I have two kohleria (Red Ryder and Manchu) grown from rhizomes. They are growing very leggy. Right now I have them in the kitchen window. The light is bright, no sun. I have to turn them every few days or they will topple over. I was wondering if I should move them to the plant shelves where I have the AVs under lights.
Here is Manchu.
Here it Red Rhyder. It is also tall and spindly.
Well Eileen, I am no help ... I tried a couple of Kohleira's and they were even more spindly then yours!
I just googled about Kohleria ... saw this at Rob's Violets site: http://www.robsviolet.com/kohleria.htm says cutting them back will make them more compact and bushier! If I ever get another one I will try it!
I have mine under lights-- they still get tall-- but not leggy. I do know you need to pinch them to keep them compact. Mine look great-- but every bud blasts-- not sure what else I need to do...
I think Susan grows a lot of them.
If I pinch them, will the cutting root like a violet leaf? I'd hate to cut them, and then they won't branch out. I've never had them before so I'm in the dark. I've searched the web, but there's not much info about them.
imadigger... I was going to start a similar thread myself... asking the question of what I can do to get mine to bloom!
I have 'Beltane' and it too is leggy, and it's grown in a full southern exposure window!
The plant looks nice, but tall... but no blooms!
I've read about the "rolling" method of repotting a kohleria on the Rob's Violets website, but not tried it.
Will it help it to bloom?
This might help a little.
Lynn
http://www.gesneriads.ca/genkohle.htm
They root really easily-- just pot up and keep domed til they root.
Lynn, thanks for the link. I've bookmarked it so I can go back to it again and again. ^_^
It has quite a bit of information. I've put the two of them under lights, and in a week or two I'll cut the tips off and try to root them. I'll post my success or failure.
Hillbilly_gran, maybe I won't wait a few weeks. I think I will cut one of the taller stems tomorrow, and see how it goes. Thanks for the info.
Hi,At my house the kohleria's are water and light piggy's.LOL.I have mine wicked and the plants love it,as long as the pot isn't to big for the plant.They are also very close to the lights.Heres a good article to read also.
http://groups.msn.com/TheVioletVoice/junevote.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=22291&LastModified=4675530434426893801
Kohleria Emily Roberts last year.Shes getting buds again.^_^
This message was edited Feb 20, 2009 6:30 PM
Hi Jan,
I know between you and Susan you can help Digger more than any website.You both grow and bloom them so well.All I really know about them is they like very good light,plenty of food,lots of pinching and actually enjoy cooler temperatures,especially in winter,than most Gessies.I loved your Emily Roberts!
Lynn
Jannich, that is a great bit of information. Now, how can I join that site? Looks like a really good one to know about. I do know that they need intense light as opposed to avs, etc........
I bookmarked it too.Great site!
Morning,
Thanks Lynn,that emily.roberts is a beauty and compact too.
This is a good group but there moving it to another place now..Here's the new addy,on the left hand side you need to click make a new account with you,the rest of the instructions are there after you make your account.
http://violetvoice.yuku.com/directory
I was reading on another group not to long ago that the hybridizer Thad Scads grows his kohleria outside almost in full Florida sun.The only thing he has up to protect them in the summer is a screen over his lani(sp)?I don't know what that word is but I'm thinking it a screen house they put up over the pools in FLA.Like plantladylin's...Now that's plants that love light! Also I think he said he starts pinching his plants right after the second leaves,to make the bushy.
Wow! Jan, that Emily Roberts is a pretty one! It looks to be a large plant to me. I'm assuming some are more compact and tight whereas others spread and trail?
Interesting about Thad Scads growing his kohleria in full sun in Florida, I wonder what part of Florida? Even though my pool area is completely screened, it's on the SW side of the house and the afternoon sun is very intense! I've had a few different plants get sunburned out there.
Oh, I think "Lanai" is the Hawaiian word for patio/terrace. Some folks have referred to my screened pool area as a Lanai ... fancy, smancy! I just call it the pool deck, pool enclosure or screened porch ... but, I gotta admit, "Lanai" does sound so much nicer!
Hi Lin,I don't know what part of fla he is in.I went searching for what he said about growing kohleria's.Emily Roberts is really a small growing plant.I thought that was a fancy word for screen house ^_^
Kohlerias are big light hogs, the more the merrier. When I grow them on my plants stand I will put them in the center under 4 tubes and T8 tubes at that. I grow most of my kohlerias outside on the lanai. They like almost full FL sun all day long the light is only diffused by the screen covering the lanai. When they get 2 or 3 pair of leaves they should be pinched then it doesn't hurt to pinch again for a nice bushy plant. The tips root very easily even with blossoms where with most plants you need to remove blossoms on a tip cutting. Some kohlerias will get very tall if you let them especially species, 2'-3' in some cases. My Lucky Lucifer has never gotten over 12" tall, but like I said that is in strong light and I pinch them. If you put it on the ends of your tubes they'll probably get taller. Put them in the center of your strongest tubes, pinch them at least once and see how they do.
Thanks Jan ... that is really interesting information. So, Kohleria's don't mind the heat? I get so confused as to which Gessie's like the heat and which prefer cooler temp's. I know the Strep's prefer it cooler, and I haven't been able to keep a Strep alive for very long but I may have better luck with Kohleria if they like heat and humidity and sun!
Great information, Jannich!
jannich, thanks for the great link. I've joined VioletVoice, but haven't searched the site much. I'm most comfortable here on DG. Your Emily Roberts is adorable. Such pretty blooms. Well I cut one of the tips of Manchu and will wait and see what happens. I've also put them both on the plant shelves under lights. I sure hope this works. If the one I cut does well, the I'll cut the other one. Maybe by the spring, I'll have some extra for trade. ^_^
Thanks all, for the help.
Hi,
Sorry did not see this message... Kohlerias are tricky for me... Yes I can get them to bloom and boy oh boy are they beautiful, but mine get to tall so I just chop them down ...I repot what I cut off... I am down sizing on these in the near future... Jan, is getting allot of mine...LOL
Hugs,
Susan
This message was edited Feb 23, 2009 1:51 AM
