African Violets
 

There is another critical aspect to the care of your violets. Too much or too little water can be harmful to the plant. One excellent technique is to place your individually potted African Violets on a shallow watertight tray filled with gravel. Always bring the water to room temperature since cold water may cause damage and spots if it were to accidentally splash onto the leaves. Water your violets when the soil just begins to dry. Excess water will drain into the tray but the layer of gravel will keep the plants from setting directly in the water. The water under the gravel will evaporate, providing all important humidity, critical to growing truly beautiful violets. Fertilize twice a month with a water soluble fertilizer. Behnke’s carries a fertilizer specifically formulated to ensure healthy plant growth and almost non-stop bloom.Use porous, sterilized soil, high in organic matter. A mix of one part perlite, two parts vermiculite and three parts peat moss will make for a well drained, light mix that will still retain adequate moisture. Specially prepared African violet soil mixes are available in the houseplant department at Behnke Nurseries. These are very convenient, consistent in quality, and free of pests and soil born diseases.African violets thrive at temperatures that most modern houses are kept at, somewhere between 65 and 80 degrees. Try not to subject your plants to sudden or extreme temperature changes. Good air circulation will help prevent fungal disease but it is a good idea to keep your violets out of drafts.African violets are susceptible to several diseases and pests, such as aphids, mites, botrytis blight and rot. The best defense against most of these problems is to maintain ideal growing conditions for your plants, as outlined above. Maintaining an air space around your individual plants will minimize spreading of disease if one of your plants were to develop problems. Carefully remove damaged leaves, and the stalks of spent flowers, these are breeding grounds for fungal diseases. Behnke’s staff of houseplant experts will be able to assist you with any specific problems that your plants may develop.

Beyond the African Violet: Meet the Family

Some of the most beautiful and easily grown plants for the home are members of the Gesneriad (pronounced either “jez-NARE-ee-ad or “guess-NARE-ee-ad) family, or Gesneriaceae in botanical Latin. The family, named for the Swiss botanist Konrad Gesner, is highly diverse, and while most of the more than 120 genera and 2000 species in the family are unfamiliar to even accomplished horticulturists, almost everyone is familiar with the African violet. Gesneriads can be found in the Americas from Mexico to Chile, in East, West and South Africa, Madagascar, Southeast Asia, Polynesia, Australia and New Zealand, China, Japan and southern Europe.

Although a number of species grow in temperate climates in mountainous regions, most gesneriads are tropical or semi-tropical. Gesneriads are usually grown for their blossoms and, given good light, most will bloom for long periods. Many can be grown in the average home; they are often comfortable in typical household conditions and are good candidates for the novice grower. In addition to the beautiful and well known African violets that are always available at Behnke Nurseries, you’ll find several other easy-to-grow members of this family. On your next visit let us introduce you to the following African violet cousins.Sinningia speciosa – Gloxinia

Originally from Brazil, “florist” gloxinias are grown for their showy, tubular, bell or trumpet shaped flowers. The flowers have beautifully ruffled edges and are borne well above the large, velvety leaves. To grow well and last for many years gloxinias need humidity, full sun in winter and shade in summer. To save the plant after blooming, it needs a two to four month dormant period in a cool dark spot, so that the foliage may die back to the tuber. The large leaves tend to be quite brittle, and you will want to place the plant somewhere where people won’t brush up against them. Oftentimes the plants are shipped in a semi-wilting state to prevent leaf breakage.

Aeschynanthus – Lipstick Plant

An easy to grow gesneriad, this trailing plant with thick leathery or waxy leaves is usually grown in hanging baskets. From summer to winter it bears brightly colored tubular flowers in shades of red, orange, pink or yellow. A. radicans with its red blooms extending from a purplish tubular calyx is the best known species. The flowers resemble a lipstick extended from its tube, hence the common name. Grow this plant in brightly filtered light to encourage flowering; water freely during the warm months, more sparingly in winter.

Episcia – Flame Violet, Chocolate Soldier Plants

These plants are valued for their soft, colorful, puckered foliage. Leaves are produced in short-stemmed rosettes or whorls of large leaves and on trailing runners (stolons) on which smaller leaves appear. Foliage colorations range from pale pink, white and green to dark red and chocolate brown. The brightly colored, five lobed flowers are borne singly or in small clusters from spring to autumn. Grow in bright filtered light with high humidity. Keep evenly moist during growth and flowering, barely moist during winter.Streptocarpella – Streptocarpella

The small, thick, often hairy leaves of streptocarpella are borne on arching stems that hang beautifully over the edge of a pot. Flowers are small but numerous, especially in summer, and range in color from pale lavender to deep purple. The more modern hybrids bloom throughout the year with only moderate light. Grow in lightly filtered bright light, keep moist during growth and flowering.

Also, the leaves are very sensitive to water burn. This occurs when water that is 10 or 15 degrees warmer or colder than the air temperature falls on the leaf. Hence, we recommend that you water with “room temperature” or lightly warm water, and avoid wetting the leaves. (Some suggest putting water in the saucer to allow the plant to wick it up from below. Be careful with this approach, however — it is often impractical and can lead to a build up of salts and ultimately root burn).

Containing Your Enthusiasm
by Mike Bader, Plant Buyer

Spectacular outdoor containers overflowing with a variety of plants are one of the hottest trends in gardening today. Creating extraordinary plant combinations in the home using indoor plants has never been easier. In fact, plants like to be grouped together because they give off water vapor, which makes the surrounding air more humid, providing them with a happy growing environment. Our houseplant greenhouses receive fresh shipments weekly, making your design possibilities almost endless.

In years past, flowering plants were used as the central feature of container gardens, but more of our designs use foliage plants which survive indoors longer and can adapt to partially shaded rooms. My favorite combinations really pack in the plants using four basic design functions: size, color, leaf shape and form.

While browsing through our warm and cozy greenhouses, begin your design with an eye-catching upright plant that will add some height to your creation. Among the easiest to grow are dracaenas, often resembling palms with arching leaves and bare, woody stems. Their striking leaves are usually long and striped with various combinations of white, cream, yellow, red and several shades of green. Most of us are familiar with the popular Dracaena marginata or dragon palm, but Behnke’s carries several new introductions as well. Another favorite of mine is the Ficus elastica or rubber plant. The glossy leaves are large and leathery with prominent midribs and pointed tips. The newer cultivars have a more compact growth habit and colored leaf markings of green, gray-green, creamy yellow, white, pink and burgundy.

Essential for adding surprise and color to your combinations, accent plants often feature bold foliage. Leaves that are variegated or exhibit unusual color, such as burgundy or chartreuse, are especially effective. Codiaeum variegatum, or croton, has magnificent leaves in shades of yellow, orange, pink, red and dark green. Their colorful foliage can be long and thin, broad and rounded, straight or even twisted. For those of you who are seduced by a plant’s flowers (myself included), bury an empty plastic pot in your container, either a 5 inch or 7 inch depending on the size of your creation.

Most of our blooming plants are available in 4-inch or 6-inch sizes and you can insert your favorites into the empty pot without actually planting in the soil. After they have finished flowering you can easily replace them with another. We currently have blooming African violets, azaleas, begonias, bromeliads, chrysanthemums, cyclamens, kalanchoes and miniature roses. In February spring bulbs begin to arrive along with primulas and hydrangeas.

Using a variety of leaf shapes and sizes adds excitement and interest to your planting combination. Look for contrasting shapes and textures to bring life into your design. Here is where I have some fun using several smaller plants as fillers. As their name suggests, these plants fill in the combination, but more importantly, they separate the bolder participants in the container. There are just too many to mention, but some of my favorites include asparagus fern, rex begonia, spider plant, polka dot plant, peperomia, aluminum plant, fittonia, and several types of table ferns.

The final selection for your design should include a trailing plant or two. These plants provide much of the charm to your plant combinations while spilling over the top of the container or mingling among other container inhabitants. There are many types of English ivy and pothos that are colorful and easy to grow. You can also choose from creeping fig, baby tears, purple heart, strawberry begonia, Swedish ivy, and just about any plant you see growing in a hanging basket.

Let’s not forget to mention the new truckload shipments of pottery arriving each month. I am forever in search of interesting pots, whether they are hand-painted by a local artist or hand thrown and painted in a far away land.You can choose from a wide variety of sizes, shapes and style variations, designed especially for the home or office. Behnkes carries contemporary ceramics, terra cotta, China bowls, Italian or classic cylinders, gloss, matte, or faux finishes, and specialty containers for orchids, bonsai, cactus, and succulents. I recommend Miracle-Gro potting soils and fertilizers to ensure your gardening success. Our Behnke designers can also assist in selecting containers and foliage to match your light, favorite colors, style requirements, and your enthusiasm!