Just curious if you know if this plant shares any ancestry with Dale's Polar Canary. Or is just similar names for a unrelated variegated hybrids created by Dale Martens? I ask because I just got a couple leaves in the mail today and I"m curious about that plant's quirks.

I don't know anything about the background or genetics of it. The leaves are very delicate and thin. Not hard and robust like most strep leaves are. Or at least the ones I am familiar with. I did the baggie thing to save it but I think it will have to be grown under glass. At least maybe in my conditions. I will do that. I really like it. Rosie

It grows on a wick for me - with a LOT of perlite - and under T8s.

Mark4321 - you need to ask Dale. She is very active on a Facebook.

'Dale's Polar Lava' is not registered. It is a mini and probably has some exotic mini species in a background.

Dale's Polar Canary is registered - it is a cross S. ‘Suzie’s Sister’ x S. ‘Heartland’s Midas Touch’.

Nice of her to respond. Good information. Rosie

Rosie, if you find that you have to use a terr, it is possible you might be able to adjust it to life in an open terr down the road which could make life easier for you. Old fish tanks and large open glass containers can often be found cheaply via Craigslist or second hand stores like GoodWill or Salvation Army.

IME, plants grown in enclosed setups typically put out weaker, more delicate leaves. Not terribly surprising as such plants have no need to develop leaves with thick waxy cuticles to reduce water loss or thick cell walls to reduce water loss and provide structural strength to withstand breezes or other minor mechanical damage.

That could be a possibility. When I refer to a terarrium setting, I don't put soil in the bottom of the container. I just put the potted plant down into the glass container, put the lid on and things go pretty smooth. I can adjust the condensation by removing the lid for a time or adding moisture if there isn't enough. Sometimes I have tiny rocks or aquarium gravel in the bottom to raise everyone up a bit.

I have never done well actually planting a plant in a glass or plastic container. I never really understood how to do it. I know it is a little more than just "potting" a plant in potting soil.

Right now, my DPL has a baggie over it. Even though the leaves are "thin", and that is just the way they are, very delicate, they have improved quite a bit since being bagged. They are standing taller, they are not dying so readily and overall, it looks very much improved! Why,,,she may even bloom again for me!!! lol That is why I decided to leave her in a more humid enviornment. Maybe that is the only way she will live in my enviornment! I'm ok with that.

I do have a nice bowl that would hold her. I don't know how large she will be eventually but I think she won't outgrow it. There is probably a little room for a couple more pots also. Now that may be a way to not worry about a lid.

Again,,,,none of the plants will be out of their respective pots. There will be no soil or anything in the bottom of the bowl. They will all just coexist together. And I am able to reach in and pull out a pot if it needs to be cut back.

I do admire actual plantings planted IN the soil of a terarrium, but,,,not something I ever understood or was successful with. Rosie

Streptocarpus liliputana is notoriously hard to grow. It requires 100% humidity - and even Dale with her absolutely magical growing skills - loses it every so often and restarts it from seeds. Looks like Dale's Polar Lava is a throwback to Granpa Liliputana. (Or Granma, but I doubt - I think if you set seeds on it - it dies...what a O&^%!!! )

I think if you manage to keep the humidity above 50% it will be OK - and it needs good light. So an open terrarium will be probably just right - with a wet mat on the bottom and plants in Oyamas. If you rewet the mat with tap water and do not let soil touch it - it stays clean for long time. No algae.

Thanks Irina!!!!! I usually clip flowers as they fade. Not really interested in seed at this point. About the only way to keep humidity above 50% is the way I am doing it now. But they seem to be doing very well!

Thanks for the tips! (grateful) Rosie

I do not want seeds from this one. It went in a flimsy direction... And this heavily variegated skinny-leaf plant could croak from the stress of putting seeds...

If you choose the glass bowl route and wish to hide the pots, you could put moss in the bowl to hide the pots. Would also increase the humidity as the moss wicks up water increasing evaporation.

Paul, would you use the bagged spanish moss that they use for floral designing? Or spaghnum moss that you buy at Lowe's???? Yes, I am all about hiding the pots. Rosie