Place pots in a propagator or cover with a clear plastic bag, and provide bright but not direct light. Keep at 18°C (65°F) In 1947 he bred the John Innes variety ‘Constant Nymph’. This was the first of the modern multi-flowered Streptocarpus varieties with a flat face. When the first plants appeared in this country, leaf cuttings were passed around as something very special and after more than a hundred years of moderate use as an indoor plant a new wave of interest in Streptocarpus began.

Soil: Humus rich, moist but well drained soils are best in a bright location - though it is best to avoid scorching afternoon sun and some shade is very well tolerated.Next, dip the wounds in a water/bleach solution (9 parts water, 1 part household bleach) to promote sterility. (Only use if you're an adult, following safety recommendations of the manufacturer). While using a seed tray or Bonsai dish and 'Houseplant' labelled potting mix, place the leaf sections wound-down in around 1.5cm (0.6 inches) into the soil. Apply slight pressure around the base of the leaf for extra stability with the sounding soil. Provide a bright, indirect setting with temperatures above 18℃ (64℉) and keep the pot in a sealed transparent bag with multiple small holes to maintain high humidity. Open the bag every couple of days to monitor how the cuttings are performing and to allow fresh air to circulate. Remove any rotten or yellowing material as it can spread onto neighbouring leaves. If propagation is successful, you should start to see new shoots surfacing the soil line after six to eight weeks. Keep the growing conditions the same, and once the shoots are big enough to pot on (four leaves on each growth), they can be potted up in 'Houseplant' Compost with 7cm (3 inch) pots. Repot as necessary and care in the same way as adult specimens with the care tips written at the top. Insert the cuttings with the cut side down to about 2 centimetres into the type of soil described above.

Book a 1-to-1 video call with Joe Bagley if you'd like a personal guide to repotting your houseplant. This will include recommending the right branded-compost and pot size, followed by a live video call whilst you transplant the specimen for step-by-step guidance and answer any further questions! Regarding your comment on the streptocarpus article: thanks for your input. Our supplier of streptocarpus does not use neonics; that said, the risk to pollinators from neonics applied indoors in greenhouses in winter to plants that are sold as indoor houseplants would be negligible. While the specimen is budding or in bloom, switch to a product high in potassium to prolong the duration of flowers. Good examples of this are a Dibley's Streptocarpus Food or a tomato-labelled feed. Revert to the original fertiliser once the final inflorescence elapses.During winter do not water plants directly after filling a watering can from the tap as the water will be quite cold – fill water in the can or in some container a day in advance so that the plants can be watered with water at room temperature. Allow the soil's top third to dry out in between waters, reducing this slightly in the autumn and winter. Over-watering during the dormancy period is a common issue that will result in compost mould and root rot. Water lightly from above onto the surface of the compost or sit the pot in shallow water (1-2cm deep) for a maximum of a couple of minutes.

Produced in 1946 by crossing a hybrid Streptocarpus called ‘Merton Blue’ ( S. hybridus) with a species called Streptocarpus johannis (introduced just before World War II), this plant flowered continuously from April to November and with additional light could be kept in bloom throughout the year (unlike the original Streptocarpus species and garden varieties). It had the very free flowering and dainty habit of S. johannis with larger flowers and the good blue colour of Merton Blue. It was easy to propagate and is very tolerant of the conditions prevailing in the average house. Propagating Streptocarpus can be a simple and enjoyable hobby. It’s very easy to create dozens of baby plants, increasing your collection and creating new plants for gifts. Cut off a large, healthy leaf with a clean razor blade and slice out the central vein, leaving two leaf halves. Plant the halves in rich potting soil by standing them up with the cut side down.Brown’s retirement in 1975 ended the breeding programme and this, together with John Innes’ overall policy of closing its ornamental plant work, removed the incentive for John Innes to market the new varieties through NSDO. Use a liquid fertiliser at 3 weekly intervals through spring and summer, just a few drops in the water saucer provides steady access to food. All these pests can be controlled but the best course of action is to regularly carefully inspect each plant, particularly during spring and summer, so that any infestation can be spotted early and dealt with before it spreads and becomes hard to control. Buying Streptocarpus Streptocarpus (meaning twisted fruit) is a genus of herbaceous plants that was first brought to England from Southern Africa by Kew plant collector James Bowie in 1818 – a large blue-flowered plant S. rexii which first flowered at Kew Gardens in 1827. Any time during spring you can divide an overgrown plant by simply separating clumps (vertically), and re-potting them. Propagation

Lynne Dibley was inspired by the John Innes varieties and went on to breed her own totally different style of Streptocarpus – and success followed. Dibley’s released their first variety ‘Crystal Ice’ in 2000 which was awarded the RHS’s Award of Garden Merit in 2001. Not known to be poisonouswhen consumed by pets and humans. If large quantities are eaten, it may result in vomiting, nausea and a loss of appetite. This is the most significant step; reduce the temperature by around 5℃ compared to the summertime or place in a room that's around 13℃ (55℉). The lowered temperature should ideally begin to increase again at the start of spring, which in turn will stimulate new growth. You'll be at a significant disadvantage if the ambient temperature is kept constant throughout the year, as Streptocarpus will only respond with flowers in year-long fluctuating environments (13℃ (55℉) in winter & 20℃ (66℉)) in the spring and summer). Never exceed the minimum temperature as it could lead to plant death or yellowed foliage at a bare minimum.

Tips for Growing Streptocarpus Plants

There are over 150 accepted species of Streptocarpus that have natural distributions around the southern reaches of Africa (Afrotropical regions), including Madagascar, Zimbabwe and South Africa . Although many people use the term Streptocarpus, another common name used around the world is the 'Cape Primrose' - a nod to many of the native species native town and similar characteristics to the Primula. Nevertheless Louise, Paula, and Tina were all awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Merit. Today Paula and Tina carry the RHS ‘Award of Garden Merit’(AGM), along with ‘Helen’, another variety bred by Gavin Brown. The pink-flowered variety ‘Tina’, with a more compact habit than ‘Constant Nymph’, remains a popular variety today. Other Species: There are 155 recognised species of Streptocarpus, with the first that was sent to Kew Gardens from South Africa being Streptocarpus rexii. Many hybrids have been bred and they are the darlings of the flower show circuit and many societies and associations. William Lawrence’s career at John Innes spanned 1913 to 1963 and his many contributions to horticulture were recognised by the RHS in 1950 when he was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour.