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| Streptocarpus | Common name; Cape Primrose |
This is a tender greenhouse perennial that can grow to around 300mm (12") high with a similar spread, and flowers from late May until October.
Maintain a minimum winter temperature of 8°-10°C (45°-50°F), rising to 15°C (60°F) during the growing season.
Water regularly during the growing period and keep the plants just moist between November and March.
Offer light shade from April to September and ventilate the greenhouse during the hotter months.
Week 4-10; Sow seeds in pots/ trays of seed compost, and germinate at a temperature of 20°C (68°F).
When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into plug trays and later singly into 75mm (3") pots of well drained potting compost; pot on as necessary.
n.b. Streptocarpus have a shallow root systems, so when potting on, grow them in shallow wide pots/pans
Week 21; Apply a weak liquid feed at 10-14 day intervals from now until they stop flowering.
Place plants outdoors in a shaded position and protect them from slug and snail attack, return them indoors in before the first frosts.
If growing on indoors; position plants in good light but do not expose them to hot sunlight, to do so cause leaf scorch.
Position them in an east or west-facing windowsill in summer and south-facing in winter
Increase humidity by standing the pots on saucers of pebbles kept moist, but do not allow the water to reach the base of the pot.
Week 22; Take leaf cuttings by inserting small leaves or 75mm (3") long sections of large leaves.
Insert cutting in equal parts (by volume) peat and sharp sand and root at a temperature of 18°C(65°F).
When small plants have developed from the cuttings, pot them singly into 75m (3") pots of potting compost.
Pot on as necessary (see note above)
Do’s and Don’t’s;
Over-watering can leaves to rot at their base.
Over-large leaves might be due to poor light and/or excessive feeding.
Leaf die back late on in the year is a natural condition, and is due to shorter day length, cooler temperatures and reduced moisture uptake, if this occurs trim the dead leaf tissue off.
Deadhead once blooms have faded to promote more.
Do not allow any dead flowers to fall onto the foliage this could cause grey mould or botrytis.
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