in our 100 year snow and kept her blooms on...amazing lil plant...the only thing she hated was AZ...lol

Wah....I miss my lil plant.. :-{

Go get yourself one GH.. you will love it!

MsC