Gesneriad Trails

When we started ramping up our return to gesneriad growing in early 2023, one of the major concerns was keeping the plant collection watered while we were away. Since travel plans also are ramping up in retirement, this was a source of consternation. I started investigating wick watering, a technique used by many growers with much success. Helpful correspondence with other enthusiasts, as well as reviewing back issues of the Gesneriad Journal provide much information. I decided to give it a go. I went "all in" and nearly all the plants I acquired were put on wicks from the start. Early Wicking Setup For the wicking material, I used acrylic yarn as recommended. The yarn was thoroughly wetted before using and extended up through most of the pot. I purchased a large number of predrilled reservoir containers. Over the next 18 months I experimented with the length of wicking inserted in the pot, and even the number of wicks used based on pot size. I made minor adjustments to my po...

This past spring, I picked up a small container of Sinningia gesneriifolia seedlings from the raffle table during a meeting of the National Capital Area Chapter of The Gesneriad Society . I selected two of the strongest to pot up and grow.  Both plants are now in 4" pots and are about 16 inches tall. One of my plants has been blooming for about a month, while the other is just developing buds.  Sinningia gesneriifolia blooms Sinningia gesneriifolia is native to Brazil. The corollas are marked with purple spotting inside and out. The flowers hang below the stems and are produced on the upper part of the stem. Sinningia gesneriifolia young foliage The seedlings and young plants have attractive silver makings down the midrib of the leaves. This coloration fades as the plants mature. One of my plants seems to be about a month behind the other in blooming and is just beginning to lose the coloration. New foliage around the base of the plant is marked with silver. Sinningi...

Kohleria are among my favorite gesneriads. There is a wide variety on foliage, growth habit, and blossoms among both the species and hybrids. When we had our greenhouse, a significant portion of a bench was devoted to the genus. I've been re-acquiring many of my old favorites and look forward to seeing them grow and bloom. Kohleria grandiflora One species I've been now growing for a while is Kohleria grandiflora . This plant bears a USBRG 98-259 label as well, meaning it came from the collection at the Smithsonian greenhouses.  Kohleria grandiflora This is the second bloom cycle I've had growing this species. The original plant had a couple of blooms but eventually grew unwieldy. It's a prolific producer of arial rhizomes — perhaps from inconsistent watering. This particular pot was started from cuttings in June and currently stands about 21" tall. I have a one light stand configured to allow plants to grow to about 24" tall, just for plants such as this. The...

I was lucky enough to win a small plant of Sinningia 'Judy Becker' during the live auction at the 2023 Gesneriad Society Convention in Richmond, VA. There was a stunning entry of the plant exhibited by Dee Stewart in the flower show that year, and the auction plant was a propagation from that plant. Sinningia 'Judy Becker" is a cross of S. bullata  and  S. tubiflora created by Dave Zaitlin. As was apparent by the awarded plant in the show, the plant can develop into a large display. After a little over a year, my plants remain a manageable size under lights. Sinningia 'Judy Becker' (4.5 inch pot) I find the plant to be easy to propagate. I've taken stems cuttings as the last bloom fades and root them in my usual potting mix. They quickly develop tubers and new blooming stems almost without pause. I'm growing a total of four plants now. Sinningia 'Judy Becker' My original tuber is distorting its 4" pot now. I'm thinking about moving...

I previously posted about Nautilocalyx glandulifer as an attractive foliage plant. Since then, I have been treated to its beautiful blooms as well.  When repotting my plant of this species in the spring, I accidentally broke off a stem. Not being inclined to toss the piece away, I stuck it in a pot to root. The cutting rooted quickly and the plant branched and grew. Nautilocalyx glandulifer It was not long before I noticed a flower bud forming on the newly potted plant. Perhaps it was there already when the stem broke off. It was slow in developing, in my waiting and watching opinion, but finally opened. It was worth the wait. Nautilocalyx glandulifer The white flower is covered with maroon hairs, just like the foliage. The whole plant is quite unusual and attractive. Nautilocalyx glandulifer The inside of the flower holds a treat as well. The upper throat features dark purple streaks. The flower lasted a few days before fading and dropping. Now I watch and wait for another, thou...