Re: Purple Heart

Claire - thanks for the extended advice which I found quite interesting.  I
think I'll just let nature take its course with the Purple Heart.  I used
to use the first one for hybridizing purposes (bought it from Faye
Brawner), but this clone from Marilyn Holt seems to be semi-sterile which
has me puzzled.  I'm through fretting over it.

I had a Vancouver Centennial when I lived on the west coast: a large,
gorgeous, bushy plant that thrived in our California sun.  I brought it
with me to  Montana, cut it back, took cuttings, and they all expired like
yours.  I've learned since that it's sterile and I don't have window room
for any (well, very few) pellies that can't do double duty as pollen or
seed parents.  So: RIP.

But I have to say 'White Splash' sounds intriguing.  I'll look it up.

Maria



>In a message dated 1/26/04 11:33:22 AM Eastern Standard Time,
>mirror@3RIVERS.NET writes:
>
>> overwater.  Maybe it's just highly sensitive and hates winter (like me)?
>
>Hello Maria,
>
>I read your post and was thinking that plant of yours might need to be
>discarded and give it's space to one that likes your conditions.
>
>I campare it to Vancouver Centennial which is my nemesis.  There are great
>red glowing pots of this in every pellie publication and on the west coast
>it overflows containers handsomely.  But here in my winter plant
>conservatory it is a terminal case every winter. I have purchased a dozen
>or more of this plant.   I thought it would improve a winter collection of
>all green, lots of green plants.
>
>The color disappears from the weak sun, the roots become smaller and
>smaller and will not support the top growth, leaves shrivel up and fall
>off.  I slice off the best growth and place into my best rooting
>conditions and it develops the dreaded black leg disease.  I will never
>buy another though it is common  in the ever improving greenhouses in our
>area every spring.  I look at the tags and demand to know where these
>"bought in" plants are coming from because I know that they do not like
>New York State.  This "easy" selection is featured in every book and
>article on Pelargoniums.
>
>So, get rid of Purple Heart.
>
>On a happier note, I have a recommendation for those of us in Northern
>climates in the US.  There is a hybrid called 'White Splash'  which will
>grow and  bloom and thrive all year around in the North.  It is a happy
>everbloomer and  roots easily at any time of the year.  As far as I can
>see, it is a sterile  blossom which may explain it's exuberance.  In
>summer it is covered with flowers constantly and will multiply itself
>happily with little trouble.  When all the other Pelargoniums are
>requiring some attention to having to live in the cold North of the US,
>'White Splash' is blooming away with no loss of leaf. Some other pellies
>are healthy but none bloom as this one does.  It is part of a series by
>some large hybridizer with the others in the series not as well
>recommended as this one.  I root new plants every summer, late around the
>end of August, and keep over smaller plants of all the Pelargoniums.
>
>Mine is living at around 50-60 degrees F.  (10 - 15 C.) forgotten by the
>watering can from time to time, about 10 inches from a window covered with
>ice and still today has about six fully open blossoms with many buds below
>them.
>
>I did not like the colors of this plant originally when given to me by a
>friend who said that it was made for the North but one cannot everything
>and I have grown to love the plant. It is a great companion for the winter
>bloom bulbs, Hippeastrum and Veltheimia as it blends with those colors.
>It looks good with forced tulips.  By spring three or four rooted cuttings
>in an eight inch pot is a small shrub.
>
>Claire Peplowski
>NYS US zone 4 awful cold winter, lots of snow
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