Hi Linda,

I'm currently growing a few of the Russians.

I've had good success with ...

Frosted Cherry
Blue Mist
Blue Skirts

I have several but most are still rooting leaves. I have noticed that many of them bloom before they are big enough to be separated from the mother leaf.
Linda

I have noticed that many of them bloom before they are big enough to be separated from the mother leaf.

Linda

Wow ... I've never had that happen.

Here's a photo of my "Blue Skirts".

... and my Frosted Cherry

The story with Russian hybrids IMHO is like that - for long long time the AVs inside Soviet Union were hybridized with a limited amount of genetic material, absence of standards and the goal was - pretty flowers, the bigger the better. They are old hybrids, often bred to grow on a windowsill. After the Iron curtain fell down - Russian hybridizers got access to more hybrids - European and American. The combination of these 2 lines was immensely beneficial - it was combining of selection towards big flowers and selection towards symmetrical rosettes.

If older Soviet time varieties are harder too grow nicely - the new ones are very attractive and will grow easily and comply with Show requirements.

I.

the soviet union was so harsh to its conquered countries. this shows plants collection to history

I also read somewhere that they prefer to be at the end of the plant shelf lights, so they get less light. They do well on window sills. I have one so far, and I keep her at the end of the shelf. She bloomee this past winter, and I keep looking for new flowers, but none yet.