Another January 2017 Violet Barn purchase, this is one of my favorite gesneriads! That’s saying a lot since this is probably my favorite plant family. This plant is unusual in that the leaves are very thin and less succulent than most gesneriads. The start I received three years ago was pretty small but once it got settled with the right light (bright indirect) and the right water (self-watering pots to keep it moist work well), it has done very well for me.
Here is a gallery of photos over the years of this plant.
What I love about this plant is the foliage, which can be stunning when healthy and abundant. I also love the flowers and the plant’s generous display of those. This plant bloomed from about March of 2019 until December 2019, when I decided to cut it back and take cuttings of the clippings. As I type this in February 2020, it has buds showing color again! And the cuttings, which may or may not be rooted at this point, have also been blooming!
The challenges with this plant are that it gets a little lanky and rough mid-to-late season, with the leaves looking sickly and old flower and leaf stems hanging on in shades of brown and tan. I feed it with orchid food and organic fertilizer spikes, and that seems to suit it.
Propagation is also a challenge with this one, as the leaves seem too tender for leaf cuttings to be successful. If the cuttings I took from the pruning I did eventually grow, I think I’ll end up with four plants.
My goals for this plant in 2020 are to grow it well so the pots look great. For the cuttings, I will pot them up and grow them on and give them to family, friends, and coworkers.