Predator

Peat moss is a quite common medium that I use in growing Gesneriad plants but one annoying issue is there comes the 'Mushroom Flies' that fly around the terrarium. It's hard to catch or beat them due to they fly elusively. The simple solution is to grow some Pinguicula, commonly known as the butterwort ... it's a qualified "Predator" with no harm to human and catches flies with efficiency. Sometimes it also gives you a cute flower as reward.

I grow 3 butterwort hybrids which easily tolerate my environment because I am not collecting them, I just raise them as the Predator of Mushroom Flies.

Smithiantha HCY's Winter Glory in season.

Gesneriad finds a way

Did you ever abandon a plant but it found its way to survive ? Did you ever try very hard to raise a plant but you never made it ? As you know, life is always like this and the same story happens over and over again ...

the blooming one : Smithiantha Peach Blush x self
an unknown Kohleria is at the top left

African Violet , Marching Band

xAchimenantha Texas Polar Bear

Kohleria that fits Christmas

It's just cold during these days, although it doesn't snow here but the chilly temperature does make people feel like it's the Christmas season. I'm developing some of my latest Kohleria hybrids to be mature plants in the coming spring, they are reflecting the silver sheen which also fits this time of year. Merry X'mas !

2 new Kohleria hybrids, hopefully they keep the dwarf or reasonable size after fertilized development.


Kohleria Designer's Star Shimmer

Primulina ophiopogoides and longgangensis

After changed the growing medium from peat moss to akadama bonsai soil , the both mentioned Primulina seems happier. :-) But I grow Primulina ophiopogoides more than 2 years but never saw it in bloom, hopefully it will happen in the next spring.

Primulina ophiopogoides

Primulina longgangensis

Sinn. Stone's Silvia

It took me 5 minutes in thinking over how to describe this plant, but still no inspiration. So I decide to make it easy on myself and write nothing.  LOL ... Plant owner : Mr. Stone

Seeds for exchange ( discontinued 2012-12-17 )

I have some spare seeds meanwhile I'm looking for Achimenes , Eucodonia , Kohleria , Pearcea , Seemannia , Smithiantha and the other rhizomatous Gesneriad genera (seed/rhizome of a species or rhizome of a hybrid are all fine). If below seed offer may generate your interest to make the exchange with me, please feel free to email me for details. Thanks.

S01 - Gloxinella lindeniana

S02 - Kohleria Beltane x Pink Shadows

S03 - Kohleria HCY's Russian Roulette x Pink Shadows
S04 - Smithiantha (Pat's Pet Cougar x An's Hybrid)

                         x Maggie's Andorra
S05 - Smithiantha (Peach Blush x self) 

                         x (Maggie's Andorra x Tropical Sunset)
S06 - Smithiantha Ezra Alamont x Formosa Clouded Leopard
S07 - Sinningia sellovii
S08 - Sinningia speciosa (Carangola HY) x speciosa (Red)

S09 - Sinningia speciosa (Blue HY) x speciosa Cardoso Moreira

sketching the leaves

I love the color patterns of the Kohleria's leaves, so that I looked forward to the diversity since I did cross in 2009. It is an addiction about enjoying a plant from the sprout to the final bloom, the more you see, the more you want. I just like it in this way. :-)

Designer's Helloween - a normal green leaf

Designer's Star Balloons - feather-liked pattern on leaf

Designer's Wedding Theme - dark grey leaf

Hybrid A 

Hybrid B 

Hybrid C

Hybrid D