Karyn - you have a well grown and very floriferous plant.

it is Kohleria and probably "Strawberry Fields" by the color or "Red Ryder" (by the size). "Red Ryder leaves have a distinct patterning, "SF" - more solid color.

My Kohlerias do not go dormant-dormant. When they become ratty - I reroot the tips - they practically do not stop blooming - if you stick them into light soil and keep them under the bag for a week or 2. The soil of the old pot gets sorted - and the rhizomes are collected and put into the baggie with barely moist vermiculite. Usually in 1-2 months they put new shoots and are ready to be potted and shared with friends.

Good Colors For Christmas

irina

Here is a link that might be useful: Strawberry Fields

Thanks for the ID. I never thought to try rooting cuttings. When it begins looking ratty I just chop off the stems and leave the pot unwatered until spring. I divide the rhizomes every couple years.

Karyn -

looks like you miss the whole winter of blooming. You can chop the stems and keep watering - provided they have enough light they will come back and bloom in winter too. The only thing I do not like abbout keeping them in the same pot - you will get way too many stems - and you really need may be 5 strong ones.
The way how you treat it - would be appropriate for Smithiantha and Achimenes. They are seasonal bloomers and they need their rest. Kohlerias - you can make them bloom all the time.

I.

I dig up my achimenes and seemannia and store those over the winter too but I'll keep in mind that I can allow the kohleria to continue growing. I divide the rhizomes every other year. I put less then 5 in a pot. I usually keep the 3 biggest ones. BTW they are some of the ugliest rhizomes I've ever seen. They look like giant white grubs!

Can I cut it back? The stems are over 2'. It looks nice and full but it's taking up too much space.

Yes - you can cut it back, trim it, shape it the way you want - it will send new shoots from each node. Sometimes if its stems are flexible - you can try to wrap them up around the root ball and repot in a bigger pot with only tips showing.

I.

Thanks I. The main stems are too rigid to wrap so I'll cut them. I might try rooting a couple. I got a new macro lens and took this close up of a bloom. I thought it was pretty cool looking.
{{gwi:587625}}

Karyn - ODD NUMBERS - 3 or 5 ;-)). Supposedly it is pleasing to an eye to have odd numbers of stems in a pot.

Cool pic, very kissable.

Irina