Archive for April, 2009

Aeschynanthus (trichosporum)

Bright red tubular flowers from leathery vaselike calyxes, waxy oval leaves and a graceful vinelike growth distinguish aeschynanthus (trichosporum). These make excellent pot or hanging basket plants. They can be grown in any soil suitable for gloxinias or African violets, in any of the mixtures, as peatmoss, sphagnum moss, and chicken grits or equal parts of osmunda fiber or shredded bark and peatmoss, and in the same temperature recommended for African violets. Culture is easy.

Aeschynanthus lohbianus has dark green leaves and scarlet flowers spilling from purple-brown calyxes; A. marmoratus is characterized by variegated light and dark green leaves, maroon beneath. The flower, less showy than that of A. lobbianus, is reddish orange. A vigorous species with long waxy green leaves and bright orange flowers is A. speciosus. Propagate these plants through cuttings or seed.

Columnea

Columneas are handsome trailers. One grower who specializes in orchids and columneas considers his older columnea plants covered with flowers more spectacular than many of the orchids. Species include the yellow-flowered C. tulae var. flava, the red-flowered C. Alleni, C. Banksi with shiny leaves, and C. gloriosa with small, hairy, near-brown leaves. Grow these trailers in soil or “substance” as suggested for aeschynanthus. They are warm-house plants responding to the same light conditions as African violets. Propagation is through cuttings or seeds.

Columneas are collectors’ items for you to grow only in the warm greenhouse. C. tulae however makes an interesting house plant, and being a yellow-flowered gesneriad, it is popular with African violet and gloxinia fanciers. Cuttings of these plants ship well and most collectors will purchase rooted or unrooted ones. A single, well-grown, 2-year-old plant will produce a dozen or more cuttings which sell generally for about 35 cents apiece unrooted, 50 cents rooted.

African violets and gloxinias are two members of the Ges-neriaceae family which also includes Achimenes, Aeschynan-thus, Columnea, Episcia, Kohleria, Rechsteineria, Smithiantha, and Streptocarpusa wide variety of forms and colors. There are climbers, trailers, shrubs, and low-growing, rosette plants in white through shades of yellow and orange to brilliant scarlet. Small wonder that collectors have taken such a fancy to them! Most gesneriads thrive under the same conditions as African violets and gloxinias. Since many can be grown in hanging baskets they offer a profitable way to use space at the top of the greenhouse.

Achimenes

Achimenes, sometimes called nut orchids or Japanese pan-sies, grow from rhizomes shaped and constructed like small pine cones. The plants are easy to grow, unusual enough to make good sellers, and sure-fire material for hybridizers. In warmer sections, they can be planted directly in the shaded outdoor garden or rock garden. I have liked them in a window or patio box and for hanging baskets in lath house or greenhouse.

The demand for achimenes is good; the supply is short. Culture is the same as for gloxinias except that they can be planted four rhizomes to a 4-inch pot, five to a 5-inch pot, etc. Some of the plants grow upright; others (usually depending on the amount of light) trail over the pot edge. This makes them ideal for hanging baskets. Achimenes, like gloxinias, need a rest after flowering. Store them in their pots at 55 degrees F., or depot them and store in sacks of vermiculite.

Flowers of achimenes are similar to petunias, with upturned faces in colors from white through pink, red, blue, and purple. Collectors’ favorites include the red-flowered Master Ingram; Mauve Queen with red dots on a golden throat; white Margarita; bright red A. coccinea with ferny leaves; and purple Wetterlow’s Triumph. The best known variety is

Purple King.

Propagate achimenes through the rhizomes (which multiply each season), by rhizome divisions (each scale acts as a seed), or through seed.