Photos and Chat Continues Here (2)

I'm back and have had time to really look at the pictures.....welcome Sally, I hope you enjoy it here as much as we all do!!

Lou your streps are gorgeous, Spiritual Corridor is at the top of my want list and your beautiful picture reminded me why!! I am glad to see C. Hisako blooming for you, I could never coax a bloom from her. I must say that the strep you are calling Midnight Flame looks much more like the fantasy Bristol's Party Girl......

Jannich your Sinningia MacKenzie is as beautiful as the one Rain posted awhile back, good genes in those plants! LOL

Gail you sent me a leaf from Picasso and I'm going to love growing that one. Bristol's Zapped and the other fantasy that you posted with her recently (do you remember her name..... anybody??) are also at the top of my want list, right behind Spiritual Corridor. LOL

I have a new to me Fantasy opening it's first bloom, It's Bristol's Pajama Party and it has a lot of the wine / magenta color in it....

~Brenda

Brenda, I can't remember the other fantasy name. Even when I went and looked I can't remember her name. She will have to bloom again. I love the Pajama Party!

I have about 6 tiny tiny Spiritual Corridors grown from a leaf........I put Marathon 1% granules around their bases trying to keep anything from happening to them. That Marathon is supposed to prevent crown rot or mealy bugs in the soil. I read an article recently on the value of using Marathon granules with baby strep plants.

I think this picture of Maassen's White is my favorite one that I took today....

~Brenda

Where did you get the Marathon Gail? Would you use it the same way as the Avid you have mentioned or is that for something else?

Here is Charlotte looking pretty this morning....

~Brenda

She is wonderful Brenda! I can't remember what I ordered but Brennan's said it was shipped out today. My Christmas present to me *lol*

I know you have more pics Brenda as you always have blooms!

I ordered mine from the Optimara Site but I can't remember the name. Let me think.

Maybe Selective something. I will get back to you and find the site where I ordered it, but it is really working on those tiny streps.

I can't remember who sent me a big bunch of AV's in the Fall Gessie swap we did but she sent me two tiny tiny crowns from a mini trailing violet called Tippy Toes and they have rooted and sent out new growth like crazy, so cute!!

~Brenda

Iced Pink Flamingo is happy in her new home, she is a big one that I could "operate" on..... LOL But she is so pretty nice a big the way she is I'll leave her be for now.

~Brenda

I knew you had more to share! Loving it!

*****Brenda, this is horrible of me to show that white fuzz from the humdity dome being on for too long on these baby streps. But the are growing away as I had already put Marathon on and around the crowns of them.

Look at how interesting this cutting of Kohleria Tane is. I put a small cutting down in this brandy snifter a couple of months ago and now not only has it grown tall (and right out of the glass) but look how the rhizome is growing on top of the soil?? I wonder why??

~Brenda

Very interesting Gail, I'll have to read more about it. I have some baby streps that seem to have just stalled in their growing, they aren't looking sick but they just are stagnate in their growth, maybe they need something??

These are some codonanthes that I received in trade with Rain in October. I had to pull them apart today as they were sitting close together in the dome and had put roots down into each other pots! Time to take some cuttings and start filling the pots more.....

~Brenda

Brenda........on my gosh.....I just showed you mealy bugs with the white stuff.....so glad I put Marathon on them.....guess I will have to repot tomorrow and isolate them for a while.

You just reminded me that my codanthus 'Paula' from Rain is outside.........go rescue !

Here are two large Sinningias that are growing from my mixed gessie seed packet. I am assuming they are sinningias only because they have tubers. According the gessie handbook the other two gessies with tubers are Chrysothemis and Nautilocalyx and they both seem to have very shiny and pebbly looking leaves from the pictures I'm looking at.....

Anybody recognize the leaves or coloring of these sinningia??? I can always hope for names :))

~Brenda

Last picture from me tonight. This is my episcia Blue Heaven growing in a 12 inch plastic salad bowl terrarium (with lots of other stuff) You can see how big it has gotten....... but it has never bloomed (and only put out two stolons ever) and now the lower leaves are getting yellow edges. I'm thinking lack of fertilizer so I gave it a nice dose of Seaweed fertilizer today and then next time I'll try the good stuff Gail sent me. Hopefully she'll perk back up and then give me some flowers!

Night All ~Brenda

Has anyone heard from Raingazer/Amy? I haven't seen her post in a few months and I see from her homepage that her subscription expired. I hope she returns to the Garden ... I sure miss her. Maybe after the holiday rush is over we will see her again in the new year!

I am so enjoying all of y'alls pictures! You know those Beautiful Strep pic's are killing me since I can't keep them alive! Love the Sinningia's ... really can't wait for spring to get a few of the larger ones. The only ones of that plant I have are the little micro mini pusilla and rio das pedras. And, I do want to try a Kohleria again next spring to see if I can grow those! Bren, do you think that rhizome growing on top of the soil is because beneath the soil is full of roots/rhizomes? I don't know anything about their root structure. Gail, if those are Sinningia's they are really nice! I hope my gessie seeds get large enough to become seedlings and mature plants like that! I will be in 7th heaven if they do!

I have a little codonanthe paula that I got in trade from Rain last summer too. It hasn't grown very much at all - I need to look for it tomorrow, I hope it's still alive. I had put one piece in the terrarium and it didn't survive but the other I'm pretty sure is out in the Florida room. I'm too lazy to go turn the light on out there and look for it amongst all the mess. I need to do some serious cleaning out there and on the deck too! Gail, Wow ... y'all are really going to be cold! 38?? Our news today said we have a change coming by late weekend too with that cold front coming through Florida. We are supposed to be low 40's Sunday morning. I think Saturday and Sunday our highs are only going to be in the 60's. The weather is so weird everywhere! We don't usually get any real cold temp's until mid to late January. Hopefully these little minor cold snaps will be all we get this year but we are way past due for a hard freeze here! I have no idea where you can get propane heaters. They scare me. I remember years ago when I had my huge greenhouse hubby said I should plug in a space heater! Electric space heaters cause so many fires, seems like every winter we hear of fires in mobile homes especially, from space heaters! I'm just a big fraidy cat about a lot of things I guess. We have electric heat and cooking. Gas scares me. I know it's cleaner burning and better for the environment but I always worry about gas expoding.

Ok, different subject. Gail, how is little Julia doing? I hope she is improving with each passing hour. Tell her parents there have been lots of prayers going up for her!

Brenda: Before I forget, that Strep Maassen's White is Gorgeous and I love the backdrop of the snowy scene!

ooooh, Brenda ... That terrarium is Wonderful! Your Blue Heaven looks great! I love the look with it in the middle of all the other plants! It looks very healthy as all of your plants always do. I think the Episcia hasn't grown much or produced stolons maybe because it doesn't have room to spread out. But, I am so new to the Episcia's that I may be way off with that statement! I really don't know much about their growth habits.

I love all of the photos! What fertilizer do you all use.

I use liquid plant food and switch out with different ones (when I remember to feed them!) : Eleanor's VF-11, Dyna Grow and one Gessiegail sent me that I can't remember the name of! Hey Gail ... are you still here in the Garden or have you gone to bed? LOL.

I'm sure if Gail isn't still up she will see this post tomorrow and answer with the name ... I need to write it down!

I need to get some of the Dyna Grow Bloom Booster type eventually.

Sally, I use a fertilizer that is a 12-36-14 and I have plenty at home to share. I use it probably 3 times and a fourth time will use a balanced one that is like any of the African Violet fertilizers. I am like Lin........I like to change around and it seems to work better this way.

This first one I mentioned is great for all plants blooming outside , too. You just use more than you do inside. Inside I use 1/4 tsp to a gallon and outside I use 1/2 tsp per gallon if the soil is dry. If the soil is wet in the pots outside, I use 1 tsp. per gallon.

Lin, I brought home plenty of the 12-36-14 if you want.......the whole container is 2.50....can you believe that?

I know not what I am doing........just having fun......but I am convinced I do have mealy bugs in the soil of the plants that i let get too wet...............my mix was too heavy.......spending the rest of the week (along with getting the front porch ready for the freeze) using 1/4 tsp on each african violet, etc. that I have.

lin, I have an all electric house, too. (The gas jets are still all here in case I ever wanted to use gas again) I am not afraid of propane on the front porch as my house is locked up and the only thing you worry about with gas is carbon monoxide poisoning I think. I wouldn't be connected living wise with the propane heaters.

Just a quick stop in tonight again to see everyones beauties and WOW what some gorgeous blooms and plants, I find there are just.not enough hours in the day this time of year.I rarely find time to get on here with all my friends.I really miss that : ( Hoping things will calm down again soon so I can get on more often.
Gail so happy to hear little Julia is going to be alright.What a scare that must have been.Praying she heals fast and is back home soon as active as ever! All your plants are looking pretty as ever!
Kim,I really like the color of that Vista!
Lou,Your plants all look super healthy.What a great grower you are,,shows in your plants!
Brenda,you got me drooling again over all your pretties.Hard to pick a favorite!
Jannich I am soo loving the bloom on that MacKenzie.You sure have a gift with the sinns!
Lin,I haven't heard from Amy in awhile either and I am really missing her too.I never get too shook tho.Her life gets really busy.Thats our Amy..lol..she will be back soon I am sure and we will all be here!
Welcome to the garden Sally.You will love it here!

OK here are some pics I promised like a week ago I think...lol..time gets away.I made a cheater collage so I didn't need to post each one separately..lol..just call me lazy..

Starting top row left to right...Robs Sticky Wicket Trailer,Episcia Unpredictable Valley,Ramblin Dots Trailer,Namely Nancy,Pentadina..something..lol..can't think of the name,Mini Sinn from Jannich,Blooms on Purple Passion Plant from Snowrose,Strep Susie, Purple Strep from Gail,Sovereign Orange Amaryllis,Frostfire Lipstick Cuttings in Bloom,Chirita Diane Marie in Bud,Backyard Ice storm pic from a few days ago,Another ice storm pic,Optimara Evergrace from Amy,Flashpoint Sport,Optimara Little Rose Quartz..I think..too lazy to doublecheck right now..

WOW ladies, what a WONDERFUL way to wake up this morning and SO MUCH to catch up on!
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL pictures everyone!
Nancy, I simply LOVE the picture of your Purple Passion Plant? and the Frostfire Lipstick!
I have never heard of either but the blooms are breath taking.
You ladies are some of the BEST growers in the world. It amazes me every time you post pictures of just what beautiful plants you all have! Unbelievable :)
I keep strolling up to get another glimpse :)
Still loving Zapped and Pajama Party is a real pretty one too :)
I still don't have any blooms to share but I do see some buds on a couple baby streps.
I'm wondering..........ladies..........do you cut the buds off of TINY streps so that they aren't putting so much energy into trying to flower or do you let them flower? These are just little streps but I do see that they are trying to put forth buds.
Gail, those teenagers are the cutest!
Updates on Julia?

Nancy, so nice to see you in the garden again, you have been missed :)

Kim

Julia's mom called last night at 8:30 to say that Julia had had a better afternoon than she did the morning. Evidently the morning was horrible as they tried to manage the pain with morphine. They made the decision to leave her on morphine until today hoping that they can get her to eat something. The next level down in pain management is Tylenol with Codeine and that will upset her tummy if she can't eat.

I love nancy's collage and all those beauties. I am wantng to know what is in that terrarium. You may have stated so will go back and reread.

Gail: Hope you will have another update later this afternoon on Julia. I know morphine is a very strong drug and I'm sure it is making her sleep most of the time but at least the little gal isn't feeling the pain. It's so scary when children are hurt or have to have surgery! I hope she will be doing even better by this afternoon and will feel like eating. Yeah, Tylenol with Codeine can really upset ones system! I am allergic to codeine and remember my first experience with it from many years ago!


Cearnest: So glad to see you back in the AV Garden! Your plants are stunning! I sure would like to learn how to do those collage photo's! I have a Pentadenia Orientadina that I got from Rob's and it has grown but no blooms yet! My Chirita Diane Marie died on me! I have them all wicked and I have let some of my plants get too wet! I need to do what Gail is doing and repot a lot of things and either put lots of perlite in the bottom of the pots or lighten the soil a lot more! I will probably do both!

Gail: I think the plant in the Terrarium in Cedarnest's photo is the Pentadenia.

Thanks, I thought so Lin. I have one but she won't grow. I am keeping everything too wet and now having to use Marathon on so many plants for mealy bugs..........bummer............at least they are just granules and not a spray.

Next winter I need to remember to make the soil much lighter than I do in the summer.

Gail- I've missed a lot! SO sorry to hear about your g-daughter. Glad every thing seems to be smoothing out. Poor baby! Definitely in my prayers.

Haven't had time to get online lately. Sure have missed a lot. I have been working and also my daughter, son-in-law and baby have been staying with me. The new mommy has been struggling a little! Grandma to the rescue! Or Meme as I will be called.
Beautiful pics eveyone! I've GOT to have a trailing AV!
Gail, good luck with your freeze?! Man, that stinks! We've had some bad weather but lucked out and most of it missed us. Have I mentioned lately how much I hate winter? LOL
Have really missed chatting with you all..

So glad you are there to help your daughter. New moms need all the help they can get!
My mother was always Mimi to all the children and I love the name.

I just talked to Julia ......she became allergic to the morphine at 2 this morning so neither Mom or child slept last night. The benadryl made Julia crazy wild. My daughter just called to say that Julia is doing great this morning with a little fever, so my daughter is finally going to go to her in laws and get a nap this afternoon and leave Julia with her daddy. Of course that means she won't be gone long just because moms are that way about their babies.

EW- Poor baby! I can't take codeine-allergic. And Benadryl makes me uncomfortable too. Not fun. You know Benadryly is whats in Tylenol PM. Supposed to make you sleep. Not me! Sounds like your g-daughter is the same! Don't think I've ever had morphine... When it's our children, we mothers really push ourselves beyond our limits but always seem to find reserve power some where.
Glad the fever is down. But we're praying and believing for none!

Morphine is awful. It make me see awful things. I feel for the baby if they are giving it to her. I know it helps with the pain but the hallucinations are awful.

Thanks everyone but she is on the mend now. No pain medication except Tylenol and Motrin. She talked to me on the phone (and she really can talk at 22 months). It was so sweet when I told her that her mommy told me that she had a bad tummy ache. She answered owieeeee tummy, Nana.

I then asked her what her daddy brought her for breakfast and she clearly answered syrup and pancakes.

Nanagail is going down for a nap! Visit with you later.

I simply get so excited I can't wait to show you the actual bloom. Remember all the seeds from the man in Brazil? I have a chirita tamiana with a giant bud on her waiting to open. There are some more just like her.

Oh Gail ... That Chirita is really great looking! When did you plant your seeds? I know I didn't plant mine until quite awhile after you and some of the others did theirs. How big were the seedlings before you separated/divided them? I should have sowed mine in speparate little solo cups instead of sprinkling them all in the same container! I know better for the next time I do any seeds! Your Tamiana looks like it will be opening that bloom before long! I love that plant. I think I'm going to be taking my 10 gal aquarium/terrarium apart and re-doing it before spring and I might try one in there. Haven't decided yet what I want in there. The past few months I've been just sticking bits and pieces of things in there to take root. I had a birds nest fern that got way too big and also a fittonia that I had to take out. They were actually touching the top, they got so big.

What other seeds did you sow from the Brazilian group? How are they doing? Would love to see more photo's!


Oh, I am so glad Julia is doing so well. That's great that she is eating ... a sure sign that she's feeling better. Hope the fever is completely gone soon and she is up and about and being a normal (almost) 2 year old!

Lin, tomorrow I will take pics of a lot that were grown from seed. You asked when did i separate the babies? I am still potting up babies. They do so much better for me if I let them get about 2 or 3" tall......
then take the bottom set of leaves off when I plant in a solo cup with perlite on the bottom so I can get a good strong stem on each one by planting deep.

Here are some begonia venosas I took out of the solo cups tonight.........ready for deeper planting as their stems were starting to fall over and couldn't support the tops.

Great pictures everyone! Wow Gail,your begonias are big.

My picture for the day.Not a gessie but my first begonias that I had root and put out leaves.I'm so proud.LOL.

Another begonia leaf growing out of the top of the leaf?

jannich! WOW! Isn't that exciting? It makes me so happy as I know it lifts your spirits to grow. Thanks for sharing and you have really accomplished something in growing begonia leaves.
I don't think I am that good yet with the begonia leaves........

Wow Jannich, that is SO neat.
You ladies are all green thumbs :)
Inspiring for us newbies, that's FOR SURE!

And another begonia leaf.Is this normal??

That is fabulous, jannich , as it appears you are really growing the root system well for a new plant. I separated mine from the mother leaves too quickly and they died. I wouldn't even think of separating the new plant for a long long time..........maybe the mother leaf will die eventually on her own?

Love your begonias Jannich! I've had a couple of leaves grow that way for me too. Must be lots of good vibes right there where all the veins come together on the mama leaf!

I've tried growing some babies with my whirlpool begonias leaves that way (the whole leave laid out flat) but they just don't want to grow that way for me. So I've taken to cutting the leaves into wedges with a nice vein in each wedge and getting babies that way. Here is my latest batch just popping up.

~Brenda

Awhile back I posted a picture of a beautiful Fire Flush begonia that I ended up with leaves from. I planted those two leaves with the chunk of the rhizome?(I'm not sure what that big bulky thing at the base of the rex begonias is called) into a deep vase hoping the humidity of the vase would keep them alive.

Well the leaves slowly died off and I was disappointed. I ignored the vase, being too busy to clean it out, and look what I found two days ago!! New growth coming from the base of the leaves!!

~Brenda