And to think--this species was only introduced about 2 1/2 years ago, when seed was brought to the AGGS convention. Now, it is getting wide distribution. One thing you may notice. It self pollinates very easily. So, Nikki, you may soon see a seed pod and then you can grow on a whole crop of it. I just love its foliage.

That is incredibly cool- now I will have to try to grow that one. I'm a sucker for the tiny plants. Is that really a 3 oz solo cup?

I see the AGGS seed fund lists them- time to make an order.

Yep, that is really a 3oz solo cup. It has about 4 plants in it, and they are all in flower now. Thank goodness it's small. I'm told they need 70% humidity, so I grow it in a baggie. But if it was a big thing that had to be taking up space under the lights, but I couldn't enjoy it as much because it was covered up with a baggie, I'd definitely not keep it. But as it is, it is a wonderful little plant. I'm thinking I'll get some of those crystal clear plastic cups and plant them in one, and tape the other on top of the first, so I can see them better. A plant in a baggie is not much fun.

Nikki, you might check out your local thrift shop for a small glass container suitable for a terrarium. I have found quite a few, or you can use a brandy snifter with a piece of plastic wrap on top or a small clear glass plate. It is much easier to find small glass containers for terrariums than large clear containers--at least around here.

Jon

I found that Rio does well in a closed jar as well. (OTOH, White Sprite will succumb to fungal problems.) I have quite a few in upside down jars - the pots sit on the lid and the glass goes over the top.

The only thing about nice glass jars is they almost alwasy take up more space than a 3oz solo in a baggie. I'm not sure I'm willing to sacrifice the space under lights. Maybe if the container is really small and really pretty and plant becomes a non-stop bloomer.

I think it will be pretty much ever blooming. But, I kind of prefer the foliage just as it is, with the flowers being an extra. In that high humidity "Rio D" will self pollinate. Soon you will have seed pods. If you don't harvest the seeds they will fall from the open pod, land somewhere--i.e. in a neighboring pot and quickly germinate. Soon, you will have a little carpet of seedlings to play with! I think a way to grow this guy is to give it a little larger terrarium and let it make a carpet of growth. Then, you can groom it with some sharp little scissors and really have a cool little plant.

I let my original plant and seedlings dry out severely and they died. But, I found a nice plant growing on my light stand the other day. So, I must have brought home a new one or it popped up somehow??:).

Maybe, you can find a little container that is more vertical than wide so that it won't take up more than a little bit of space. I found some sort of nice clear square plastic containers that made nice terrariums. They were maybe two or three inches square and about four or five inches tall. Brandy snifters are nice since they have feet, which allows for other pots to be sort of nestled underneath them. Hmm, maybe one of those verticle champaign glasses??? Buy, two and use one for the plant and one for you.

I'm thinking of creating a carpet - just need to find a container.

I found some jars - forget what was in them - fruit or something - that are 3" in diameter and about 6" tall. I've also grown them for significant lengths of time in jars 3" in diameter and 3.5" high - those jars are great for seedlings. 3" diameter is about the minimum for keeping the foliage from touching the sides.

I also tried wine glasses but those did not do well - probably because I didn't put much drainage material in the bottom.

Hi Nikki,

Nice Rios! They are really healthy looking! Look at all of those buds! I'm with you John. I really like the foliage too. My Rios are the size of a pinhead now and I can't wait until they become adults. I know this won't be much help for you Nikki, but I am using a 1 gal. hexagon aquarium as a micro mini sinningia flowerbed. It is about 7 in. in diameter. Right now I have "Bright Eyes", "White Sprite" and "Wood Nymph" in it. I am looking forward to getting Rio in there and find some Pusilla seeds, so I can have one of those in there too.

I had a hard time figuring out how to maintain a terrarium. I kept this terrarium way too dry thinking that condensation on the sides meant that there was too much moisture in the soil. Before I figured it out I almost lost the Bright Eyes, White Sprite and the Wood Nymph. I had a couple of small Pusilla that didn't make it though. Two months ago Bright Eyes and White Sprite bloomed and now White Sprite has two buds ready to open. Wood Nymph is still struggling. But, it seems that I am getting the hang of it. I really like the micro mini sinningias. I have had a difficult time growing them in the past and at times have told myself to just give up, but they are so cute that I always try again. I'm glad I did because I'm finally starting to reap the rewards.

Larry

I haven't mentioned my "dedicated turkey baster" in a while but this seems like the appropriate thread and time of year. When watering a terrarium that has no drainage, I will water until I have wetted the medium thoroughly and then make a little hole in the media with my finger, so that I can see how high the water pools, then use a turkey baster to drain all the excess water. I will get rid of all standing water, leaving the mix thoroughly moist but with no excess. I call it my "dedicated baster" since I make sure it is kept well away from the kitchen, where someone might use it on, say, a turkey. They only cost about two dollars so are a very good investment.

Jon

And I must say that if you don't contain them they will as Jon says pop up in other pots, and more in their own pots, and just keep popping up all over. I don't grow mine in terrariums but they just keep setting seed and if I don't watch them they will be in with my Chirita's Sinningia's or wherever they can find a place to grow. They are a true weed, though a wonderful weed. That is why in 2-1/2 years they are so very wide spread. Remember Chirita tamiana did the same thing.....Love these weeds. Wonder if other countries find our dandelions beautiful?

Maggie

Wow. Rios spread like weeds, huh? Now I'm *really* embarrassed. Someone very kindly sent me some seeds, and I sowed them, and they sprouted, and I let the enclosed container get too dry so all but one died. Now I have one survivor, with two sets of true leaves, but the leaves are yellow. I may have overwatered in compensation, but the soil isn't soggy and I let it dry a bit yesterday. The alge doesn't seem to mind, though. Grrr.

The question is, is it too small yet to transplant? And if it isn't, what kind of soil should I use?

Korina, keeping my fingers crossed

Korina- you may yet get more. I killed off a batch of seedlings by letting them get too dry (not entirely my own fault, but that's another story) and when I resumed watering (for another species that survived in the same snifter) a whole 'nother crop of seeds germinated.
Maggie- I can see the beauty in dandelions, but only for a short time! The flowers are pretty, but I hate those bare seed heads that rise above the mown-grass level in a matter of hours! I won't claim any responsibility for 'em! It was the European immigrants who brought them to our continent (along with their Starlings, House Sparrows and cockroaches...sheesh! Just for the record, my ancestors were European immigrants, but I'm sure they wouldn't have brought anything objectionable. Heehee ;) The day's useless trivia; dandelion is from the French dent-de-lion, "lion's tooth", for the jagged points on it's leaf edges.

Jen, we'll see. It depends on if they can germinate before the algae overwhelms everything. It's just starting, but that stuff can move fast.

Also, dandelions were cultivated commercially as late as the early 20th century. The young leaves for spring greens, the roots are a tonic, and of course the flowers for dandelion wine. You can still find seeds for popular varieties in a few places. Yep, more than you wanted to know.

Korina

At our health food store one can buy dandelons greens. I personally think they taste awlful. But then I don't like mustard greens either. Give me good old kale or collard greens.

Larry