gloxinia

[merkity]

Just thought i would share. this is a Glox that i picked up a couple years ago - never saw one before, only thing i could say off the bat was "its related to african violets" I am just reading through more information on the plant now. thought i killed it the first winter, didn't know they go dormant. its back and blooming for me each year. trying to get some seeds from it this time around. and since i found out how to grow new plantlets - have started a couple leaves in some water - got roots after 10 days - should be fun. i love the flowers though - think i have to go pick up a couple more of these guys!

[WhiteRabbit]

Nice!

[bellini girl]

Cute, they should make excellent companion plants

[NYCorchidman]

I love Gloxinia! They make such great showy flowers!

I believe yours has been grown a bit too shady as I have never seen one with such tall stems and small leaves.

They need bright indirect light, much like AV, but perhaps brighter.

They do go dormant, and you can leave the tuber in the pot or dig up and store until the spring when there are a few sprouts visible.

You want to leave one or two strongest sprouts for best results.

You can grow easily by seeds, but the results may not be of good quality.
If you want copies of the same plant you have, there are three main methods.

1. In the early spring, cut the tubers in half or more depending on how big it is. Make sure each piece has at least one sprout on it. Let dry the cut surface or apply fungicide to prevent rot.
This method will produce flowering size plants in the same year.

2. Make leaf cutting like AV, if you are familiar.
You want to use a nice large leaf for best results.
Prepare sterile mix like vermiculite and stick the cut end about half or one third into the mix at about 45 degree angle. Cover with ventilation holes for high humidity. Avoid too much heat and light to prevent rot, but keep it bright and warm. You should see tiny sprouts emerging from the mix in about one or two months. These may take one year until they reach the flowering size.

3. Top cutting.
Around mid or late spring when the plant is actively growing, you can cut the very top of the plant with about 3-4 good leaves and prepare it the same way as leaf cutting, but stand it up straight.
This should usually bloom the same year, although it may not flower until the next season.

I like them all, but my favorite is the large red one with white edge.

[merkity]

lots of great info -thank you. yes mine was neglected and left in a lower light area.(its stitting on my bird cage with all the recovery phals) I am trying out the leaf method right now, but they are in water, not soil, so i may get a slightly different result. i was going to pot them this weekend if can find the right mix. the roots will be super fragile right now still.
i also want another one (though my hubby might strangle me)

[Hiester]

Glad I read about these, because I didn't know they had a dormancy period. I've always admired the beauty of the blooms as well as the nice fuzzy leaves. I want some, as well as some Streptocarpus. I see the Gloxinia at the grocery store here all the time. I wonder if there is a best time of year to acquire plants?

[merkity]

no idea, the only place i have ever found near me is a plant nursery in half moon bay. they tend to have them in the spring blooming away.

[NYCorchidman]

They flower in late spring into early summer, so you will see them offered in May and June depending on the climate you live in.

They do not like heat, so it can be grown much like tuberous begonias.

You can buy plants in bloom so you know what you like exactly and keep propagating them.

Or you can buy seeds in the late winter like February, and start the seeds indoor for late spring bloom.

Where summer is rather cool instead of cooking hot, like Seattle, these should bloom for a while without getting heat stressed.
Or bright indoor with AC on is also ideal when in bloom.

Of course, with seed grown plants, you will see quite a bit of variations, but you get to have some interesting flowers, one (or more) of which you might really like.

In the late summer or fall, they usually begin to wither. Reduce watering gradually, and then keep the pot dry until spring or dug up and store like you would with other spring planting bulbs.

[Hiester]

Thank you, NYCom. This is much more information, I think, than provided with a purchase from a retailer. I'll look for a Gloxinia next time I'm at the grocers. I'm certain I've seen them there recently. If I find one, I'll buy it and post a pic...

[NYCorchidman]

My pleasure!

The whole foods here had tons of them a couple of weeks ago. Very pretty in the shades of white, red, and purple. but the delicate flowers and leaves were all damaged in shipping. did not buy any. lol

Good luck in your search!