Other Gesneriads in Demand - Achimenes

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.

Tags: home greenhouse

Kindly consider linking to this article by just copying and pasting the code below on your website/blog ( press Ctrl+C to copy the entire code). The text link will look on your website like this: Other Gesneriads in Demand - Achimenes

<a href="http://www.home-greenhouse-profits.com/other-gesneriads-in-demand-achimenes.html">Other Gesneriads in Demand - Achimenes</a>