Just one more for tonight..Fancy Pants..the fantasy bloom is awesome..even better in person : )
July Blooms, Part 3
Also yesterday I received enough strep leaves from Susan to choke a small cow..lol..not really but lets just say Alot..took the entire afternoon and evening to get them all trimmed and struck...Here is one of the 2 trays all ready to hopefully make lots of babies to share!! Thanks Susan : )
oh my gosh...........look at those leaves! Susan was so sweet as I kept begging her to let my buy some. She said, "I am not a seller, but ask and ye shall receive". Of course, I will send her lots of streps for the leaves. That would be heaven for me to get leaves.
It is harder than you think to find leaves to buy unless you want to get on ebay and bid for them. I wish some of you all would sell them on the MarketPlace......I know how to work that and would buy them in a heartbeat!
I hope that is your camera, Nancy, with the leaves looking yellowish..........if they are that color, it worries me.
Nancy, those are beautiful Strep's! Especially Fancy Pants ... is that considered a fantasy bloom? And Wow! You sure do have a lot of leaves down ... hope your nursery produces many, many babies for you!
As we've said many times, this is the best forum ... such generous friends here!
Yeah Gail, I think the yellow is from the flash ... happens to me all the time. It either shows the green leaves looking yellowy, or if I take pic's of plant stands with the lights on, I get a lot of pinky color!
Thanks Gail and Lin..yep its the flash that makes them look that way..They are perfect green : )..I seem to have one heck of a time taking pics lately..even with my new camera..lol..Now Gail don't go buying a ton of leaves..you know my half of our trade is heading your direction next month..I have a ton of Bristol's along with others to keep you busy while you are recovering from your teeth....
You all are the greatest............I do remember you saying that you would send leaves. I make you the same deal............if you send me leaves (for recuperation and not a tooth in my head for two months (LOL)) I will send you plants of streps. I have them everywhere in this house.
I had another throwaway party about an hour ago......I was potting up all the babies from African violet leaves (what was I thinking when I stuck them? I don't even like more than a shelf or two of AFrican violets) I finally got tired and would look up each one on First Class. If it passed the "KEEP" test, it got planted up. If it failed the test, it went into the garbage can.
I have to find a picture of something to post............wait a minute........bummer as my pictures are blurry all because I am still trying to wear reader glasses and I need to fill my prescription for new glasses. This is one of 3 chimeras.......the other two have to bloom before I can figure out which tag goes where.
Still waiting for Apache Bandera to pass the KEEP test.
I can't take a cutting from HCY's Lady Lady as she won't quit blooming long enough!
Wrangler's Cowboy Blues has her first bloom.
TAH DAH! My very favorite plant is still Sinningia Gabriel's Horn. She is the hottest blooming plant of everything.
Beautiful Gail! Love that Gabriel's Horn too. Those hose in hose blooms really are just something else :) LOVELY!
Kim
Those all would pass the "Keep Test" for me Gail..Oh Mercy..That Gabriels Horn is so cool! Not hard to see why thats your favorite..Amazing!
Before the fall is over, everyone is going to get a cutting of this plant.........easy to start and easier to grow.........never ever stops blooming........tough as nails she is.
going to watch a little CNN and think about bed............
see you all in the am for the show on the other thread of outdoor flowers
Oh ... I am so happy to see the picture of Gabriel's Horn again! That's one of the ones I got in my package from Gail today! Love, Love, Love it! I can't wait for roots and blooms!
Keep your finger crossed Lin as Bonnie sent me one in pink that she says grows just like Gabriel's Horn..........can't wait for her to get big enough to bloom.
I am going to HAVE to quit my job because I can't work AND keep up with the party here!LOL
LOVED the poem Brenda! I,too am sending it on to a few 'sisters' in my lfe
Kim, those dishcloths are beautiful! Perfect color of blue.
Lin, looks like Gail sent you everything you'll need for your project- so thoughtful of her!
Everyone's pictures are so pretty! As usual I love the Salmon Sunset- I guess it will always be a favorite Definitely going to have to get that one! Fernwood one was beautiful too.
And I got a box today too! From Susan- a lot of strep cuttings. Last time I cut them into small wedges as I read to do on the 'net somewhere. Didn't have much luck. So what do I do with them? Some are whole leaves with a stem and some are half leaves(the tip end) Should I just plant each one as I received it? Any advice would be appreciated!
Diane, will post first thing in the morning................maybe I can help...........
Now I may really have trouble in River City when my mind is racing over posts on DG (LOL).
I had almost fallen asleep when I remembered that Brenda had posted a picture of Stephanie.......covered in blooms. She was commenting on her foliage. My experience with Stephanie is that she has brittle small foliage and ugly to boot! Her blooms make up for her lack of beauty in the leaves......
*****Diane..........maybe someone will come along before I get up in the morning and give you some tips also on growing either leaves or wedges. The top 1/3 of a leaf is the weakest part of the leaf but very usable..........the stem part will usually only give you one plant but it will be a heck of a plant.......the wedge in the middle has lots of advantages are there are many growing points when yu cut straight across and stick.
I am going to copy Brenda and go back to half perlite and half vermiculite exactly the way I still root african violet leaves...........it is your safest bet.......be sure your mix is moist and put the dome on for at least several weeks......................
falling alseep on the keyboard......
Diane: I don't know if this will help but I found this info at the Dibley's site when I googled: propagating Strep's from leaf. http://www.streptocarpus-info.com/streppropagation.html
edited to say: I found this about propagating Strep's (with photo's) at Rob's site: http://www.robsviolet.com/streps_by_leaf.htm
This message was edited Jul 10, 2008 11:52 PM
LOL Thanks Gail
Hope I didn't make you dream of sticking strep leaves all night! hehe
Thanks Lin!
Rob's is the one I followed with the first batch....maybe my pieces weren't big enough? It said at least 2 inches but I didn't measure...Thinking about planting as is. Afraid of a second failure.....ARGH! I hate being a plant murderer!
Wow, there is always so much to catch up on *lol* But what a wonderful way to start the day!
Nancy, those are some awesome streps and of course you know......Fancy Pants is just a stunner *lol* Look at all those leaves! You are going into the nursery business :)
Lin, your Kitaguni will bloom....just be patient and keep loving it. I love my chirita even when they are not in bloom. I think their foliage is just so delicate and dignified. I'm finding them much easier for me than streps. Like you, I struggle with streps. I know they die on you but for me they just barely hang on, not really dying but not really thriving either. I know it's something I am doing wrong I just can't figure out what it is *lol*
Gail, I just love that Gabriel's Horn! How pretty.
Well the sun is shining and it's Friday........what more could one ask for? Hope you all have a wonderful day!
Kim
LOL..they look nice now Kim but just give them a few weeks ..lol..I kill far more than I care to admit..yep fancy pants suits her name..lol..I love it!! Diane wouldn't it be great if we could save and get babies from every leaf ?We would all have plants coming out of our ears.lol..I am happy if I only get a few to root and make babies..maybe someday I will get this starting leaves down but for now I am at least having fun trying! Well I hope everyone has a great day..I need to get out of here and get some outside work done..weeds are taking over in our tropical temps.....
I like what Dibley's page said that Lin posted. I have never seen that but I am going to do it just like they did next time and see the difference.............straight perlite..........sounds good to me!
I did sort of an experiment with these last leaves I struck Gal..half I did in straight perlite and the other half I did in vermiculite...Anxious to see which will do better...
I have never heard of using only vermiculite..........can't wait for you to tell me what happens.............
I am so glad that everyone found the Sisters poem as touching and beautiful as I did!! I shared it with everyone I could think off!! ^_^ I am blessed to have two daughters (27 and 31) that I "now" (have to get them past the teens first LOL) call best friends .... among others!
Nancy I noticed your straight perlie or straight vermectulite experiment and I'll be anxious to hear your results! I too received a batch of leaves from Susan (is that woman awesome or what??) and I put them all down in the vermiculite / perlite mixture I've decided I like best probably a tad heavier on the perlite. So we will all have to compare .... of course you all will have to wait about8 to 12 weeks to see any babies from me as they grow so slow for me but eventually they come......
Kim Stella was stellar. LOL I have a baby of her growing and I can't wait for her to bloom and show me her yellow throat. Nancy I have a couple of leaves down from Fancy Pants and I want those babies up NOW!!
Diane I do my leaves in two pieces, the stem end and the top half .... if I only have a top half then the whole thing goes down. I've done smaller pieces with success but I like to give myself the best chance with plenty of leaf above .... and the ability to trim if the tops start going mushy on me .... just my two cents .... ^_^
My first Tropical Twister bloom .... I have pictures to take today with new blooms that have appeared in the last couple of days. Hope to be back later with those!
~Brenda
I have straight vermiculite in early spring with good results gail...not saying it will work this time..lol..always changing..actually they are the only leaves I put down this spring that are showing ears now....crazy...does have me a little concerned this time of year tho..with the extra heat and humidity..maybe staying too wet?..I will snap a few pics later with my vermiculite babies...
Edited to add..Brenda..we posted at the same time..lol..almost missed you!..Tropical Twister is dreamy!! Such a Great Bloom : ) I have used half perlite and half vermiculite and that does work good aiding to keeping in the moisture versus straight perlite..this time of year all perlite is wayy to hard for me to keep damp and not soaked..lol..Good Luck with your leaves..keep us posted..I agree Susan is a doll.....
This message was edited Jul 11, 2008 11:44 AM
Hi All,
I have a question when do I right? Ok I would like to get a JACOS GEM's strep.. Do any of you have it? Is it truly green? Also if you have it where did you get yours?
Thanks for any help....
Hugs,
Susan
I sure wish I did have that one Susan!! Very neat looking!!....I have been wanting it for awhile too..can't find one tho..hopefully someone here grows that one or knows where you can find one....
Oh I have a place to buy it but it weather I want to pay that much for it...LOLOLOL
Hugs,
Susan
I found a photo of one called Jaco's Gem: http://www.streptocarpus-info.com/tablej.html
Googled and found this place, Neil's Streps has it listed for $7: http://www.neilsstreps.com/otherstreps.htm
I don't know anything about Neil's Strep's - anyone ever heard of him?
Oh, I am dead if you know where there is a site for Neil's Streps!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much Lin..............he hybridizes wonderful streps.............I may have to really get Kim on this one as she said she had been talking to him. I had no idea he had a site to sell streps.
Also, I went down to my Aunt Jo's house and almost started crying. They both passed away about 2 years ago but the kids all kept the house up even though they didn't want to live there. The people who bought it cut real hard back on all the Esperanzas..........they don't know what they are doing................these plants were at least 30 years old. Aunt Jo and Uncle Charlie built the house in 1939.
off to Neil's site to look only since I just placed a giant order from Lyndon Lyons for streps, columneas and nematanthus.
My friend in our violet club brought back this 2" container of Columnea Alladins Lamp this spring from a show. I took zillions of cuttings and look now!
I just took a new picture of my Rebel's Rose Bud. Many more blooms than the last picture I posted. Some blooms are 2 inches wide.
How pretty, Sally! Please be sure and tell me when you are going to Ken's again. All I need is two of the giant 5lb tubs of fertilizer.......I think they are 10.00 each. I don't know when I will get up there and am running out of fertilizer..............thanks.............now you maybe can disbud her after she blooms and keep her disbudded until 8 weeks or whatever before the show.
It will be a while until I travel, I still get too tired/pain, but I will let you know. I haven't been there for a while. I would love to go to Jo's pretty soon. I want to go visit my parents anyway. It is closer. I got the Rebel's on Ebay I think. I can never remember if it is there or Lyndon Lyon's, Ken's etc. I have some little guys from Rob's too.
Gail, Your Aladdin's Lamp is soo pretty! Mine has never bloomed. It looks really good and healthy but no blooms. I think I will give it a shot of your fertilizer tomorrow! That stuff is good!
So sad about someone butchering the Esperanza at your Aunt and Uncle's former home! I bet that was hard to look at. Hopefully they will come back and be just as beautitul. Isn't it something how some love certain plants and others think they are too large, too full, taking up too much space and just want to cut them down? I think it would be impossible for me to cut down something with beautiful blooms like that.
Sally: Rebel's Rosebud is a beautiful plant! Love those pink blooms!
Hi Girls,
Gessiegail, I posted about Neil's streps sometime ago. There is a website but it's old and I don't think it is working.
Kim said that he is moving at the moment. She will be the best person to tell you about it.
Lovely flowers, as always.
Those kitchen towels are gorgeous. My mom does some very similar and she is always sending me more or bringing them when she visits.
I have been checking the photos of your strep cuttings and I noticed that in all of them the cuttings are across the leaf. Do any of you take the midrif off and plant the leaf horizontally?
Is the cut across the leaf more successful than the other one?
Thank you for any tips.:o)
Spider I've taken the mid rib out and had good success but you end up with a ton of little tiny babies that way. Doing it the way shown above will get you just a few babies or maybe only one from each leaf but they will be bigger and stronger from the get go and easier to grow into nice plants. At least that has been my experience!
And who needs two or three dozen of the same plant unless your a professional grower! It was fun when I did it but I still remember Snowrose telling me I was crazy .... well of course she didn't use those words .... LOL But now I know just what she meant, so many babies of the exact same kind to grow out and find homes for!!
~Brenda