Compact wll be less than a rhubarb. The leaves are on a long side, but you can trim them a bit

I grow this plant and i keep it wicked - but you know that wicking of streps is a touchy thing. Make sure that the soil is lose and the center of the crown is always on a top of the mound.

I like it. Interesting, great variegation, cute flowers.

I.

hmmmm,,,,,less than a rhubarb. Well that makes it very clear! Grandma used to grow that sour plant so I know the size. Well, I have a bushel basket I can grow it in! lol!

No matter, I am just in love with the color of the leaves. That is why I bought it!It hasn't bloomed yet but the little bud is on a stem about an inch and a half long! I am really excited to see the color of the flower! And it wasn't that big of a plant when I got it. I gave the longest leaf to my friend, Anne and I think hers is doing well also.

I do have mine on a wick also. My soil IS very loose and I do let it dry just so slightly in between refills! Ever since I put it in a Kcup on a wick system, it has started growing real well. And I didn't expect it to bloom quite this soon. I thought the plant had to be a lot larger! I mean more mature. Mine (and the rest of their friends) grow in a North unobstructed window. They seem to be doing well.

I remember when I worked in the greenhouse (circa 80s) he had mini streps. They were perfect windowsill size. Never outgrew the windowledge and there were several colors. I don't know about names. I think Thompson & Morgan catalog used to sell seeds for windowsill streps. Maybe Burpee catalog also. I can't remember, but I sure would like to find them again!

Yes Irina,,,,I would like more streps or seeds for them! Oh and I have started a separate Wish List just for streps!!!!!! lol! Rosie

My pix didn't show in my original post so here it is again!

I've heard rumors of 'mini' streps but I haven't found any yet. Of course, mini may be relative. My smallest still average at least 5 to 7 inch leaves for approximately 10 to 14 inch spread. You know of any that are dependably smaller than that, Irina? Btw, nice find Rosie and it sounds like you are taking good care of it.

As for your wish list, we can help you out there. I'll have plants available when my weather breaks and gets cooler this autumn (soon) and I /may/ have leaves and seed available too. We can also help you find many more sources like the Violet Barn, Lyndon Lyons, Ebay, Terri Vicenzi, Kathy Algood, etc.

I am familiar with Streptocarpus liliputana and have several with that ancestry but they still have leaves in the 5 to 7 inch range. I'm quite familiar with Dale's work and converse with her regularly. I may simply not have the smallest hybrids yet. Do you know the average leaf spread on any of these? I have a bunch of Dale's hybrids and also some Fernwoods. 5 inch leaves aren't bad at all though compared to the huge size of some of my DS hybrids. I like the variety.

I could just ask Dale.

You can. Dale is a plant whisperer - so the way she grows and what results she achieves ... is probably impossible for us mortals. She can grow a super show plant out of a roadside weed. Gesneriad roadside weed of course.

I think my Dale's Polar Lava leaves are under 7" and we can always trim the tips a bit.

Regarding a really big one. I grew one of the Parfuflora hybrids. It was an interesting experience. It was as far as I remember a wholesale plant company in Netherlands and they developed their own hybrids with monocarpic Streptocarpus. They develop a single large leaf - i think it was 15" wide and 25 " long, it sent up a spray of pretty blue and white blossoms - and it was the end of its life cycle. I do not think these hybrids were fertile. I tried to propagate the plant from a leaf wedge -supposedly it can start before the flowers form - but I failed. I think the company is not in business anymore. Was interesting. The leaf grows down - so you make sure that the pot is very heavy - i loaded bunch of gravel on the bottom of the gallon nursery pot - and let the leaf hang off the shelf pass the next one.

I grow one of Dimetris hybrids - DS-Yellow and Red - leaves are enormous, very wide and asymmetrical - they go "propeller" . One large rhubarb.

I loved "Dale's Baby Kisses" - it was very compact and symmetrical - but as Dale explained - when you cross with species - sooner or later you get a sterile plant. So it was the dead end one.

Out of compact ones - I think we need to look again at the hybrids with S. kentaniensis. I think the best is 'Haru No Mizu' by Toshijiro Okuto. It is smaller than Dibley's Crystal series and it is tougher.

Toshijiro is also working on super mini streps - http://hwm5.wh.qit.ne.jp/okuto/ako.html

- scroll down to Komachi, Sakura etc. in 6cm pots - but he is also complaining that so far the whole new series of minis didn't show up yet.

Would be nice to get some of the new ones to States...

Yep, some really nice small streps coming out of Japan - I have some of those as well though none of the new ones.

For the monocarpic, should you grow any again, try mounting it so the leaf can hang down from the wall. That is how they are usually shown so they don't take up shelf space. I've taken to mounting some of streps and they look pretty good this way - especially if their flower stems tend to sag, they make very nice cascades if mounted like orchids (such as Nissan X-trail).

The big DS streps also lend themselves well to hanging baskets or mounts so they don't eat up shelving. I have several mounted around the bay window of my bathtub where I can swap them from one side to the other.

And as you say, the leaves are easy to trim shorter if desired. Using shaped sheers the leaves can even be cut with the tiny scalloped nubs so it's hard to tell they were trimmed. I used that at the last show I entered - strep leaves aren't allowed to touch the table at a show. Some can be raised as well, set on stands.

Update on my DPL--I moved Dale's Polar Lava to my east window and it is doing much better. The leaves are still loooong and thin and to me somewhat delicate, but with the increased day length and more intense light, the leaves are getting some beautiful rich, red in them. AND it has set several flower buds! Can't wait for it to bloom! Rosie

Rosie - I grow it - and leaves are quite delicate. I am glad you found a good spot.

Oh glad you have one also! Yes, delicate is a good word for her leaves. I do think she is happier in the east window. I can't wait til the flowers open! Rosie

I'm happy that some of my Heartland's Baby Egrets x Prada seedlings are coming up variegated! Squee! ;) Prada by Nancy Block seems to be a mini variegated plant as well with a deep purple netted flower. (Not to be confused with the Russian hybrid by the same name.) I'm eager to try and pollinate Prada with Bristol's Spectacular. If I could get a nice pink and purple fantasy variegated mini that could be fun.

How would you two describe the leaves as 'delicate' on Dale's Polar Lava? Do they brown easily, or?

Hyn, my version of delicate is,,,,,wafer thin, not particularly wide, easily bendable and sort of drapes downward over the rim of the pot. I handle her pot with more caution than I do my new one I will call Yellow with Blue Eyes. YBE has very thick turgid leaves that stick up and out. DPL is narrow and fine. A light breeze will move DPL leaves whereas not much will move a leaf of YBE. As far as browning, I don't have any on either. I think DPL will bruise easy where YBE will just break. Gosh I hope this helps you. Rosie

Ah, yes that does help, thank you. I was merely curious. I have a few with ultra brittle leaves that I have to be careful when handling due to the leaves breaking easily. So I know what you mean, though I don't think I have any that qualify for the condition of delicate as you describe it.

DS Africa is one of those with very thick brittle leaves. But I think it's a polyploid and that is one of the characteristics of some kinds of polyploids so I simply take a little extra care when I need to move it around. The flowers and stems are fine though the flowers are heavy in substance and can damage easily. It's still a favorite plant, a Kingly Lion.