Streptocarpus care question for a newbie

16 years ago

Hello,

I am an extreme newbie to Streptocarpus. I have been gardening indoors and out for about 14 years....but, I finally decided after several years of a stalkerish kind of love for streps to give them a try. lol

I did a lot of research online before buying them, and I'd just like your advice on whether or not I'm doing a good job or not.

I purchased three plants from a seller on ebay. They are all in 2 inch pots at the moment with three leaves.

She said they were at a point to be able to be potted up.

I worried that they needed to be in a very free draining soil ( more free draining than what I had my African Violets in....so I purchased AV soil, Perlite, and Orchid bark.)

My little mix has 1 12 oz solo cup of av soil, 2 cups of perlite and 1 cup of orchid bark.

Do you think this will be a good mix? I think it feels really good, I think when the time comes that I'd like to repot my av's from their ugly pots, I'll use this mix for them as well. lol

I don't wick, i'm too much of a control freak....I bottom water all my plants...well, I mean control freak in the most loving, nurturing kind of way possible...they are my little babies! lol

Are these plants at a stage to be re-potted?

I can figure out how to add a pic if need be.

Oh, I also have these on my kitchen counter where I just installed a grow light under the cabinet for them.

The AV's seem to love it under there.

Any little tips you would be so gracious to impart upon me would be more appreciated than you would ever know!

I can't wait to see them bloom!!

Once they are big enough, I would love to be able to share them....especially with someone else in my position now....who has a love for them, but has none. lol

Annother motivation for me to get them growing healthty.

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Comments (6)

scurbanfarmer
Original Author
16 years ago
Here is a picture....maybe. lol

Here is a link that might be useful:
scurbanfarmer
Original Author
16 years ago
After some more research..I think these guys might want a more pourous soil than what I have in these little pots.
I think I'm going to go ahead and repot them into the perlite,vermiculite and orchid bark mix....
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irina_co
16 years ago
I am not sure about orchid bark. Normally bark has the tendency to absorb lots of nitrogen - that's why the orchid fertilizer has the numbers like 30:1:1 with the heavy on N.

I would stick to AV soil, vermiculite and perlite - heavy on perlite - and if you can get some coarse perlite - even better - and i always put a half inch layer of coarse perlite on the bottom to increase the air intake.

By the way - your violets will benefit if you add some perlite to their soil too.

No - you do not need to repot just yet.

Do not forget to let the streps dry between the waterings.

Bunch of happy plants you have there

Irina
tommyr_gw Zone 6
16 years ago
I grow mine in a mix of 1 part regular potting mix and 2 parts perlite. Or a 50/50 mix of peat moss and perlite.
I fertilize every watering with a 1/4 strength orchid fertilizer.
irina_co
16 years ago
Tommyr =

I wouldn't go for orchid fertilizer 30:1:1.

I use DynaGro - which is also orchid fertilizer - and it is more "balanced" one.

Do not forget - FISH EMULSION - is like a double martini for streps - they LOVE it and get seriously invigorated with it. So - spoil them with it every so often.

Irina
juliebees2009
16 years ago
oh I have spent so much money on these plants till someone told me the secert leave them in there little solo pots till they cant stand up and he roots and coming out and then repot and ignore them, the above potting mix is good recipes for them but to keep you from loosing so many lave em alone and water when they are dry more so than a.violets this helps me and plant the strepts up on a small hill it dont like wet feet.
let me know how your doing with them
bye for now
j.bees