Miniature Sinningia Complex

Although the hybridization history of miniature Sinningia is not long as other commercial plants, the color variation still expands.  Easy to flower, Easy to pollinate, Easy to pod ... these 3 easy things make the hybridization of mini Sinningia easier.

From the simple patterns to complicate color combination, the complex of ancient heritage shows how it rules the hereditary appearance. It is a bit difficult to tell what is the suitable parent plants if we don't look for significant results. So which one do you want ? Beautiful complex or creative complex ?

Sinn. 'Pirate's Spanish Rose'

One of the most popular Pirate's mini Sinningia , as the 2 tones of color is lovely and always a pleasure to see. People who have this plant may not be tired of seeing the change of color patterns. This flowering template is from Singapore, cultivated by Mr. Francis Sua.

Comparison

Sinningia goes back on track after the hot season. Not many flowers, at least the color and appearance are OK.

Pirate's Petite Blueberry

Pirate's Ice Age (left) & Pirate's Coral Reef (right)

Pirate's Damask (left) & HCY's Midnight Waltz (right)

Pirate's Petite Angel in Singapore

A Singaporean friend shared his recent bloom photo of Sinn. Pirate's Petite Angel, isn't it well-cultivated ? The Episcia shiny above is Jim's Moody Rock. 

mini but smaller than mini

There is a group of small rosette Sinningia which I can not find a precise adjective to define their distinctness. Sinn. Pirate's Petite Angel or Fu's Flower Fairy are the examples of this group. There are just a few varieties like these as far as I know. I do not study how did the other hybridizers create their lovely small mini plants but 'Pirate's Petite Angel' was made by the cross of normal miniature Sinningia. In fact I did not expect to get such smaller miniature Sinningia before 'Pirate's Petite Angel' renewed my knowledge of hybridizing Sinningia.

In terms of reducing the plant size, people may go directly to use micro mini Sinningia in their hybrid project. But usually micro mini Sinningia is sterile when they meet miniature Sinningia due to the issue between tetraploid and diploid. My opinion for long term hybridism is to select some small miniature Sinningias as seed or pollen parent in this case, and see if it's possible to get even smaller seedlings from such combination. I presume the character of 'small plant size' can be caught generation after generation.

Sinningia 'Pirate's Ice Age'

海盜的冰河期

This creamy white beauty is from the last cross of miniature Sinningia I made 2 years ago. It was an experimental combination by Pirate's Monster Bite and a light blue hybrid that I made in 2006. I believed this cross can happen something or nothing as I prefer not to do foreseeable hybrids that I had done a lot in the past years. Finally I only selected 2 seedlings, one is still under my evaluation and the other one is this new introduction 'Pirate's Ice Age'. First of all, I appreciate Mr. Francis Sua who grows this plant well and allows me to use his photos. Check his small but delicate garden HERE.

'Pirate's Ice Age' looks similar to my very old hybrid 'Pirate's Panguno Rakaso' which was announced in 2007. Just a little bit difference in color details but the good things are 'Pirate's Ice Age' is a good bloomer and a strong plant in growth in comparison with 'Pirate's Panguno Rakaso'. The color part of 'Pirate's Ice Age' is changeable according to different growing condition and temperature.

Sinn. 'Pirate's Glassy Rabbit'

As I mentioned before, this variety is not special for its color but good at producing blooms. The flowers almost cover on the foliage, what else ?

3 White

It seems white miniature Sinningia is popular but there are not many varieties available. The icon variety that we can get is Sinn. Isabelle, a lovely white face flower with red dots. I did not mean to make white miniature Sinningia, but luckily I got 3 white miniature Sinningias from the combinations of colored parents. They are not pure white, still keep colored markings.

Sinn. "Pirate's Etoile Enflamme"

Photos courtesy of Dale Martens

This miniature Sinningia was from my hybrid work but I never grow it. In fact I provided some seeds to my "Pirate's Partner", then he sowed and raised the seedlings, he did selection and named this plant as well. In a certain occasion, this beauty was shared to Ms. Dale Martens in the United States. That's why nowadays the people know this cultivar well because she did a great grower's job and introduced it to the public. Thanks to Dale.

The start of my miniature Sinningia collections began in 2006, our own hybrids bear the alpha name "Pirate's". But why "Pirate's" ? There is an interesting background. When I started to pollinate miniature Sinningia, I have a few plants only and there were not many available varieties in that time as miniature Sinningia was a newly introduced gesneriad cultivar in Taiwan. It was hard to get mini Sinn. within the island but fortunately Dolly ( famous Taiwanese grower who owns the website http://www.dollyyeh.idv.tw/ ) went to AGGS (or TGS today) often and brought some miniature Sinningia back. I shared the same greenhouse with her before, so I had the chance to "steal" the pollen from her plants while they were blooming. But such "stealing" was agreed since she knew I was trying the hybrid work of miniature Sinningia. OK, since I "stole", then my achievement should be something like piracy, the proper alpha name for my series must be "Pirate's" instead of any alpha name related to my personal property.

I am glad to see that many new creation of miniature Sinningia are announced day by day. This means I have more chance to choose the "Ready" plants for just grower's fun and this is what I was eager to do in the past when it was difficult to get a qualified miniature Sinningia.

Anyway, just the bellyaching in 10 years anniversary of Pirate's Mini Sinn.  Never mind !!! XD

Sinn. Pirate's Aloha Atoll, Pirate's Engaging Ring, Pirate's Mustache

Again, beautiful flowers at beautiful moment.

Sinn. Pirate's Aloha Atoll combined the purple and white, without complicated or fancy patterns at all. The plant size is a bit huge among mini Sinn. but luckily the bloom capability is good. So the whole plant still keeps its proportion balanced.

Although this is an old hybrid of my own, Pirate's Engaging Ring is one of the most commonly seen Pirate's mini Sinn. that you can get from the growers or sellers. The plant is cute, small and smooth, sometimes it blooms with semi double.

I must say Pirate's Mustache is also a huge mini Sinn. but the foliage is neat and flat which makes it a good base to show many light blue flowers above. For this kind of mini Sinn. , no need to complain the plant size because the flowers make you up.

Sinn. Pirate's Petite Chili, Pirate's Daniel, Pirate's Glassy Rabbit

Beautiful flowers at beautiful moment.

Sinn. Pirate's Petite Chili, I grow it at my windows sill, a semi open area. Only at this moment it can bloom like this because the weather is still mild, not tough. This flower comes with clear-cut red and white, decorated with irregular bold linear dots on white as well.

Sinn. Pirate's Daniel at my planting house where the moisture is usually high. The flower petals can fully open and the color contrast is sharp. Sinn. Pirate's Daniel features smaller foliage but the flower is relatively large and many.

Sinn. Pirate's Glassy Rabbit at my windows sill. Very simple color but also performs well with its neat flowers. The growth is quite aggressive and never shy to bloom.

Sinn. Pirate's Aloha Lei

A miniature Sinningia with warm and tender color. But such color is not special, what I did was to improve the flowering capability and it is really impressed. I assume the name "Aloha Lei" fits and delivers the feeling of this miniature Sinningia, so that's it.

Sinn. Pirate's Wine Maker

Mr. Stone grows this heavy bloomer, smooth foliage, sparkling color, medium to large flower size and the longer flower stalk ... all these characters combine to be a show level miniature Sinningia. Potted in 3 inches, 1 tuber with 2 crowns.

Sinn. "Pirate's Lost In Rainbow"

over 3cm in diameter and flat-opened flower, clear-cut colors and patterns ... especially this photo was taken during HOT SUMMER in Taiwan, a pretty and well-developped miniature Sinningia.

Sinn. "Pirate's Dream Hunter"

This bright rosy color is pleasing to the eye ..... a medium size cultivar,the flowers and the foliage are well balanced.

Sinn. "Pirate's Skyline"

A cool color for the coming hot summer.  These are the last blooms, they show the best color of this miniature Sinningia because of blooming under the right temperature.

Sinn. "Pirate's Damask"

A cross between miniature Sinningia and eumorpha hybrid, this cultivar has bigger leaves and florwer than the miniature Sinningia but not tall as the eumorpha type hybrid.

Sinn. Pirate's Little Boxer

A red and compact miniature Sinningia.

Sinn. Pirate's Love Bite

A striking red patch in the center, presentation of strong color collision.

Tender Pirates :-)

Sinn. Pirate's Fuzzy Spring

Sinn. Pirate's Phoenix Feather

New Pirate's Hybrids , grown by YMF