Ive just had a nice delivery of Episcias and trailing AV's. Altho where they came from, and where I live is warm, it looks like somewhere along the journey they have gotten cold.as they came via NY and Madrid, thats where it probably happened. The plants were packed very well, and as protected from cold as they could be, so its not the suppliers fault at all ( probably mine for ordering them in December...you forget its cold elsewhere;)) )
Anyhow. My question is......The crowns of the plants look fine and firm, but some of the outer leaves have been cold damaged, on both the Episcias and the AV's, altho tho some are fine and havent been affected. I have placed them in a heated propagator, inside the house, with plenty of damp peat on the bottom to generate lots of humidity. Should I have the propagator switched on to give bottom heat, or should I just leave the power off if it might warm them up too much? The temperature in the house is about 70 F
Dominic
Cold episcias and violets
I am not sure of this I not to bright HAHA But The damage leaves can you cut them off and maybe put them in water?
I no AV Likes bottom heat not sure abou tEpiscias but I also have them on bottom heat and like.
I had just recived a leaf the other day and thought it was no good but I stuck it in water and it seems to be getting better
AS THE CROWN GO'S It should be ok but the leaves around might all just be wiltting away and you wood have to take off This is just my 2 cents others should come and jump in ♥
Dimmer
I would keep them warm and humid,Episcias really like warmth & humidity. I would only turn on the bottom heat if you can regulate it so it doesn't get too hot. I accidentally cooked some episcias not too long ago in a closed container on a heat cable.
Seems to me I read that AV's like humidity around 70-75%. As for the temperature, if you're comfortable, then the plants should be comfortable. Episcias like it warm and humid, too.
If it's just the outer leaves, you could trim those off . . . putting them in water may help them perk up a bit before you stuck them in soil (IF you wanted to, that is!).
Episcias root from leaf cuttings too?
Yes. It's just not done as much, since it is so easy to root stolons. I had purchased a Strawberry Patch (Fields?), and not long after, it started looking bad. I cut some leaves, which was a tood thing, 'cause a week later the plant was gone. The leaves haven't sprouted yet, but they're nice and healthy looking.
im told it can take up to a year to get decent plants from an episcia leaf,nver done it myself but i hear it can be done
JIM
Yes, episcias will grow from leaf cuttings. I tried it as an experiment and it worked fine...took a while but it was successful.
You can't undo damage. If its gotten too cold, the tissue is damaged. But new growth might be okay, and what was more protected will be okay if you remove the damaged parts before it spreads. Are you sure it's cold damage and not just stress from travel. If it doesn't perk up, cut it off. I've rooted episcia from leaves, just to see if it could be done and it is a lot longer than violets from leaves. The only time I've used heat, it was too moist and everything rotted, so I've not tried heat again, so I can't comment on that, sorry. Good luck with everything. tish
Im pretty much sure it was cold damage....a photo attached of one of the better ones....on opening the box they seemed not too bad, but over the course of the day, the leaves were obviously ruined on most. They have been in the propagator overnight, and most of the leaves are now showing the extent of the damage....I think I will remove all but the undamaged growth, and see if the do grow again from the stems and crown...some of which 'appear' to be fine. I think a lesson learnt here on winter orders.... and I emphasise it was not the sellers fault, .....I dont think I'll have any luck with any leaves to root, they are beyond help...shame, Episcias are very difficult to find in Europe. Maybe , in the spring when its warmer Ill re order if they dont pull thru.
Dominic
Aw, too bad they didn't travel better... but you're right, it's a roll of the dice ordering in winter. It does like the crown is OK. I'd remove the damaged leaves, as they'll likely rot (esp. in a humid environment), and you don't want rotten leaves on your plants to possibly affect healthy leaves.
Good luck!
When I get a damaged episcia, I just cut the good part off the top, plant it in a light mix and put in a zip lock bag. You will have a new plant before you know it. It is hard to make a pretty plant out of an ugly plant without taking a cutting and starting a new one.
When I received this particular kind of episcia, it looked terrible, so I cut the top off and rerooted it......look at it only 3 months later.
What a beauty, Gail. Love that episcia and the shimmer of it's leaves. If it wasn't impossible to ship them now, I would love a stolon.
What is that episcia anyway? It IS quite beautiful^_^
I would be willing to guess "Rita's Pearl Passion?"
Gail, I now know for certain that all your fingers AND your THUMBS are green. I've yet to see a 'bad' picture of your plants. You do miraculous things with them. I think you must just talk to them and dare them to grow, and they do-beautifully - LOL
That episcia is called Sea Foam, but she has the prettiest coloring for Sea Foam that I have ever had..............
I grow my plants the same way I raised my children (LOL). Because I was such a pushover as a mother, my brother used to say that when he died and came back again (just joking), he just wanted to be one of my children. The plants needs come before anything else........except for my grandchildren.......
Well, I thought I would post this as inspiration for those who give up hope. I thought there was no hope for some frost damaged Episcias...This little fella I have kept in a warm propogater since I started this thread...I thought it was a complete gonner, and look....Life.!!
That's neat! Life is tenacious...
Dominic, How wonderful to see the new sprouts on your formerly frozen Episcia! I guess we should never give up hope ... plants, even Gesneriads are sometimes tougher than we think!
Well...look at that! Good work! Don't you love those little surprises? ^_^
Hey, i'm so excited for you. lol i know how hard it is to get plants to where you are.^_^
bonnie
Episcia 'Pink Panther'....bit soon too share cuttings yet tho folks....:))
Pleased as punch when I saw that bit of growth..very rewarding.
I had another, or rather still have, which had been reduced to just 2 tiny stolons. I tried the same treatment with that one, but one just went moldy and shriveled up, so I took it out of the 'incubator' into less damp air. The surviving runner is now still there so what seems to have worked for one, didnt really help the other..fingers crossed on that one too.
Yes Bonnie, absolutely no stock of anything here unusual...once they have made the risky journey, from wherever in the world I buy, they get a good life here
Dominic