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Re: streptocarpella

At 03:00 AM 4/14/97 CDT, you wrote:

>I went to the garden center (again) and they had a whole tray of
>beautiful plants with tiny blue flowers on thin dark stems with
>thick, velvety leaves.  I bought it thinking it was a streptocarpus
>but when I got it home the tag read streptocarpella.  I looked in
>my houseplant guide but couldn't find it, just streptocarpus.  I'm
>sure it needs the same care as an African violet since it has the
>leaves of a gesneriad, but if anyone else has any information on
>this plant could they let me know?  It's a really gorgeous plant
>and I don't want anything to happen with it.  Thanks!
>

Cami,

I have a pot of Streptocarpella that I got last year.  It has been growing
wild for me in a south window all winter, even blooming when the sun poked
through our usual winter clouds.  Now that Spring is here the plant is
covered in blooms.  I find it very easy to grow and propogate.  I grow it in
a peat based soiless medium like Peter's and water it weekly - from the top.
I have poor luck (lazy culture) with violets but this plant loves me.  I
take stem cuttings and just stick them back in the pot where they root very
easily.  Just last evening I potted mine into an 8" hanging basket (started
as a 3" pot) and took stem cuttings to start two more small pots.  

The garden centers here sell Streptocarpella as a hanging basket plant for
shade and the most amazing basket I have ever seen has been one of those
huge wire baskets planted entirely with Streptocarpella and vinca vine.  

Good Luck,

Sam
Indiana Zone 5
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