tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41836117458676232622023-11-16T08:17:49.664-05:00A Passion for PetrocosmeaObservations and Experiences Along My Journey to Know and Grow the Genus PetrocosmeaTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-37535147164074007542012-07-23T21:32:00.002-04:002012-07-23T21:33:14.237-04:00Summer's Treasures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Summer is not usually a big season for blooming Petrocosmeas, with most species being autumn and winter bloomers. An advantage to having a larger and more diverse collection of Petrocosmea hybrids and species is that there are some which do flower in the summer. For me, P. barbata, P. nervosa and P. parryorum have become reliable summer bloomers. Hybrids incorporating these species also show a tendency to flower during the longer and warmer days of summer. </div>
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A few years ago, I was excited to add two new cultivars selected from a remake of the same cross that produced the old hybrid P. 'Momo'. This time, Mr. Nakayama, who incidentally produced 'Momo', chose two cultivars that exhibited new and desirable qualities. P. 'Asa Blue' was selected for it's tendency to produce tremendous quantities of large blue flowers. Now, after growing this hybrid for several years, I can say that it clearly takes a few years for it to reach it's prime. My original plant, pictured below, has finally shown it's potential for me. The plant shown is currently putting on a spectacular show on the north facing window sill of my bedroom. What a joy it has been to awaken to this joyous sight each morning for the past two weeks. It shows no sign of fading and there are still lots of buds coming along. Today, I counted 56 open flowers. The plant has been growing in a five inch pan pot for the past four years, and has not been repotted. I have grown it under lights, until two weeks ago, when I brought it to the windowsill so that I could enjoy the show more readily. I advocate keeping Pets in the same pot for several years, and not over feeding. I also believe that allowing the plants to get dry between waterings encourages more flowers. Overfeeding and keeping plants constantly moist, at least for me, produces large leafy plants, but few flowers. </div>
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P. 'Asa Blue' (above) in flower this morning on my north facing bedroom windowsill. </div>
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P.' Asa Blue' also has been successful as a parent in one cross for me. The photo below shows one of it's progeny...P. 'Keystone's Brilliant' (P. 'Asa Blue' x begoniifolia). This cultivar was selected for the bicolored flowers with lots of white in the throat. A nice yellow center also adds to the brilliance of these flowers. My one plant of this hybrid is just now coming into flower. It has always flowered in summer for me, making it another hybrid with potential as an "off season" bloomer among this genus which mostly flowers in the winter. </div>
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P. 'Keystone's Brilliant' just coming into flower.</div>
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As more and more hybrids are produced, hopefully, we will one day have Petrocosmeas in flower all year long. For now, these few summer-blooming Pets are treasures in the long, hot days of summer. </div>
</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-41408597345752353172012-07-02T17:21:00.002-04:002012-07-02T17:21:34.651-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hello friends! It's been a while since I've posted to the blog. I have not been stagnant, however. Thanks to all of those who have written. I've gotten lots of emails on Petrocosmea-related topics, and many have asked about various aspects of Petrocosmea culture. I've decided to use those questions as a guide for future posts, since those of you who have written have often mentioned that you know of others who are having similar questions. The support for this blog is overwhelming. I never envisioned it being as popular as it has become. The level of interest in Pets has grown over the last few years and continues to grow from what you are telling me. So, I decided to kick of the new posts with this one which is basically just an update on what my Pets and I have been up to. </div>
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First, something fun! Below is a photo of my newest seedling to flower. I am very excited that it is flowering now, in summer, a time when most Pets are in active growth here in southwestern Pennsylvania, where for a couple of weeks now we've been having a record-setting heatwave and drought. Why does that excite me? Well as a hybridizer, one of my goals is to extend the blooming season for the normally strongly seasonal winter flowering genus. Most Pets for me flower between October and March. Having a seedling flower now gives me hope that it might provide a plant that will flower both in summer and winter, thereby extending the season of the Pets for the home grower and for summer shows. The second exciting thing about my new baby is that the flower is white! Bright, sparkling, purest white with a sunny yellow center! The cross is P. forrestii x begoniifolia. P. begoniifolia often flowers in summer, so I'm sure that is where the bloom time for this seedling comes from. It also is a white seedling of a cross where one parent is lavendar (P. forresttii), so that means that P. begoniifolia may be dominate for color over P. forrestii. This is only my second hybrid seedling that has ever had white flowers.... the other P. 'Keystone's Bantam' was a white seedling from among nearly forty siblings all of which were purple or lavendar. It will be fun to see how this current seedlings' siblings flower. </div>
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The first seedling to flower from P. forrestii x begoniifolia is pure white!! No sign of the lavendar flowers which it's maternal parent has. Will the other seedlings in the cross also be white? Time will tell............</div>
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I'm growing out 13 seedlings from this cross....all that were produced. Few seeds were produced, and only these 13 germinated. The seedlings germinated last January and are now six months old. Only one has flowered. None of the other are showing buds. Foliage is more like P. forrestii, but with the rounder shape and deep bubbly veining of P. begoniifolia. I had hoped for some of the burgundy purple undersides to the leaves from P. begoniifolia, but so far, none are showing that characteristic. I would love to self and sib cross some of these to see what happens to flower color and foliage in the F2, but often Pet hybrids have been reluctant to produce pollen for me. Of all my crosses, this is the one I would most like to sib cross to get an F2 generation. </div>
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The tray of P. forrestii x begoniifolia seedlings. The dark green foliage makes the white flowers of the first seedling to flower really stand out! I will soon have to seperate them and give them more room. They are going to be more like the P. begoniifolia as far as plant size goes, it appears. Some are producing lots of offsets (which I detest in hybrid seedlings). I often select against offset production in seedlings...so once they flower, unless the flowers are truly spectacular, those will likely go into the garbage bin. </div>
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So, that's the most exciting thing in the Pet Cave right now. I look forward to getting back to the blog and "talking Petrocosmeas" with you again. ~ Tim</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-23605627433009193782011-11-29T18:07:00.003-05:002011-11-29T19:34:47.789-05:00Petrocosmeas (and this blog!!!) in the News!!Finally!!! Petrocosmeas are in the news and getting the attention we all knew they deserved! I was delighted by an article in the RHS publication <em>"The Plantsman"</em> back in September that announced a new name for one of our most popular Pet species...the former Petrocosmea rosettifolia. The new, and proper name for this plant is <em><strong>Petrocosmea cryptica</strong></em> as described and published by Julian Shaw of the RHS. I am attaching a link to the article here:<br /><a href="http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/RHS-Publications/Journals/The-Plantsman/2011-Issues/September/Petrocosmea">www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/RHS-Publications/Journals/The-Plantsman/2011-Issues/September/Petrocosmea</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEWGlXdq6byPtDgoIhHd68ZbHjkEGAigH0Cn5XMjDZfMPP-6dXiw0MIxqJs3TvpwOfCFTGQU6d4cDNo8Te1MDl9tdrbSU8BMWwam_OxHUkyAGZFb7l6pNbis1PkfJFmCJwKUfxU2Cczk/s1600/Prosettifolia%25233+plant.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680558854212206706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEWGlXdq6byPtDgoIhHd68ZbHjkEGAigH0Cn5XMjDZfMPP-6dXiw0MIxqJs3TvpwOfCFTGQU6d4cDNo8Te1MDl9tdrbSU8BMWwam_OxHUkyAGZFb7l6pNbis1PkfJFmCJwKUfxU2Cczk/s320/Prosettifolia%25233+plant.JPG" /></a> <em>Petrocosmea cryptica '#3' (formerly known as P. rosettifolia #3) shown above. There are several variants or clones of this species in cultivation. The one above has attractive leaf markings and large, pure white flowers with yellow throats. </em><br /><br /><br />Mr. Shaw finally did some of the much-needed taxonomic work on one of the more popular species in cultivation now for around ten years. In his article, Mr. Shaw mentions the fact that this species has been improperly labeled P. rosettifolia, and has also been distributed under various other names such as 'G25KC00' which I've discussed here in previous posts. In my collection, I've accumulated at least nine plants which I believe are simply different clones, likely from different collections, of this species. DNA analysis which we did with Niagara University, has shown that these various clones are all very closely related genetically, so close, in fact, that we believe they are all the same species. It is common from a species to contain individuals with quite different characteristics. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgZ9-haXtY_65pSKoDcvkSQwAqo2qThOUCTXNjPR18we9u799aylt-ANh-zptI9DJ2ulhRf5c2WjQWqIKe_F-1Gz8xm07O0QlqN309v-t2-yr62DGJ4YCjrgigf8IAuG04qAtJUTU2MQ/s1600/P+rosettifolia+%25235.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680558848281530626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgZ9-haXtY_65pSKoDcvkSQwAqo2qThOUCTXNjPR18we9u799aylt-ANh-zptI9DJ2ulhRf5c2WjQWqIKe_F-1Gz8xm07O0QlqN309v-t2-yr62DGJ4YCjrgigf8IAuG04qAtJUTU2MQ/s320/P+rosettifolia+%25235.jpg" /></a><em> Pictured above is a plant in my collection which I call P. cryptica '#5 '(formerly labeled P. rosettifolia #5). This form has less distinct yellow veining in the leaves and lavendar flowers.<br /><br /></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjnQnKBPhrLqSQUTjSF-02MyA2R9YIvzXqQSjf0eMhS425t60cdZtMCl96Uv5dJoShDUp9P1xwz5Qq1S07mua-MEVSLLn_fKLoJtZ0i3t4C7JYqOhdofUivrKQnuGfSmFFqEhd2z0QWg/s1600/Prosettifolia%25233a.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680558840389857826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjnQnKBPhrLqSQUTjSF-02MyA2R9YIvzXqQSjf0eMhS425t60cdZtMCl96Uv5dJoShDUp9P1xwz5Qq1S07mua-MEVSLLn_fKLoJtZ0i3t4C7JYqOhdofUivrKQnuGfSmFFqEhd2z0QWg/s320/Prosettifolia%25233a.JPG" /></a><em> Pictured above is P. cryptica '#4' (formerly labeled P. rosettifolia '#4'). This form has white flowers and a distinct and vibrant yellow veining to the leaves. The flower form on this clone, to me, is less attractive than that of #3, but it tends to flower more heavily, and later than '#3'. <br /><br /></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPODmnKnpujlWgFL2Vl_xGvXJQLK8dKuVv8kdD5ZCE6DcmPnD6Bu72jLFzCeAPTSziVrVhQKBoBZe6Ysxt5G-PGFsFVZrZb15ViUSvvo0IzRmtcg-yp7s5rWKmq9QipGFBFb_S632rd8/s1600/twoprosettifolias1and3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 245px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680558836005503618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPODmnKnpujlWgFL2Vl_xGvXJQLK8dKuVv8kdD5ZCE6DcmPnD6Bu72jLFzCeAPTSziVrVhQKBoBZe6Ysxt5G-PGFsFVZrZb15ViUSvvo0IzRmtcg-yp7s5rWKmq9QipGFBFb_S632rd8/s320/twoprosettifolias1and3.jpg" /></a> The photo above shows the variability in the foliage of <em>P. cryptica</em> clones in cultivation. This photo shows my plants of <em>P. cryptica '#4'</em> at the top and <em>P. cryptica '#1'</em> at the bottom. Two forms #1 and #2 both have leaves that are nearly totally green and more rounded in shape with smooth margins. Other clones show the distinct yellow veining and toothed leaf margins. Clones #1 and #2 also grow much more compact and have flowers in light lavendar to pink shades. DNA analysis, though, does show them to be the same species as the showier forms. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Mr. Shaw's article has lots of good information in it. And, it mentions this blog and three of my hybrids using <em>P. cryptica</em> - P. 'Rosemary Platz', P. 'Keystone's Bantam', and P. 'Keystone's Harvest Moon'. The first two are registered with the Gesneriad Society and show P. rosettifolia as the parent, since that was the name applied to the species at the time. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In the future, I hope to see more taxonomic work done on the many Pet species still being grown and distributed under names that are clearly incorrectly applied. P. minor and it's various forms being one in this group. P. sericea and sp.' HT-2' are also suspect in my opinion. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So, the question I am getting is "Should I change the labels on my plants?". I have changed my labels on the plants which I am reasonably certain fall under this newly published description. If I am in doubt, however, I say what I always say...keep the plant labeled as you acquired it, along with a notation of where and when you acquired it. One day, perhaps we will have the mess with Pet names sorted out. For the time being, though, enjoy growing the plants as they are. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-3546190644850367202011-11-29T17:10:00.005-05:002011-11-29T17:59:28.001-05:00A Sincere "Thank You"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhUQ4Tw7D4mYIT_eFUvtDKLgpIt6BaXfvqxp0FWB1NE0FAQiSPztbSmkfZkI64oADeiN1Dx6BtiYT7eJgqx5bYULOPx-wnl_e6-j-bXTDyULPxTrCz2W7Mrnw_PTkE3f7mjx_NfOgrNo/s1600/P.+sericea11.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680551179019128178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhUQ4Tw7D4mYIT_eFUvtDKLgpIt6BaXfvqxp0FWB1NE0FAQiSPztbSmkfZkI64oADeiN1Dx6BtiYT7eJgqx5bYULOPx-wnl_e6-j-bXTDyULPxTrCz2W7Mrnw_PTkE3f7mjx_NfOgrNo/s320/P.+sericea11.JPG" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Petrocosmea sericea, in my plant room this morning!</span></em><br /><br /><br /><p><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></p><br /><p><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></p></span></em>I've missed blogging about my favorite plants। Sometimes, one is blessed with lots of "passions" in life, and priorities must shift. With only twenty-four hours in a day, and only one of me, the time left for plant passions is limited to only enough time for watering and maybe a little fertilizing and repotting. I'm happy to say, though, that at least for the moment, I'm finding a bit more time to not only water and fertilize, but also to stop and smell the Petrocosmeas (see my last post!!).<br /><br />Most importantly, I must stop to say a most sincere "Thank you" to all of you who have taken the time to write, share photos, seek advice, and tell me of your experiences with Petrocosmea. It means a lot to hear that you have found the posts here on the blog helpful to your enjoyment of Pets. In the time that I have been away from the blog, I have continued, as time permitted, to do some experiments, study both old and new species, and to continue to grow and evaluate new seedlings for future release. I continue to learn so much about these plants every time I work with them. The feeding, watering and fertilizing may have been scarce, but my enthusiasm for the Pets remains. In your letters, you have given me many ideas for future posts, and I will do my best to get to those as soon as I can. Thank you for the suggestions, comments, and questions.<br /><br />So, this morning, having a rare day off, I arose early and went to the basement to work with the plants. I was welcomed by the plant pictured above...Petrocosmea sericea, giving it's annual show of bloom. The plant pictured is now about ten years old. It was one of my earliest acquisitions as a gift of two leaves from a friend. This senior amoung my collection has been in the same pot for about four years now. It is potted in a 1:1:1 ratio mix of peat, perlite and vermiculite and is in a five inch pan pot. It sits on an acylic matting that is occasionally moistened for humidity. Humidity in my basement never gets below around 50% year round, and is often higher. This summer, as my work schedule has gotten busier, this plant has wilted several times and has only been fertilized maybe twice in the last year. But it is happy. This photo reasserts my advocacy of letting Pets dry out between waterings, and for going light on the fertilizer. One of the most common questions I get is "why won't my Pet bloom?" Often, with some questioning, I hear that the plants are kept constantly moist and fertilized often. It is true that his treatment makes lovely and lush foliage, but I fear it is at the expense of flowers. Pets in nature often grow in rather harsh conditions where they dry out between rains. Prior to taking the photo, I removed 17 spent flowers and there are 68 flowers still on the plant, if I counted them correctly. It makes a lovely sight and you can see the flower potential if given proper culture. SO, this morning, being greeted by this lovely sight, I took the time to stop and smell the Petrocosmeas! (I have three of these P. sericeas in bloom now.) And remember, this species is fragrant.... the scent is great! I hope you have some Pets in bloom to enjoy too~!!Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-48812084282584576432011-07-24T20:19:00.003-04:002011-07-24T20:27:10.582-04:00Petrocosmeas with Fragrance<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6c0EnAXPXJXI4Z_0IDcZYSfIJ8Wdyfz-kTJnv1KtTV_9hZHQ6pAf9VDEYuvb-GjNZ-1yE2sWE96LAAehfoIeVGt0HYeV7Lg6ayG0zvbeBE-VGSoSU9ej-l6tiw2fP9Vi8BONLWw_-q_0/s1600/DSCF4635.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6c0EnAXPXJXI4Z_0IDcZYSfIJ8Wdyfz-kTJnv1KtTV_9hZHQ6pAf9VDEYuvb-GjNZ-1yE2sWE96LAAehfoIeVGt0HYeV7Lg6ayG0zvbeBE-VGSoSU9ej-l6tiw2fP9Vi8BONLWw_-q_0/s320/DSCF4635.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633078157053693650" /></a>I've posted about this before, but wanted to remind those of you who are growing P. minor or P. sericea, or P. sp. 'HT-2' to sniff the flowers when they bloom for you. This year, in the GS Convention show, Paul Kroll entered a flowering P. minor. This was an unusual entry since P. minor rarely blooms at this time of year. I used this opportunity one morning in the showroom to conduct an informal survey with those who were viewing the show.<div><br /></div><div>I asked ten people to sniff the flowers of the P. minor. Seven of the ten people could detect the fragrance. It was mid-afternoon, and for me, the flowers are most fragrant very early in the morning, but still the fragrance was there. Of those who could smell the fragrance, I asked them to describe it. All said "spicy", four also detected a floral scent along with the spice.... two said it reminded them of carnations. Three people could not detect the scent at all. I find that for many of the gesneriads that have fragrant flowers, there are always a good percentage of people who cannot detect fragrance. Covering or enclosing the blooming Petrocosmea will also help to concentrate the fragrance. I also feel that some clones are more fragrant than others. The veined leaf form of P. minor, the one often labeled P. sp. #5 is the most fragrant. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, just a reminder to take the opportunity to enjoy yet one more incredible trait of these fabulous gesneriads!! SO take the time to "stop and smell the ....Pets!"</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-87285027500836043502011-07-24T19:57:00.004-04:002011-07-24T20:17:01.166-04:00Petrocosmea minor Kinship group<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This year, I entered my first Petrocosmea Kinship Collection in the Gesneriad Society Convention show. A Kinship group is an effective way to showcase a parent and its offspring. Dominant characteristics can easily be illustrated with this type of entry, as well as utilizing the entry to introduce new hybrids. </div><div><br /></div><div>I chose to showcase Petrocosmea minor and four of its hybrid offspring since P. minor has been quite the challenge to hybridize with. It has never performed successfully for me as a seed parent, and has only functioned as a pollen parent in three crosses so far. I must have pollinated a hundred flowers, actually likely more than that. Last year, I think I applied pollen to every P. minor flower that opened, all failures. The crosses that have worked have been P. minor crossed onto P. forresttii, P. sericea, and P. rosettifolia. The cross with P. sericea, which like P. minor has fragrant flowers, also produced fragrant offspring. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjHcVDXRpCt1vzBwTSzZvioF86XKFiiZbO0EOqaHuwZOhECysMvu5ajsL755DipqkdW43ouyS0oV127wfTiXfdJT7mHdcK-3M1Rdm_S6Qnd0PiTDAA72kcejB3G5-ottIB499CsC_fPI/s1600/DSCF4595.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjHcVDXRpCt1vzBwTSzZvioF86XKFiiZbO0EOqaHuwZOhECysMvu5ajsL755DipqkdW43ouyS0oV127wfTiXfdJT7mHdcK-3M1Rdm_S6Qnd0PiTDAA72kcejB3G5-ottIB499CsC_fPI/s320/DSCF4595.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633072863062503954" /></a>Pictured above is my Petrocosmea minor Kinship Collection. Starting with P. minor at the top, and moving clockwise, there is P. 'Paul Kroll', an unnamed seedling of P. rosettifolia x minor, P. 'Keystone's Blue Jay', and P. 'Keystone's Slippery Rock'. I used tan fabric as a unifying drape for the collection since I like the brown tones against the green Pets.... <div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMbTdL9NSKRqQ0p6l_mDoFM_LgTuOCDRHmZA5-xdPUWm405HOc1yGHkOyzAmcIqvkg30fREXjujI1p-cWVXdsRYtlrF6thhPSiJ0UeKhYnHABCp3oiF7AEuKO0EeHLHY5jqgSKikeJ7w/s1600/DSCF4596.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMbTdL9NSKRqQ0p6l_mDoFM_LgTuOCDRHmZA5-xdPUWm405HOc1yGHkOyzAmcIqvkg30fREXjujI1p-cWVXdsRYtlrF6thhPSiJ0UeKhYnHABCp3oiF7AEuKO0EeHLHY5jqgSKikeJ7w/s320/DSCF4596.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633072863343758594" /></a>Pictured above is a new hybrid P. 'Keystone's Slippery Rock' which is P. forresttii x minor. This cultivar had lots of flowers and inherited a nice compact rosette from P. forresttii and the shiny round leaves of P. minor. It was my favorite seedling from the cross. Slippery Rock is a city about an hours drive north of my home in Pittsburgh, in western Pennsylvania. The glossiness of the leaves reminded me of a slippery quality, so the name was to honor a great university town in PA.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYIQs6GXGaWHr8OhJzqwanCJRIlM4kbdxquxGt2yu-qapSu2LYP00lNOrwDejIjGa84lEXfxrH1Yh-VlfrjOlbnTVB18QgMJqmVpP06Qhi0VIZzuYBZYVR3R0a-xvlYX2nHLKVe9NaFY/s1600/DSCF4599.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYIQs6GXGaWHr8OhJzqwanCJRIlM4kbdxquxGt2yu-qapSu2LYP00lNOrwDejIjGa84lEXfxrH1Yh-VlfrjOlbnTVB18QgMJqmVpP06Qhi0VIZzuYBZYVR3R0a-xvlYX2nHLKVe9NaFY/s320/DSCF4599.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633072858287052978" /></a>Pictured above is P. 'Paul Kroll' a sibling from the P. forresttii x minor cross that produced P. 'Keystone's Slippery Rock'. This plant has flatter leaves with more prominent veining, a dark green round leaf with a bluish coloration and a nice combination of glossiness and hairness to the leaves. It was the most floriferous plant from the cross, producing LOTS of flowers. You've heard me mention my friend Paul on here before. Paul is a skilled grower of Pets and has shared lots of new Petrocosmeas with me over the years, so I wanted to honor him with this new hybrid. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Kinship group got lots of positive comments and received a first place ribbon from the judges. I had lots of requests for leaves of the new hybrids, so I hope they will be enjoyed by other admirers of Pets soon. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-35057735697886453632011-07-17T12:16:00.003-04:002011-07-17T12:45:33.429-04:00Petrocosmeas Go To Convention!!!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, the annual international convention of the Gesneriad Society is but a fond memory now, but what a great time we had! Philadelphia was the site for this years convention and the fast-paced week was full of fun, friends, and of course gesneriads! While I do love the plants, I always leave convention reaffirming that the chance to spend a week among friends who also love gesneriads is the best part, and this year was no exception. On the Petrocosmea front, Pets got their fair share of attention. I was overjoyed to see some of my own hybrids being grown and shown by others....a "high" that every hybridizer enjoys. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrLkVShZd_E62U8eqR49jpsCCfWGeHnKKVw23Eh4d9LxwXfG1rgR6S_rt3oVULOKlwTSVbHS9-DaGyQer9vRxKUtSkjazBVoVgf73MRyPI3k6BOQV-7MiLhPs-wuiVwL23a_fUViY2q4/s1600/DSCF4588.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrLkVShZd_E62U8eqR49jpsCCfWGeHnKKVw23Eh4d9LxwXfG1rgR6S_rt3oVULOKlwTSVbHS9-DaGyQer9vRxKUtSkjazBVoVgf73MRyPI3k6BOQV-7MiLhPs-wuiVwL23a_fUViY2q4/s320/DSCF4588.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630356624855060114" /></a>Petrocosmea 'Keystone's Bantam' won big this year and was selected 'Best Petrocosmea'. The plant was grown and shown by Richard and Nancy Carr of Ohio. An interesting story about this entry was that the classification committee almost didn't let Richard and Nancy show the plant as 'Keystone's Bantam', insisting that it was actually P. rosettifolia. I was asked to come over and help to sort out the confusion, which we did. The Classification Committee were simply unfamiliar with the characteristics of the hybrid, and honestly thought they were helping the exhibitor to correct some mislabeling. The distinction, when out of bloom, is that 'Keystone's Bantam' is significantly smaller in leaf and rosette size and a bit hairier than the species P. rosettifolia. A P. rosettifolia with that much leaf volume to the rosette would have been three times the size of the little plant that the Carr's were attempting to enter. The confusion was quickly cleared and the plant was entered. It did well in the judging too! I was as proud as the Carrs were, I think!<div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOLR-SeWMGmIlheQJJvW7emkmmptONxI14bxEXKWhNk9iT7Pg-kH_NSpe2LP8qMG_4j-SpsKsd6SaP8sR9zl-_4LdbqmZcteIshYszMFayYNIPdc_skwAoHD_JezaN0lGKJHtxBCLxm8/s1600/DSCF4591.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOLR-SeWMGmIlheQJJvW7emkmmptONxI14bxEXKWhNk9iT7Pg-kH_NSpe2LP8qMG_4j-SpsKsd6SaP8sR9zl-_4LdbqmZcteIshYszMFayYNIPdc_skwAoHD_JezaN0lGKJHtxBCLxm8/s320/DSCF4591.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630356623203534530" /></a>P. 'Keystone's Bantam' also showed up in the Photography classes, and performed well there too! Dale Martens did a very skilled job of photographing her little plant early one morning just as the sun was rising and casting a golden glow upon the little plant. She captured this in the photo and the judges recognized her skill by awarding her a First Place in the class and 'Best Photograph' for the Division. Dale, a dear friend of mine and my hybridizing mentor, kindly gave me the photograph after the show! I was touched by her generosity and the photo now hangs in a prominent place in my living room. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIG8JI3T0qJ5FTWCN_Dnz733HpVOkzJ1ehMDqeD8VOwrXOfiTvJrs4ii3hvLmRLo5a6WsUebSG3GDhmrwewJER48UwENLt4EidezBm96L9Mwp2Ky8YcFEhwXJdMEMwDB55M4gtq0AqSHY/s1600/DSCF4628.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIG8JI3T0qJ5FTWCN_Dnz733HpVOkzJ1ehMDqeD8VOwrXOfiTvJrs4ii3hvLmRLo5a6WsUebSG3GDhmrwewJER48UwENLt4EidezBm96L9Mwp2Ky8YcFEhwXJdMEMwDB55M4gtq0AqSHY/s320/DSCF4628.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630356620054607986" /></a>Mary Lou Robbins won a second place award for her needlework interpretation of a photograph from this blog, taken of my hybrid seedling P. forrestii x sericea. Mary Lou wrote some time ago asking for permission to use the photo in a craft entry, and this is the result. I loved it! She even used longer tufts of thread over the calyx lobes to mimic the hairiness of this hybrid. It was a First Place effort in my book Mary Lou!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECnJqfDKvmRpLeHgzX8N1Zl0cg0drto8KyNCAjZIp30WBlnsfnooEu6t-CgvcyiO2xwvvd2dxbG9UjpQxzPYmGkKde1dkcY4ggLCNeKY3tFZa6DTwfz0t3nhyphenhyphenwlmZDcHSvp3vPlxPq-0/s1600/DSCF4631.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECnJqfDKvmRpLeHgzX8N1Zl0cg0drto8KyNCAjZIp30WBlnsfnooEu6t-CgvcyiO2xwvvd2dxbG9UjpQxzPYmGkKde1dkcY4ggLCNeKY3tFZa6DTwfz0t3nhyphenhyphenwlmZDcHSvp3vPlxPq-0/s320/DSCF4631.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630356613846033954" /></a>Another friend, Paul Kroll, executed a wonderful design using a Petrocosmea sericea as a focal point in his design. The theme was Punxy Phil, the legendary ground hog from Punxsatauney, PA, who emerges each February 2nd to predict the arrival of spring according to whether or not he sees his shadow. This design required that hairy and fuzzy gesneriads had to be incorporated into the design. I loved this one! The pieces of slate at the base were intended to suggest Phil's shadow.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB3dFqgfO9lBOipnQKOiALzWtMu6LRhi591woC2fChzR4SCiSAVouxXc2DDR8B1lhRnZhEKwdyvXSV8WeGYIVR7lL8OCemM3jt2xuIiHM1SgPYM2TY3a4sDvgbP_Dpot0sq5MFH8LxLE/s1600/DSCF4640.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB3dFqgfO9lBOipnQKOiALzWtMu6LRhi591woC2fChzR4SCiSAVouxXc2DDR8B1lhRnZhEKwdyvXSV8WeGYIVR7lL8OCemM3jt2xuIiHM1SgPYM2TY3a4sDvgbP_Dpot0sq5MFH8LxLE/s320/DSCF4640.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630356608827788802" /></a>This photo, taken on the last evening of convention shows some of my dear friends and mentors in my gesneriad adventures. From the top left are Dr. Bill Price, Mary Lou Robbins, Ben Paternoster, myself. Middle row L to R are: Paul Kroll and Arleen Dewell. Front row L to R are: the legendary and beautiful Rosemary Platz, namesake of my first Petrocosmea hybrid, Karyn Cichocki, Dale Martens, and Jill Fischer. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner on our last evening together. Each of these people has taught me something about gesneriads over the years that I have known them. In all things in life, having mentors and friends is most important to success. I have been most fortunate to have lots of both. I wish the same for each of you.........</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-75463222850766078682011-06-04T18:41:00.007-04:002011-06-04T18:58:30.314-04:00New Pets From the Netherlands - Foederer Hybrids<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tsAiKMkjukP26oQlYumDj7CM-CYG-9oz499UagCdPPToXzChlOXfTxmtdt6Me-on3xPwYLxCJSPOSeCac3GM_wCipOdPsrxK6PdKnw_tiWMayY9wuSG-A0wtyZbBj74NOyi_QkKpXtc/s1600/PsericeaJeffF%2527sgarden.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tsAiKMkjukP26oQlYumDj7CM-CYG-9oz499UagCdPPToXzChlOXfTxmtdt6Me-on3xPwYLxCJSPOSeCac3GM_wCipOdPsrxK6PdKnw_tiWMayY9wuSG-A0wtyZbBj74NOyi_QkKpXtc/s320/PsericeaJeffF%2527sgarden.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614500181447360930" /></a>I just love this photo.... it is a photo shared with me by Jeff Foederer of P. sericea growing and blooming outdoors in Jeff's garden in the Netherlands. I've had the pleasure of corresponding with Jeff a few times and am currently growing one of his beautiful xBrigandra hybrids 'Ivory Falcon'. Jeff also produces some spectacular Petrocosmea hybrids, which I thought I'd tell you about.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Jeff was the first person to register Petrocosmea hybrids with the Gesneriad Society when he registered P. 'Lexi' back in 2006, followed by P. 'Milan' in 2007. Recently I received a photo in an email from Dale Martens, asking me to take a look at Jeff's most recent hybrid P. 'Helena' (pictured below). Just take a look at the flower count on that one!!!!! Magnificent!!</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruiTqablNb7IynZX2KVPNW7Q2PF9EsQ9i5kVOJ2wpFI7GSuV2jLwkZLVJg9gtPskvHF7bLezXpTHaejZX3oIF4BqEgoT4pCf6-2fn9kTSZcHOKwh9I9jOz64MOIYDPOSOw6rtZrZK8uE/s1600/PHelenaFoederer.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruiTqablNb7IynZX2KVPNW7Q2PF9EsQ9i5kVOJ2wpFI7GSuV2jLwkZLVJg9gtPskvHF7bLezXpTHaejZX3oIF4BqEgoT4pCf6-2fn9kTSZcHOKwh9I9jOz64MOIYDPOSOw6rtZrZK8uE/s320/PHelenaFoederer.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614498657878451682" /></a>Jeff's hybrid, P. 'Helena' is a cross between P. menglienensis and P. nervosa. I can see the nervosa parent in the foliage and the menglienensis parent in the flowers. What a beautiful plant. 'Helena' was registered in 2010. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1T5_Jk8r-pTb8brCB5_E_3qwu0uu6Fz4OQwC4sTX3a5OFsAfniUzpVCKMFqwShEHS5N_BfTu8gQiQVjYQSatPmFrpzJ923hyphenhyphenSejp7BB1QIormanQPj-7I4rNgv_zg-bz4VqMNh1gwP7A/s1600/PMilaninflower.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1T5_Jk8r-pTb8brCB5_E_3qwu0uu6Fz4OQwC4sTX3a5OFsAfniUzpVCKMFqwShEHS5N_BfTu8gQiQVjYQSatPmFrpzJ923hyphenhyphenSejp7BB1QIormanQPj-7I4rNgv_zg-bz4VqMNh1gwP7A/s320/PMilaninflower.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614498656239085682" /></a>P. 'Milan' (begoniifolia x nervosa) is another beautiful plant. The flowers seem to dance like butterflies above the foliage. P. 'Milan' was named for Jeff's grandson, I believe. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpDG4yFyhVBH_Xld-7qwAh0eW02MlRQvn3_ojB-cvBZ4JV2ykcEFW3IblBZ71_kJ3IeUWRnJjQ7SYJdLgkvnuEXqHs6Q4Kmhi979Aoz-YVViRGkYMC7CKEn4l2Ung2OB_77wTn1CHhNU/s1600/P.+%2527Lexi%2527.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpDG4yFyhVBH_Xld-7qwAh0eW02MlRQvn3_ojB-cvBZ4JV2ykcEFW3IblBZ71_kJ3IeUWRnJjQ7SYJdLgkvnuEXqHs6Q4Kmhi979Aoz-YVViRGkYMC7CKEn4l2Ung2OB_77wTn1CHhNU/s320/P.+%2527Lexi%2527.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614498649335178658" /></a>Jeff's hybrid P. 'Lexi' (barbata x flaccida) is a small grower, looking much like P. barbata in habit, but then the lovely blue flowers emerge and it is clearly not P. barbata. I'm happy to say that I've grown this one for a couple of years now and really enjoy it. It too was named for one of Jeff's grandsons. This represented the first use of P. barbata in hybridizing. </div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-446433944741509352011-06-04T06:34:00.004-04:002011-06-04T08:04:34.515-04:00Ornamental Value - Judging Petrocosmea Out of Bloom<div><b><i>WARNING: I'm going to offer an opinion in this post that you may find objectionable.... reader discretion is advised.</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Please take a look at the photo below and notice two things.... First, notice the number of entries. This is the "Grown for Foliage" class for Petrocosmea at the 2009 Gesneriad Society Annual Convention Show in Silver Springs, MD. The <b><i>intent</i></b> of this class is to provide a place to enter those nonflowering gesneriads that possess significant ornamental value for the parts of the plant other than the flowers, such as foliage, stems, calyces, etc. There were around 30 entries in this class. It was subdivided into about five or six smaller classes due to the large number of entries. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, take an objective look at the entries on the table and ask yourself if there is anything particularly ornamental about them. Granted you cannot see them well due to the distance of the photograph from the individual entries, but is that anything about them that makes you say "wow" what a striking plant? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsxzB0Un9Bv7qFiEQUS2Vz_swp8hljsri2LJHRmKeLhcsGZVz0-oBQXW-rLkvUfYMvCixnpa_wzbLpB-ipAmU4zEHVg989ktx5_MznKmxjboLIk5cVpta2eeO9FXipK0jB19lAPWXKIk/s1600/Convention+2009+SilverSpring+038.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsxzB0Un9Bv7qFiEQUS2Vz_swp8hljsri2LJHRmKeLhcsGZVz0-oBQXW-rLkvUfYMvCixnpa_wzbLpB-ipAmU4zEHVg989ktx5_MznKmxjboLIk5cVpta2eeO9FXipK0jB19lAPWXKIk/s320/Convention+2009+SilverSpring+038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614317051572345410" /></a>As a keen admirer of Petrocosmea, when I first viewed this section of the show, I said, "wow" but that was due to the number of entries. However, once I got past that, as I looked at them, I had to ask, "why are all of these entered into the foliage class of the show?" Now, remember, those plants entered out-of-bloom for judging are intended to possess some particularly ornamental quality about the foliage or the plant habit that is <b><i>ornamental</i></b>. At this point in the argument, people usually challenge me by saying that "Petrocosmea has an ornamental growth habit to the foliage". Granted, many of the Pet species do have a pleasing foliage habit. That flat, symmetrical, spiraled pattern to the foliage rosette is attractive, and has some ornamental value. Notice I said "some". But, many Pet species do not have this...kerrii, barbata, nervosa, often flaccida and parryorum are not particularly pleasing as they want to grow. But, others like forrestii and minor just "do that"...they generally, without any intervention from the grow, just naturally form and near-perfect rosette. But what else is there to make them ornamental...and by this I mean ornamental ENOUGH to rise to the level of a first class show specimen? I say, not much else is there in most cases. The fact is, in my opinion, in most cases the average Pet, when out of bloom is just a plain green plant. Consider other plants that do this...Sempervivum, Aeonium, Haworthia, many Primula, Bromeliads, and even many Saintpaulia hybrids do this....but do we see them on show tables entered when they are out of bloom? Usually, No if the leaves are plain green with no other coloring, variegation, etc. Why don't we see these other plants entered when out of bloom? Because they are not showy enough to win awards if they are not in flower. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DOh2859VhlHQ17IZrSpnP0V86UZvXiFcpDipUtM75qtxPh0zCUuiKdH7Qfnh0zG0HGwj1FdjR0scMCfFGmMRnkmzbKD85UV0WUC_i_d0BQu5pBdCHtjbCi6kA3s1y4saZ55tbWLgmhc/s1600/pforrestiiplant.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DOh2859VhlHQ17IZrSpnP0V86UZvXiFcpDipUtM75qtxPh0zCUuiKdH7Qfnh0zG0HGwj1FdjR0scMCfFGmMRnkmzbKD85UV0WUC_i_d0BQu5pBdCHtjbCi6kA3s1y4saZ55tbWLgmhc/s320/pforrestiiplant.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614317042527409970" /></a>Consider this blue ribbon and Best In Class winner above...P. forresttii. Other than the form of the rosette, is there anything particularly ornamental about this plant? It won these high awards based on the ornamental value of the foliage in large part..... Should it have? Do any of us believe that the grower here likely had to exert any great effort to get the plant to achieve this shape and symmetry? Probably not....P. forrestii just grows that way without any intervention. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFku_eNQ3NKO1NtPIUsPH9OJ-sdwq86IpEdgan40xynHyStSlPucjY9OUwmnJGM0Ms86JX52hyuGDzBaGtzylHBZFm7F2IkJLRYQPnWtHHvv46U9ARuuT5w4onAb3qx_k9FoHy6sH0kXQ/s1600/pbarbatafoliage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFku_eNQ3NKO1NtPIUsPH9OJ-sdwq86IpEdgan40xynHyStSlPucjY9OUwmnJGM0Ms86JX52hyuGDzBaGtzylHBZFm7F2IkJLRYQPnWtHHvv46U9ARuuT5w4onAb3qx_k9FoHy6sH0kXQ/s320/pbarbatafoliage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614317039379320994" /></a>Another first place winner above...P. barbata. Anything striking about the foliage on this one? It is a lovely little P. barbata...... but is it ornamental enough to get such a high score?<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So then, why are these plants getting such high awards and why are we seeing so many of them entered for Ornamental value in shows? My thoughts are that we are still getting over the "new and rare" effect that we so often feel and see when new species and hybrids are introduced. Most Pet species in cultivation in the USA and Canada right now have only arrived within the last decade or so. Prior to that we grew P. parryorum, P. flaccida, P. nervosa and P. kerrii. P. formosa came along around 1998. Then in the years following that we had P. forrestii, P. minor, sericea, rosettifolia, etc, etc. So for many growers we're still infatuated with the "new-ness" of these plants. Yes, they are charming, and interesting ,and new, and rare, but are they strongly "ornamental" when not in bloom and when you exclude those factors? No... in most cases it's a plain green leaf...sometimes with a bit of silvery hairiness, or a curled leaf margin, or a bit of yellow central veining as in some of the rosettifolia clones, but do they rise to the level of Episcia 'Cleopatra' or Pearcea hypocyrtiflora, Gasteranthus atratus, or Smithiantha cinnabarina? THOSE are the plants the ornamental foliage classes were intended to accommodate in shows... plants that you can spot from across the room due to the striking foliage. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lets consider, though, that I am being a bit harsh, and lets accept the argument that it is the foliar rosette, and that flat, perfectly symmetrical form and habit to the growth pattern that IS the ornamental quality which makes a Petrocosmea ornamental when out of bloom. Okay, lets explore that. Granted, the public often approaches a Petrocosmea in a showroom and says "WOW, look at that!... Look at how perfect it is!" I've spent a great deal of time standing near the Petrocosmea section in a showroom with the sole purpose of observing and studying the public's reaction to my favorite genus. I've seen and heard this reaction many times. So, in fairness, yes, there is something quite ornamental about the form or habit of the plant itself. If we are then to accept and make room for this , then certainly one should expect near perfection in this regard for the blue ribbon Pet entries. But we're not seeing that. Think back to the last few shows you've attended or photos you've seen of award winning Pets that were out of bloom.... were those plants on the table the best of the best with regard to form, symmetry, even pleasing shape and habit? Were they mature plants in all cases? To rise to the level of a show specimen, they should exhibit evidence of maturity, careful and consistent care, shaping, training and grooming. Given the ease with which most Pets naturally shape-up as they mature, judges should be requiring a first place winner to be perfection in most every regard. The form of the rosette should be a perfect circle without gaps in the leaf pattern. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP4Q58KYnIbf8_lN32oYWmtIXKixEL80iJCGQUZi_Vt5uo_uiYtThxxmWYfKeE4eMYMfUHE9c8PokIgh7Zt9Cehes1YTeCvJhRAgemX10ENJLyZUBni6v23b9slO6MX_IBcY7HitrL3c/s1600/Pmenglienensis.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP4Q58KYnIbf8_lN32oYWmtIXKixEL80iJCGQUZi_Vt5uo_uiYtThxxmWYfKeE4eMYMfUHE9c8PokIgh7Zt9Cehes1YTeCvJhRAgemX10ENJLyZUBni6v23b9slO6MX_IBcY7HitrL3c/s320/Pmenglienensis.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614317033115249970" /></a>Take a look at this first place winner above... P. menglienensis. It appears to be little more than a starter plant, with a rosette that is weak and open, and asymmetrical. There are gaps and it certainly is not a perfect circle. Leaves are really pretty much plain green leaves. Why a blue ribbon? Giving such a plant a blue ribbon does not do the exhibitor or the public any favors. There is often the argument to "be kind" in judging and just reward the effort to bring it in for the show. Huh? Awarding such entries high awards misrepresents that standard and potential for the plant, as well as misrepresenting the basis of the whole judging process. That does no one a favor. Better to take such an opportunity to educate the exhibitor and the public. That is the duty of the judges in such a situation...education. This is a healthy, young plant, with great potential to become a large, attractive flowering plant which will demonstrate the true potential of this beautiful species. But, P. menglienensis is a plant that most likely will always perform best as a show specimen when in bloom..... it possesses nothing particularly ornamental when out of bloom, whether large or small. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So, there it is. The opinion of someone who has spent a lot of time over the past few years learning about, and growing to love the genus Petrocosmea. I grow them, I bloom them, I hybridize them, and yes, I even fail with them. I also judge them as a master judge for the Gesneriad Society and I DO exhibit them.... Almost without exception, I enter them as either a "New Species" when that is the case, or as "New Hybrids". Perhaps I'll enter them as a collection to show the variation within the genus. They certainly are excellent plants for educational exhibits because we are learning so much about them everyday.. BUT, I am very hesitant to enter them when out of bloom for ornamental value. I simply feel as a judge, exhibitor, hybridizer, and most importantly, as their greatest admirer, even at their best, they lack significant ornamental value if they are not blooming. My purpose in this post is to begin to spark thought and consideration on the part of exhibitors and judges about the current manner with which we treat these entries in shows. I feel that the standard for awarding non-flowering Petrocosmea entries should be re-evaluated. It is kinder and fairer of the judges to educate than to give awards that lack substance. Now, I'm going to go and water my Petrocosmeas...... </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-17853336806948470612011-06-01T19:35:00.005-04:002011-06-02T06:12:43.681-04:00Stolons, Zippers and Buttons<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Most of what we know about cultivating Petrocosmea is still pretty new information. Many, or rather most, of the species we are growing now only arrived on our plant stands and show tables within the last decade. As we are growing them more, and our time spent with these plants is increasing, we're seeing for the first time in many cases, just what sort of peculiarities these wonderful Pets are capable of. Zippers, buttons and stolons are just three of the manifestations my Pets have produced in the last few years. Since these may be new to growers, exhibitors and judges of Petrocosmea, I thought I would discuss them in a short post. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Buttons ~~~</b></span></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakcYJELreJDTRJtCerLdvjCU1EuH2AqUXLrdgU2v19j48ce-NyeYgJPcJ0fZhoGGvkKJH0PwVmYwyFSQ1gr4yUtyvE2jfZVMzoGxiQ5pZnMGj_Bgyw7GQlGkLusb-ETj2M-ZYQL9ryEY/s1600/Pet+center+button.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 164px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakcYJELreJDTRJtCerLdvjCU1EuH2AqUXLrdgU2v19j48ce-NyeYgJPcJ0fZhoGGvkKJH0PwVmYwyFSQ1gr4yUtyvE2jfZVMzoGxiQ5pZnMGj_Bgyw7GQlGkLusb-ETj2M-ZYQL9ryEY/s320/Pet+center+button.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613400468723262242" /></a>The photo above is Dale Martens' photo of a "button" that appeared on her plant of my hybrid 'Keystone's Bantam'. There was a recently lengthy discussion on this phenomenon on Gesneriphiles, when a plant exhibited with such a button was marked down in judging . The judges, who were all expert and seasoned judged, had not encountered this anomaly before. One of them contacted me to ask if Pets "normally" did this. I've seen several plants of P. rosettifolia do this during the winter when I was resting them by keeping them drier than usual and cool. 'Keystone's Bantam' does this often, and since it is hybrid of P. rosettifolia, I suspect it inherited this trait from it's rosettifolia parent. I have also seen this once on P. forresttii. <div>In all cases, the plant produced a new whorl of leaves from the center of the "button" and the plant regained full and attractive symmetry within the rosette with the next cycle of growth. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39_HHiymkTb_taKl4ki5v6ufwiIoU4szcR4QCZN27zoChMFCKch1wocpJE_z1ZzlTjaCkG9NRg36kyeu-XT3biGZgxuJKdf1W1fOd1nu-RR7ePt1_vQeUMH9MvnmObA6KU4Bf0Sx225Q/s1600/1PKeystonesBantaminflower.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39_HHiymkTb_taKl4ki5v6ufwiIoU4szcR4QCZN27zoChMFCKch1wocpJE_z1ZzlTjaCkG9NRg36kyeu-XT3biGZgxuJKdf1W1fOd1nu-RR7ePt1_vQeUMH9MvnmObA6KU4Bf0Sx225Q/s320/1PKeystonesBantaminflower.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613400469647495842" /></a>Above is my photo of 'Keystone's Bantam' at it's first flowering. You can see the center button in the photo. The button appears to be a dense tuft of golden yellow hairs and does not represent poor culture or a rotted or diseased center. It appears to be a normal, although not that common feature of these plants. It is my opinion as a grower and judge that it should not be faulted or penalized in judging unless in the opinion of the judges, it detracts from the overall ornamental value of the plant. But, that's just my opinion...and opinions are like noses....everybody has one. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Zippers ~~~</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></b></div><div> </div><div>The next phenomenon in Petrocosmea growth patterns is what I call zippering or zippers. A healthy plant, usually with a few years of age, suddenly starts to produce a center growth point within the crown of the rosette, that begins elongate into a linear growth point. The normally circular rosette can often become more oval in shape, and if grown on, the plant often splits into two or three crowns. Eventually these will totally split or separate producing two or three new crowns. I see this occur often in P. forrestii, and it's hybrids, as well as the rosettifolias and their hybrids. I have seen it occur once in P. minor also. In all cases the plants were three years old or more when this happened. See the photo below of P. forresttii at five years of age, with a zippered crown, which eventually became three separate crowns. The plant flowered very heavily during this period. It appears to me to be more a factor of age that a cultural flaw.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qieDLEfI0ww7MzT_5YQw4hKEShWuhFFrXNPx5OVn3Nb8K-dxeXv5HdrSI9N1P-rj3pgBFwsWHJoJ0ML5RydvYWVm7qm6cDjlvL0QMtovrEDqS-pzgM9PPt2aumudxZucL_cLkKyNNlI/s1600/pforrestiizippercenter.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qieDLEfI0ww7MzT_5YQw4hKEShWuhFFrXNPx5OVn3Nb8K-dxeXv5HdrSI9N1P-rj3pgBFwsWHJoJ0ML5RydvYWVm7qm6cDjlvL0QMtovrEDqS-pzgM9PPt2aumudxZucL_cLkKyNNlI/s1600/pforrestiizippercenter.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 245px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qieDLEfI0ww7MzT_5YQw4hKEShWuhFFrXNPx5OVn3Nb8K-dxeXv5HdrSI9N1P-rj3pgBFwsWHJoJ0ML5RydvYWVm7qm6cDjlvL0QMtovrEDqS-pzgM9PPt2aumudxZucL_cLkKyNNlI/s320/pforrestiizippercenter.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613400465168719122" /></a> P. forrestii with a zippered crown. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4NA6vNWyjUHDeMx04M8p8AWYldQzbvZm2uCMKEVZvGAOSSfegAqMCYOzu1vkja7XSAPaXKxFoYEDg9EHPg6EKzKldbtaZJ5LpfIA9pxUe2EEIcETSlEscrS5d7SviW0jIJUysniANQ8/s1600/PShortninBread+Class+DC+Conv+2009.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4NA6vNWyjUHDeMx04M8p8AWYldQzbvZm2uCMKEVZvGAOSSfegAqMCYOzu1vkja7XSAPaXKxFoYEDg9EHPg6EKzKldbtaZJ5LpfIA9pxUe2EEIcETSlEscrS5d7SviW0jIJUysniANQ8/s320/PShortninBread+Class+DC+Conv+2009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613400464247373970" /></a>Look closely at the plant in the center of the row on the left above....the one with the yellow ribbon. This photo shows a group of P. 'Short'nin' Bread' entries at a convention show a couple of years ago. The third place winner was a plant with a zippered crown..... it beat out some other specimens with more typical round crowns. This judges, in this case, did not penalize this plant for the zippered crown..... which again, they should not do unless it detracts from the ornamental value of the entry. Good judging in this case...as it demonstrates a panel of judges who were familiar with the habits of these plants. (P. 'Short'nin' Bread' is a P. forrestii hybrid...so it likely got this trait from its forrestii parentage.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Stolons ~~~</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Stolons are yet another trait of healthy Petrocosmeas which we are seeing from time to time. I've seen it on several species and hybrids....so it appears to be possible on just about any Petrocosmea. I have not identified what might be triggering it other than the plant deciding that it wants to make some stolons.... I find it a "cute" phenomenon on most Pets.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWYNZrPgUH0Ilsf-P-c9Lzk0Hf2-kwTAltILWEONvfX9GuZNdMqFJ7TwHRuziYcFiisKJWEI9MXcCd4EduAmhizwjagm1SVKqDeTjFfaEp9nLjf6Nk-WMWr41VyfGLEpfriJ_vSyZykE/s1600/ShortninBread6670.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWYNZrPgUH0Ilsf-P-c9Lzk0Hf2-kwTAltILWEONvfX9GuZNdMqFJ7TwHRuziYcFiisKJWEI9MXcCd4EduAmhizwjagm1SVKqDeTjFfaEp9nLjf6Nk-WMWr41VyfGLEpfriJ_vSyZykE/s320/ShortninBread6670.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613400461493787410" /></a>Congratulations to B. J. Ohme of Perfect Petals for his first place winning entry of P. 'Short'nin' Bread' at the recent AVSA convention in Cherry Hill, NJ. Wisely, the judges recognized the additional ornamental interest that the stolons provided to this entry and gave B.J. his blue ribbon. P. 'Short'nin' Bread' is a plant that, in my opinion, is most ornamental when shown in bloom. But traits such as stolons can add ornamental interest. (Photo courtesy of Dale Martens..... "thanks, Dale!!!!!" )</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So, there they are, the quirks that our Pets are capable of conjuring up to keep us fascinated and infatuated with them. These may be just the beginning of the wonders we will unlock as we enter into a new era of hybridizing with this genus. </div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-6765233279411752572011-05-30T18:50:00.003-04:002011-05-30T19:18:06.664-04:00Lost and Found - A Tiny Surprise<div><span class="Apple-style-span">One of the first lessons I learned as a budding gesneriad grower was that the first thing one should do when acquiring a prize new gesneriad is SHARE IT! At the very least, propagate it and then share it. Why? Often, events in our lives can get in the way of the care of our gesneriads, or they simply may not like the care we have to offer them, and they die. But, fear not, if we've followed the first rule of growing gesneriads, and we've shared our prize plant, we often can get it back from the friend with whom we've shared it. That has happened to me more times than I care to remember, and recently I was reminded of how true that rule can be.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">The story begins a couple of years ago when I wanted to test whether the "miniature" gene that has shown up in my hybrid 'Keystone's Bantam' would be passed along to its offspring. So, I crossed P. forresttii with pollen from 'Keystone's Bantam'. I used forresttii because it was the smallest of all the species I had grown at that time. A seedpod did indeed result, and sure enough, as those zillions of tiny seedlings began to mature, it was evident that something unusual was going on. They were all not only mini's but microminiatures.... the leaves remained the size of a sesame seed on all of them! I thought that was "too miniature" and that they were stunted. So, I repotted them... and began to fertilize them. They were all healthy, but just very tiny. After about a year and a half, I decided they were rejects and tossed them all out. But, I gave a couple of them to a friend who is known for growing spectacular, prize winning Petrocosmeas. I had forgotten all about them until recently when I was visiting that friend. We were making a Sunday morning sweep of the plant room when I happened to notice among the Pets, a tiny little plant. I picked it up and saw the label.... There it was, my tiny little Petrocosmea hybrid...still tiny! See the picture below, with the little plant beside a quarter for comparison. ...........</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Uuvm2AxSmotUdixCbCtufozGz58WzyQvQSyOyRLw32rprVIl2OOUjuNRUm2gr2BjZhVZNpqIr4nRhuuUpAm1cISouZzZlmMv5NM60VXN6Yzg7s9nOuoHFiBVjUoXUX8q3LKQ04WG840/s1600/DSCF4333.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Uuvm2AxSmotUdixCbCtufozGz58WzyQvQSyOyRLw32rprVIl2OOUjuNRUm2gr2BjZhVZNpqIr4nRhuuUpAm1cISouZzZlmMv5NM60VXN6Yzg7s9nOuoHFiBVjUoXUX8q3LKQ04WG840/s320/DSCF4333.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612646116706093554" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span">The plant was growing in a one inch pot, but appeared healthy and thriving....and under two inches in diameter. It is now almost three years old and it remains very small, with lots of tiny leaves in a neat little rosette. So far, it has never bloomed.</span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSy7CBHXrYBaXKX15DflfibB5ujjdhkcpuPo4SzGFgwZhAZ6IgDtBwsy511Lah36fGVScjoQN-kVT7OYhZzRtBNuNFV8AxqsCoq8ZbNWEvw9vb1iGCl6jjnXtyvMTb3xfv3HrHsUhCwlU/s1600/DSCF4335.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSy7CBHXrYBaXKX15DflfibB5ujjdhkcpuPo4SzGFgwZhAZ6IgDtBwsy511Lah36fGVScjoQN-kVT7OYhZzRtBNuNFV8AxqsCoq8ZbNWEvw9vb1iGCl6jjnXtyvMTb3xfv3HrHsUhCwlU/s320/DSCF4335.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612646111526996146" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span">My tiny little hybrid Petrocosmea, sitting beside a standard P. sericea. Each of those little squares on the grid is 1 cm x 1 cm. This little guy proves the value of sharing plants AND the value of not being too hasty to make judgements about new hybrids that show new and unusual traits. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">The genetics that are showing up within the genus Petrocosmea, as I am getting to grow out more and more crosses are amazing me! Who'd have ever guessed that mini Pets would have shown up so early in this adventure? The variation in flower coloration and extra petal lobes, ruffles, etc is also a wonder to see. I counted around fifty seedlings this morning in the Pet Cave that are yet to flower for the first time...and these from five different new crosses. My excitement with these seedlings in continually renewed.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">A happy ending.........I'm delighted to say that my friend shared a dozen or so little leaves from the plant, and they are already forming tiny little babies in my prop box. Now, if I can just grow them on ....and see if they remain minis. I also still have a good supply of the seeds from that original cross in the freezer, so I'll be planting them again this winter. Lesson learned....again?!</span></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-22072952344253460952011-05-25T06:51:00.002-04:002011-05-25T07:10:11.106-04:00Hybridizing - The Ultimate Thrill<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10xb-3Mtv0s6o-2fSbsRLTuiaCqQeA-PYE7osnw_aICY02mUTq7lr-5BT-wkHymTDDFjsxVfkvLGYbVeKmowyAw2P2cI2GPiuV4-Qu-zWdWqFjEgu417trcSBTfXKjRB1ecUbxilY9So/s1600/KeystonesMagicPLANT6378h.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10xb-3Mtv0s6o-2fSbsRLTuiaCqQeA-PYE7osnw_aICY02mUTq7lr-5BT-wkHymTDDFjsxVfkvLGYbVeKmowyAw2P2cI2GPiuV4-Qu-zWdWqFjEgu417trcSBTfXKjRB1ecUbxilY9So/s320/KeystonesMagicPLANT6378h.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610605199237481362" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >For me, the ultimate thrill of hybridizing has been seeing my own creations exhibited by other growers in a show. At the recent AVSA Convention show in Cherry Hill, NJ, my friend, mentor and exceptional gesneriad grower, Paul Kroll, entered my hybrid 'Keystone's Magic' and won a blue ribbon in the flowering Petrocosmea class. Paul does such a great job with Pets, and this plant was beautiful. Soon after I arrived, Paul came over to tell me that he'd entered a couple of my Pet hybrids in the show. We were both happy with the result.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiay-hvwF043fKbmzoIDG4JbALrq0aBPV63HKovcLgV2BJ4KI8j8EH4UAV_6kpYn_hGmakQTNqjB0lrqVivKnN2E-J0C9jEFNYC1z5C_J8ogC22j0-XtIdRUtG4rhk5-xiiBuZ7KiEpE8o/s1600/KeystonesMagic6379h.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiay-hvwF043fKbmzoIDG4JbALrq0aBPV63HKovcLgV2BJ4KI8j8EH4UAV_6kpYn_hGmakQTNqjB0lrqVivKnN2E-J0C9jEFNYC1z5C_J8ogC22j0-XtIdRUtG4rhk5-xiiBuZ7KiEpE8o/s1600/KeystonesMagic6379h.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiay-hvwF043fKbmzoIDG4JbALrq0aBPV63HKovcLgV2BJ4KI8j8EH4UAV_6kpYn_hGmakQTNqjB0lrqVivKnN2E-J0C9jEFNYC1z5C_J8ogC22j0-XtIdRUtG4rhk5-xiiBuZ7KiEpE8o/s320/KeystonesMagic6379h.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610605194235635330" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >P. 'Keystone's Magic' is from a cross between rosettifolia #3 and sericea. The cool thing about this plant is that it is showing multiple flowers on each cyme. Both parents, for me, have always had a single flower, rarely two, per cyme. That's a fun aspect of hybridizing with Pets.... I never know what's going to develop. A couple of the cymes on Paul's plant have six flowers per cyme...which shows great potential at increasing the flower count on hybrids. The flowers were larger than in either parent and with several per cyme, I thought the cymes did a nice job of holding the flowers upright. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VH1HQbrYBDHrttaEx1vzc96epSuo0L4TnZa9hdTjWwxSB5OXYGn6p1MetQLB2An8PWahJuRvIxeCHOqDx-9TFnDkmj4E8pGN7Wg2LHydzj0sq53K79r4weuF1DDSxQrFEhjsi6l30w8/s1600/KeystonesMagic6597h.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VH1HQbrYBDHrttaEx1vzc96epSuo0L4TnZa9hdTjWwxSB5OXYGn6p1MetQLB2An8PWahJuRvIxeCHOqDx-9TFnDkmj4E8pGN7Wg2LHydzj0sq53K79r4weuF1DDSxQrFEhjsi6l30w8/s1600/KeystonesMagic6597h.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 250px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VH1HQbrYBDHrttaEx1vzc96epSuo0L4TnZa9hdTjWwxSB5OXYGn6p1MetQLB2An8PWahJuRvIxeCHOqDx-9TFnDkmj4E8pGN7Wg2LHydzj0sq53K79r4weuF1DDSxQrFEhjsi6l30w8/s320/KeystonesMagic6597h.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610605194518037554" /></a>The flower color on 'Keystone's Magic' is a lovely silvery lavendar, with three yellow stripes in the throat of the corolla. The flowers contrasted nicely with the dark foliage.. My only disappointment was, and always is, the suckering. Many Pet species form suckers at the same time they are forming flower buds...so just as you are about to have a flowering plant, the symmetry of the rosette is all distorted.... but, other qualities of the plant made me overlook the suckers this time. Rosettifolia suckers a lot, so I always expect that in the hybrids...although with hybridizing, suckering does seem to be diminished in the hybrids, compared to what the species does. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks also to Dale Martens, for taking the lovely photos and for sharing them. I was not expecting to get to see the show, as work was causing me to leave soon after my talk. ...but I did get to see the show, as a surprise. So lesson learned.... Don't ever go anywhere near a show without my camera!!! </div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-715146851284142962011-05-23T17:40:00.002-04:002011-05-23T18:08:49.322-04:00I'm Still Here!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Yes, it has been a while since I posted to the blog. My apologies to those of you who have waited so patiently and supportively for more news from the world of Pets. I appreciate so much the emails inquiring about me and the blog. A busy work schedule and travel schedule have kept me away from posting, but NOT away from the Pets. It is good to be back, and I have outlines for many new posts and topics to come. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >So here's whats happening with our beloved Petrocosmeas.....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >First, I named the basement growing room where I cultivate the majority of the Pets. I get lots of inquiries about my growing conditions. I grow my Pets in a basement room that once functioned as a large coal bin back in the early 1900's when my home was built. Pittsburghers used a lot of coal, I guess, and basements often had a room partitioned off from the rest of the basement for the purpose of storing the coal. Mine is a block room with one tiny window. I've begun calling it the "Pet Cave".... so you'll see me refer to the Pet Cave from time to time. And the Pet Cave has been busy over these last few months that I've been away from the blog. It has even churned out a few show winners this spring!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhyphenhyphenn0bipqqfM9HNkA6n_kMd1F-TOHhTOAnZlFBP0D81kBN2EBUhaL2Iza0QEX8vbhWa4kiA3VW0FaSPQEuBS2L2LYv8TXNyTCuZvVKb0W1jYe6dOTFiNn-djFN-usRalA9JYocfeoIyw/s1600/DSCF4368.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhyphenhyphenn0bipqqfM9HNkA6n_kMd1F-TOHhTOAnZlFBP0D81kBN2EBUhaL2Iza0QEX8vbhWa4kiA3VW0FaSPQEuBS2L2LYv8TXNyTCuZvVKb0W1jYe6dOTFiNn-djFN-usRalA9JYocfeoIyw/s320/DSCF4368.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610031545785448626" /></a>Petrocosmea 'Keystone's Angora' scored 94 points and a second place ribbon at a recent show where I both judged and exhibited a few of my new plants. Since the judging is competitive, compared to AVSA judging which is merit judging, the plant got a second place ribbon in the New Hybrids Class. I'm always happy when one of my new hybrids scores well. I was proud of this one. Judges loved the velvety foliage, and I allowed them to "pet it" after judging. (By the way, I did not judge this section! ) <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkPDYetXMiPmW3UMJRq5gLW3DcrmSO1sLc9-xzZ1Il-8MwgeVPJdopJ1Mtb-YjGmqOxO8TdGkJsoVwqgyY86CN2JuTmgHDH-wCBbgd55uOb8OeT4DlNdKcSkgeu4RbD9VZSBTHq2UAbg/s1600/DSCF4365.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkPDYetXMiPmW3UMJRq5gLW3DcrmSO1sLc9-xzZ1Il-8MwgeVPJdopJ1Mtb-YjGmqOxO8TdGkJsoVwqgyY86CN2JuTmgHDH-wCBbgd55uOb8OeT4DlNdKcSkgeu4RbD9VZSBTHq2UAbg/s320/DSCF4365.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610031545428943058" /></a>Another of my new Pets, this time a newly cultivated unidentified species from China. It scored 93 points in the New Gesneriads class and got a first place ribbon. I'll post more on this species, plus a couple of others in a future post. This plant was exhibited quite small, but seems to be a compact grower. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieV5ZbmHJdPwuuewiSQEKreveVD0Aptk8xbX-fH1ZKWuqhJDlWiQkFi7GX8Xe-PWCBlmhOuwThxysB-hNGocUW4eeNDcnylJdkqPJN3p62oQTzzsToQ99hplWmWjBU4U55g_o3K4iP_Cg/s1600/DSCF4366.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieV5ZbmHJdPwuuewiSQEKreveVD0Aptk8xbX-fH1ZKWuqhJDlWiQkFi7GX8Xe-PWCBlmhOuwThxysB-hNGocUW4eeNDcnylJdkqPJN3p62oQTzzsToQ99hplWmWjBU4U55g_o3K4iP_Cg/s320/DSCF4366.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610031536062908834" /></a>Petrocosmea 'Keystone's Little Rascal' (above) is a sibling to P. 'Keystone's Angora' in the first photo. It was also entered into the New Hybrids class and got the first place award, with a score of 96. This cultivar stays very small, under four inches on the average, with smaller leaves and flowers than it's siblings. The flowers most often have six or more petal lobes and the plant after two flowerings, has been very floriferous. I included a photo of the plant in bloom for the judges to see what the flowers look like, since the show was in the spring, and that is outside the normal bloom season for most of my Pets. After the show, I shared lots of leaves with judges and growers, so I hope to see these in wider cultivation soon. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >So, in addition to growing and hybridizing, I've judged a spring show, given three talks on Pets to various AV and gesneriad chapters including a talk last week at the AVSA convention in Cherry Hill, NJ, and have recently co-written an article on Judging Petrocosmea Out of Bloom for <i>Appraisal</i>, the journal for judges for the Gesneriad Society. It's been a busy winter and spring, but I am very excited to be blogging again!</span></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-82767752851277354762010-12-06T21:18:00.003-05:002010-12-06T21:42:52.172-05:00Hybridizing Petrocosmea - A Family Portrait<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSE4d0ok-q_9w6fEpoumZI2agrE-iWzJCz2cK2OawxTZrr1imAiuBJOREM7YyN5fkANnOS1LdOe0hUU_tjxPXGhPFynpgRIUszx534FWVOuM3yTHyPJ3erY-Qdrvpg_ouypFVHlwQmms/s1600/P.+Family+Portrait.+r%25233%252C+KB%252C+RP.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547759864381070418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSE4d0ok-q_9w6fEpoumZI2agrE-iWzJCz2cK2OawxTZrr1imAiuBJOREM7YyN5fkANnOS1LdOe0hUU_tjxPXGhPFynpgRIUszx534FWVOuM3yTHyPJ3erY-Qdrvpg_ouypFVHlwQmms/s320/P.+Family+Portrait.+r%25233%252C+KB%252C+RP.JPG" /></a><br />A Family Portraint showing P. rosettifolia #3 in the back, the seedpod parent of my first two hybrids...P. 'Keystone's Bantam, in the front, left and P. 'Rosemary Platz' on the front right.<br /><br /><br /> With Petrocosmea season in full swing here in southwestern Pennsylvania, I'm enjoying an abundance of bloom. Yesterday I counted 58 Petrocosmeas in bloom, with almost as many still forming buds and yet to flower. But, no matter how many Pets I have in bloom, or how many are yet to come into my collection, two will always remain special in my heart...my first two hybrids. Petrocosmea 'Rosemary Platz' and P. 'Keystone's Bantam' are now currently in flower along with one of the parents P. rosettifolia #3. I had to take this occasion to take a photo of the three together for comparison.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirLntavLlgFTpCta0lqregPxtbIwd1CHeg9CbmOFKCxiS7UeEw_hehGivC9urnlCLuglXXUa8NFe3oobn6l4-uj_ml9sAmT5dz5fi_N-tt0oR72slwxGph05UlGQlW7Y3KLipblvD5Jc/s1600/P.+Sisters..KB%252CRP.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547759862637022402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirLntavLlgFTpCta0lqregPxtbIwd1CHeg9CbmOFKCxiS7UeEw_hehGivC9urnlCLuglXXUa8NFe3oobn6l4-uj_ml9sAmT5dz5fi_N-tt0oR72slwxGph05UlGQlW7Y3KLipblvD5Jc/s320/P.+Sisters..KB%252CRP.JPG" /></a> P. 'Keystone's Bantam' with it's white flowers, each larger than it's leaves, and P. 'Rosemary Platz', which seemed to inherit all of the best features of both parents of the cross. I still have such a clear memory of the morning in October, 2007 when I made the cross, by applying pollen from P. sericea to the flowers of my favorite form of P. rosettifolia...the form I labeled #3. Within a couple of weeks, the seedpods were forming, and I remember thinking that they would probably contain no seeds, or if they did have seeds, they would not germinate. But, those three pods DID contain viable seeds and they were planted the following January, 2008. First flowers appeared in October and November of that same year. Through the whole process, I remained in disbelief that I had been able to finally produce seedlings after ten years of failed attempts. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbutQtG2OYynLZo_iUxWNjB7MYtaEX-zk9BjN6W2dz6ZGB3hgyCib5U1U5AfrD55FvGXnRR5WMoUw5Ge9QI1Sq8RYvthht8WUHvp0RrFbxlvhZksgiF8yCxnwrwUrptagiYxUNvVV2ug/s1600/PKeystone%2527sBantamZipper.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547759854110251282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbutQtG2OYynLZo_iUxWNjB7MYtaEX-zk9BjN6W2dz6ZGB3hgyCib5U1U5AfrD55FvGXnRR5WMoUw5Ge9QI1Sq8RYvthht8WUHvp0RrFbxlvhZksgiF8yCxnwrwUrptagiYxUNvVV2ug/s320/PKeystone%2527sBantamZipper.JPG" /></a> Little 'Keystone's Bantam' was the oddity of the cross. It remained tiny from the very beginning. While it's siblings all grew quickly, it reached about 1.5 cm and stopped getting larger for months. Finally, that tiny green button of foliage did slowly get larger until it was 2 inches in diameter, when buds began to form. That original plant, shown above, remains under three inches today...more than three years later. This is it's third year of bloom. The tiny leaves are deep green, almost black at times, with the lighter yellow central veining of its P. rosettifolia parent. This was also the only white flowered seedling in the batch of more than thirty that I have flowered to date. The only 'tiny' one. I chose the name in honor of my dear friend and fellow Petrocosmea enthusiast, Paul Kroll. In addition to growing spectacular Petrocosmeas, as well as most other gesneriads, Paul grows, shows, and judges Japanese bantam chickens. The fantailed appearance of the flowers on 'Keystone's Bantam' reminded me of Paul's little chickens. Paul grows tiny little chickens, but his Petrocosmeas are gigantic.... I often say the Paul Kroll can grow a 12 inch Petrocosmea in a bottle cap! He phoned me this evening to tell me that his own plant of 'Keystone's Bantam' is now in bud also!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJ6UaywPlqB8pv4z73drH1qujaEMkaQAUisurnmFnNOcZhvkFeSwZMp9FPX-DkhV04MHKpp3yN2cTGsfUHDan8hTJCG6MFF8rXH8V-V47kZ5I4TZLxh8eAx-1invLpHWxBqrQxcuXkGs/s1600/P.Rosemary+Platz2010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547759849977582834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJ6UaywPlqB8pv4z73drH1qujaEMkaQAUisurnmFnNOcZhvkFeSwZMp9FPX-DkhV04MHKpp3yN2cTGsfUHDan8hTJCG6MFF8rXH8V-V47kZ5I4TZLxh8eAx-1invLpHWxBqrQxcuXkGs/s320/P.Rosemary+Platz2010.JPG" /></a> The star of my first hybrid cross is indeed P. 'Rosemary Platz'...my very first named hybrid Petrocosmea. I named this hybrid in honor of another cherished friend - Rosemary Platz from Long Island, NY. Everytime I see this plant flower, I am reminded of how lovely my friend is. The flowers on this hybrid have a pleasant yellow throat with white and silver lavendar lobes on the corola. Flowers most resemble the P. sericea parent. Leaves are glossy, intermediate in shape and size between both parents, and with good culture, often show a subtle lighter veining. I have been very proud to see this hybrid showing up an winning some blue ribbons in shows when exhibited by other growers. </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-26444360088644927372010-12-06T20:27:00.003-05:002010-12-06T21:03:52.279-05:00The Difference a Year Makes.... Petrocosmea cavalerieiOne of the interesting points I'm learning from the study of a single genus, day to day, for several years now is that Petrocosmea plants clearly evolve and change over time. One theory I'm starting to consider is that Petrocosmea may indeed progress through different "phases" or stages in development over time, as the plants mature. I've seen this with most of the species now. As young plants the leaves, flowers, pedicels or cymes, ...almost every characteristic of the plants, seem to change over time. Recently, I've been studying this, and have found a number of articles that discuss the molecular changes that the leaves of various plants go through as they mature.... I've begun to wonder whether this is truly what I am seeing with Petrocosmea, or if they are simply "growing up" and it takes more than a couple of years for them to mature.<br />I guess that is a topic for another post at another time...but the second annual flowering of a relatively new species to my Petrocosmea collection just makes me ponder my theory even more.<br /><br />You may recall a post from October of last year, where I first introduced you to this species. While flowering is a bit later this year, the plant is putting on a spectacular, and more impressive show than it did last year. I also mentioned last year that I had begun sharing leaves of this species with a few friends. It has been fun, and rewarding, to get email and calls from those friends over the last few weeks, as the plants they propagated from those leaves are also flowering for them. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUwWfmqO0BnEP2DOIs6A7lbkjHO4b2pJx_rPMCHjjQLu2xO7dyK2Off69z3I9k-xhtesOjSqCpELnSZeifYem8zAuggIEDUXLjguvqfOXE-zRujR7KPyuxnZzxRQjW1Y5F1dwRgSQFqw/s1600/P+cavaleriei+2010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547747588881149122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUwWfmqO0BnEP2DOIs6A7lbkjHO4b2pJx_rPMCHjjQLu2xO7dyK2Off69z3I9k-xhtesOjSqCpELnSZeifYem8zAuggIEDUXLjguvqfOXE-zRujR7KPyuxnZzxRQjW1Y5F1dwRgSQFqw/s320/P+cavaleriei+2010.JPG" /></a> The photo above shows the same plant as the one in the photo below....it's just a year older now... Do you see a difference? Dramatic isn't it? The rosette really isn't much bigger with regard to diameter...but it does have more leaves. The plant remains in the same pot as it was a year ago when it first flowered. The plant now has a diameter of exactly four inches. Flowers are larger, and are dancing on the ends of purple pedicels. For such a small plant, it is making a dramatic show, and I am thrilled to have it in my collection. I've maintained three plants, and all three are nearly identical. <br /><br />Just to refresh, my label reads : P. cavaleriei 'ABG 2005-2221' TT04. This label tells me that the plant came from the Atlanta Botanic Gardens, was collected in it's natural habitat in 2005. The 2221 is the ABG's accession number, and the TT04 is my own accession number, which ties to the records I keep of all of my Petrocosmea species. I make sure to pass these numbers along to anyone who I share leaves with. The species was collected in southwestern China. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTX3WFUZ4LcX9McHwVgNm1SiN3v0rzwPpBaI9EUtpVx9cHFWLyZr345d8eCUp110WHhwwXsXUrrKe6NQy1FFy20Jp77eFGq7j_t9ovfz4cSFQCSgExNSo8lRN7sk_gCY2_bjXPO0uGIM/s1600/DSCF1690.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547747584444254162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTX3WFUZ4LcX9McHwVgNm1SiN3v0rzwPpBaI9EUtpVx9cHFWLyZr345d8eCUp110WHhwwXsXUrrKe6NQy1FFy20Jp77eFGq7j_t9ovfz4cSFQCSgExNSo8lRN7sk_gCY2_bjXPO0uGIM/s320/DSCF1690.JPG" /></a> The same plant flowering in the first photo, as it looked a year ago upon it's first bloom. Don't measure your Petrocosmeas by how they perform the first year or two after you get them...they must mature to show true potential. I am still amazed at some of my plants as they grow into the sixth, seventh, even the tenth year in my collection.. They impress me more each year. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5Jut0ysqybtaTwHSMDYV8aECG5U8SVHnxd2Jub8IXoct9HhYfUSwpbfIPuldrwda8Mt6LZjNN_QsvhkaSv1r-KhYVgD6EcyiEobw04V1GUAPQZ1pNcSw64Ysd75PsoJHZt4Rz43FLNY/s1600/DSCF1683.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547747576989151346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5Jut0ysqybtaTwHSMDYV8aECG5U8SVHnxd2Jub8IXoct9HhYfUSwpbfIPuldrwda8Mt6LZjNN_QsvhkaSv1r-KhYVgD6EcyiEobw04V1GUAPQZ1pNcSw64Ysd75PsoJHZt4Rz43FLNY/s320/DSCF1683.JPG" /></a> An individual flower of P. cavaleriei shows that it fits easily into Petrocosmea Section Anisochilus. DNA studies show that it is very closely related to P. sericea and P. sp. 'HT-2'. I also detect a faint fragrance from the flowers of my plant, although not as much as I can smell from sericea or 'HT-2'. While sericea does not produce branched cymes for me, cavaleriei and sp. 'HT-2' do produce branched cymes with maturity. Like it's close relatives, this species likes to be grown a bit drier with regard to watering and drainage of the soil. It also seems to look best with a bit more light. Leaves, if kept too humid and splashed with water, will form the bleached spots often seen on African violets. P. sericea and sp. 'HT-2' also show leaf spotting, while I don't see this phenomenon on other Petrocosmea species. </div><div> </div><div>An additional note regarding propagation... this species, as do other Pets with heavily felted leaves, will rot easily if the rooting medium is kept too wet during rooting. I avoid this by not burying the petioles, but simply laying them gently on top of the rooting medium such that the tip of the petioles just barely touch the medium. I've often had these species form plantlets when the leaves broke off and fell onto the acrylic matting I line my trays with. </div><div> </div><div>I hope that with time, this species will get wider distribution among Petrocosmea enthusiasts, and that we will see it more often in plant shows. Since it does not have particularly ornamental foliage, however, it would likely do best in a show as a flowering specimen. Still, it is a fascinating new species to have in one's collection. <br /><br /><br /></div><div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-21871476290585668522010-11-16T18:10:00.000-05:002010-11-16T18:31:42.718-05:00Fertile Forresttii Does It Again!Little Petrocosmea forrestii is a mother again! While there are still some species that refuse to hybridize at all for me....like P. parryorum, and P. kerrii, and P. sp. 'China 2005', the species P. forrestii is taking up the slack for those species. So far, P. forrestii hybridizes more than any other species...having served as a mother in at least a half-dozen crosses for me. This year, I'm watching buds on P. forrestii crosses with sericea and minor. <br /><br />The first of the forrestii x sericea seedlings flowered this week. I only got five seedlings from the cross. All five seedlings are showing buds. Foliage shows variation with some leaves narrow and cupped, like sericea and others showing rounded, flat leaves more like forrestii. All are quite small so far. I have them growing in two inch condiment cups, that have a capacity of two ounces...(I think.) Most are about the diameter of the cups...around two inches, with the largest, the first to flower...being about 2.5 inches in diameter. This seedling basically looks like a tiny P. sericea, with rounder leaves and very little of the cupping seen on sericea. <br /><br /><br />See the first flower to open below:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UfQtU52qL8Nd1HtJ64hjYFqPREQY-KXwbrAd_jUybja9LhahMC9INX7nG3rcQcdpzOSrF6ha9dphyphenhyphenpPwlXgZF58zfZjpTKat4sucG8A3CpQ0a7EvqoWyFe0dLYEJ1oMe1atC2paJ2Lg/s1600/P+forrestii+x+sericea+%25231+b.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 310px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540289699202453506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UfQtU52qL8Nd1HtJ64hjYFqPREQY-KXwbrAd_jUybja9LhahMC9INX7nG3rcQcdpzOSrF6ha9dphyphenhyphenpPwlXgZF58zfZjpTKat4sucG8A3CpQ0a7EvqoWyFe0dLYEJ1oMe1atC2paJ2Lg/s320/P+forrestii+x+sericea+%25231+b.JPG" /></a> The first flower on P. forrestii x sericea..... can you see both parents in the flower? The flower is about the size of P. sericea, with a bit more of an upper lip to the corolla. A prominent white spot on the three lower lobes clearly comes from P. forrestii...although, sadly, none of forrestii's yellow came through. The dark purple blotch seen deep within the throat of P. sericea did come through in the progeny, and is just visible in this photo. Lower lobes are a bit more narrow and longer....more like forrestii. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpNUPbxzxH7_tjGB9_NCz5aAYYCwmz_Xn6z3Z41UvGY7UW3D_ZTR0y9b8RlOjbXsn9rdaSKQX70YGbtziT3lZ_zU9gOYZWVdfTfPNfSshBzXkGqw9XPmb1kbZV4gpyIcORiB8UfGfhjI/s1600/P+forrestii+x+sericea+%25231.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540289686662730466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpNUPbxzxH7_tjGB9_NCz5aAYYCwmz_Xn6z3Z41UvGY7UW3D_ZTR0y9b8RlOjbXsn9rdaSKQX70YGbtziT3lZ_zU9gOYZWVdfTfPNfSshBzXkGqw9XPmb1kbZV4gpyIcORiB8UfGfhjI/s320/P+forrestii+x+sericea+%25231.JPG" /></a> The first seedling to flower from the cross looks much like a tiny P. sericea, although leaves are not as cupped as sericea. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcK6RV37pFvVUdYhsBr29QOgLssxEZkkYrWC87WVELf4UsyB7tezgfTi1Oll5Rv_a-oNlTzlIlyfx0ZhyEYkI7gV4c71d1hzV7uyx9N9NGhEcdFqyVLttZxN89IfCSwWB_MlYmLOB54P0/s1600/P.forrestii+x+sericea+parents.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540289677684428786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcK6RV37pFvVUdYhsBr29QOgLssxEZkkYrWC87WVELf4UsyB7tezgfTi1Oll5Rv_a-oNlTzlIlyfx0ZhyEYkI7gV4c71d1hzV7uyx9N9NGhEcdFqyVLttZxN89IfCSwWB_MlYmLOB54P0/s320/P.forrestii+x+sericea+parents.JPG" /></a> This photo was a challenge....and my lack of photography skill didn't help anything. But, here is my best effort to show "MOM"...P. forrestii (left), "DAD", P. sericea, (right) and the seedling in the center. A side by side comparison shows the characteristics of both parents in the first flower. <br /></div><div> </div><div>I wonder, and wait, for the flowers on the other four seedlings. (P. forrestii x minor is just now showing buds peeking above the foliage.)<br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-65609864899384497772010-11-12T12:12:00.003-05:002010-11-12T12:39:10.436-05:00Petrocosmea 'Keystone's Bluejay'"<em>Just living is not enough - one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower". </em>Hans Christian Andersen<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm enjoying a beautiful day at home, with brilliant sunshine outside, and the beginning of Petrocosmea's peak bloom season inside. My spirits really got a boost this morning when I went down to my basement growing area to find the second flowering of one of my hybrids in full glory underneath the lights. The hybrid was one of the most challenging to produce. The only seedling that I kept from around tewnty that I grew from a cross between P. sericea and P. minor veined leaf form. I have named this hybrid Petrocosmea 'Keystone's Bluejay'. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SiSCtVejWKzVZVaZbsPsvD6N05LH5I5HXqqVb3mEHP4Xxi0ruM9Wd4o1RZJU6SnmPrTatFDA9BUi6uNTPQMpWP0AH2gDC3P9idrSw2kZx0urdSbagk4HGDi1HFDHS1p474z1OkHR_I4/s1600/PKeystone%2527sBluebird1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538713047845658130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SiSCtVejWKzVZVaZbsPsvD6N05LH5I5HXqqVb3mEHP4Xxi0ruM9Wd4o1RZJU6SnmPrTatFDA9BUi6uNTPQMpWP0AH2gDC3P9idrSw2kZx0urdSbagk4HGDi1HFDHS1p474z1OkHR_I4/s320/PKeystone%2527sBluebird1.JPG" /></a> P. 'Keystone's Bluejay' is one of my largest hybrids, and certainly one of the most challenging to create. P. minor had been particularly reluctant to hybridize. This cross was my first success with that species as a parent. The large blue flowers show an attractive ruffled texture, are significantly larger than either parent's flowers, and are distinctly fragrant. The scent is a spicy rose fragrance to my nose.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57ziS0xSKeYX-7l4N8g6zbzQp3BPYipIYRHuwsryjZkFroLr-Ii9eK2yPKwoHGNXK4-hOSehg3zGzKCu2TFpXt_qXShI5F369bVbmBVpAMlaXAXANrl5EuEBexUZMNRmAZTWS0qMCFrA/s1600/PKeystone%2527sBluebird3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538713039893776818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57ziS0xSKeYX-7l4N8g6zbzQp3BPYipIYRHuwsryjZkFroLr-Ii9eK2yPKwoHGNXK4-hOSehg3zGzKCu2TFpXt_qXShI5F369bVbmBVpAMlaXAXANrl5EuEBexUZMNRmAZTWS0qMCFrA/s320/PKeystone%2527sBluebird3.JPG" /></a> The plant is large, with rounded glossy leaves overlaid with a frosty silvery hair from P. sericea. The plant looks like a very large, frosted version of P. minor veined leaf form. The plant in all of its characteristics, is larger than either parent. The plant shown above is two and one half years old, growing in a five inch pan pot, with outer leaves 2.75" in diameter. The flower count is a nice surprise, since both parents can be shy bloomers with regard to flower count. The outer leaves are showing the yellowing of both age and neglect, which the plant suffered during this past summer. It tolerated the neglect well. Once flowering is complete, the plant will get some fresh soil and a little more tender loving care as a reward. Some dimensions on this plant are as follows: Total diameter of rosette is 11.75" (30 cm). Largest leaf diameter is 2.75 " (7 cm) and flower width is 1.25" (3 cm). <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3t2RHTvZJWZ4rKDJBrzeCPFH2_yE2pB5lf6XKAZi1S8q22Vrzv-I84tECrZTe-l8deDuPm9lkmJJxv3Cqr0x97R3YFIXkgATxx3Hdw1vI2dNG5psSB6y3tgC66HaC8PeMJADIMxbh2FE/s1600/PKeystone%2527sBluebird2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538713038267163250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3t2RHTvZJWZ4rKDJBrzeCPFH2_yE2pB5lf6XKAZi1S8q22Vrzv-I84tECrZTe-l8deDuPm9lkmJJxv3Cqr0x97R3YFIXkgATxx3Hdw1vI2dNG5psSB6y3tgC66HaC8PeMJADIMxbh2FE/s320/PKeystone%2527sBluebird2.JPG" /></a> A close-up of a flower shows the ruffled texture of the flowers. The coloring in the photo is accurate and was taken in natural light. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSn0Eb11F9wyb9AiqyaNk9oiOQG3xt-OnWZuRr_8orQGtDNR9WTK8bGSivYTNENk54yQ6yv2Nt2A5B7g5KmeF6wDdscopPfSFcLBME49RiDKh6tgj-5pEVmT10Ohb8kvSaGnqIDF-kck/s1600/DSCF2707.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538713034267470210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSn0Eb11F9wyb9AiqyaNk9oiOQG3xt-OnWZuRr_8orQGtDNR9WTK8bGSivYTNENk54yQ6yv2Nt2A5B7g5KmeF6wDdscopPfSFcLBME49RiDKh6tgj-5pEVmT10Ohb8kvSaGnqIDF-kck/s320/DSCF2707.JPG" /></a>This photo, from a previous blog post, shows P. 'Keystone's Bluejay' as a younger plant, when it won Second Best in Show and first place in New Hybrids' at the African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Western New York show last March in Buffalo, NY. I have been really happy with the performance of this hybrid. The extra effort was worth it!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-18695820945046222582010-11-01T19:51:00.001-04:002010-11-01T20:12:33.312-04:00Here they come!!!! The Year's Crop of New Hybrids Begin to Bud"<em>Take thy spade...it is thy pencil. Take thy seeds, thy plants...they are thy colors." </em>William Mason<br /><br /><br />When it comes to artistic talents, as the quote above implies, I definitely have to rely on my little collection of plants to showcase my "creative" talents.... Assuming of course, that I have any talents. But, for reasons not fully understood, Petrocosmeas have finally decided to hybridize for me. After ten years of attempts and struggling to get even a single seedpod, or a single seed for that matter, the last few years have allowed me a bit of luck.<br /><br />Last year, I harvested seeds from 14 different hybrid crosses. Of course, I don't have the space to grow them all, but I did plant a few, and the rest are stored in the freezer for another season. The cross which I am most excited about is shown below...P. forresttii x P. minor smooth leaf form.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ztH_tfVZM-GdtghvJ1k-0W9bQhsbKymjPvzZul1tIraY8NkCFbWHYM_1x-oaIF7O3wNB6O7WUzKpqQgQav7aBqFQ8sehuq5wAsTc2bXW47KK646ZHnV_lwzOxyoHZzynfDd7gUAh-sw/s1600/DSCF3576.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534733562925666562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ztH_tfVZM-GdtghvJ1k-0W9bQhsbKymjPvzZul1tIraY8NkCFbWHYM_1x-oaIF7O3wNB6O7WUzKpqQgQav7aBqFQ8sehuq5wAsTc2bXW47KK646ZHnV_lwzOxyoHZzynfDd7gUAh-sw/s320/DSCF3576.JPG" /></a> The largest, and first, of eleven plants from the cross to make buds! P. forresttii x P. minor smooth leaf form was a cross that I made with the goal of getting the round, glossy leaves of P. minor on a small, neat plant like forresttii. So far, the plants look a lot like P. forresttii, but the leaves are rounder, and that lovely glossiness of P. minor is certainly showing up in varying degrees among the seedlings. A couple show very little of it...and look much more like P. forresttii...but the majority do show the clear influence of P. minor in the leaves. Some are staying quite small, others growing larger. The largest, pictured above, is now 4.25 inches in diameter.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjl1Se01yuce-TUX26IsgVtU4YtvwEs1jKlHY6-o6YqZKECuKx1xLDeYHwgSPNExi8EjX1RRrQbHBa71BmqBeLgJWx6AJvryjE9lsvmEKV_uwhQRYVdvHmR-7XJa6B8W9_YPNcRpHB48/s1600/DSCF3577.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534733551942061410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjl1Se01yuce-TUX26IsgVtU4YtvwEs1jKlHY6-o6YqZKECuKx1xLDeYHwgSPNExi8EjX1RRrQbHBa71BmqBeLgJWx6AJvryjE9lsvmEKV_uwhQRYVdvHmR-7XJa6B8W9_YPNcRpHB48/s320/DSCF3577.JPG" /></a>While the seedlings are showing great promise of meeting my goals for the foliar characteristics hoped for in this cross, the final test with this, as with ALL of the P. forrestii crosses so far is.... "will the inflorescences, or pedicels, be short and strong, like P. minor (lets hope!!!) or will they be long, wiry and untidy...as with P. forrestii ( boo, hiss, hiss...) . P. forrestii, unfortunately, has proven to be dominant with regard to the thin, wiry, messy, tangled pedicels. While I do like the individual flower characteristics of P. forrestii's flowers, I am clearly NOT a fan of the habit of those pedicels it produces. One last concern for this cross will be the flower count. P. forrestii can be quite easily flowered, and quite floriferous, while P. minor often can be a bit shy to produce a heavy bloom count. Thankfully, both of these species very rarely produce suckers, so that standard goal of my hybridizing program will hopefully not be an issue with these youngsters. Still, one of the joys of hybridizing for me has been....that....one never knows what the combination of genes from two gesneriads will produce. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>I'll keep you posted!<br /><br /><div></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-42290388655892416962010-11-01T19:15:00.003-04:002010-11-01T19:37:12.890-04:00Petrocosmea parryorum....an update...."<em>A garden is never so good as it will be next year." </em>Thomas Jefferson<br /><br /><br />The quote above, by one of my favorite American Founding Fathers, reminds me of my experience in studying the genus Petrocosmea for the past few years now. And, P. parryorum is a prime example.<br /><br />I posted a couple of months ago, how my original specimen of P. parryorum, which has spent a decade with me now, is still teaching me lessons and revealing its secrets with each new season. This year, it bloomed twice...once in January and again, starting what has been a very long and productive season of bloom in August. It continues to flower its last few remaining buds, three months later. That means that to date, this glorious species has been in flower for me nearly one half of the year! And, it is still going!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ghl8stMK94dSiKZT9zOKJEmU4qOb7dd8eYP0KalCe3cbNCRglRxrA3bNvvIMNV-BMbT9Q0seuNLigTmfsTemnLEHVgSRTnOQUiGn8fjwoWP4fygcLD3CBABbyqzx7N_4ESni_uPPMTI/s1600/DSCF3567.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534724797246846466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ghl8stMK94dSiKZT9zOKJEmU4qOb7dd8eYP0KalCe3cbNCRglRxrA3bNvvIMNV-BMbT9Q0seuNLigTmfsTemnLEHVgSRTnOQUiGn8fjwoWP4fygcLD3CBABbyqzx7N_4ESni_uPPMTI/s320/DSCF3567.JPG" /></a> Pictured above, the now quite ragged and tired plant is still supporting the last few buds, remaining on the final 11 inflorescences. Here's the progress report so far.... it began with a rosette of leaves that was well over 14 inches in diameter when the first buds opened. Now, it has dropped the outer ring of leaves...likely due to the redirecting of energy into the flowers. It has produced 14 inflorescences, with as many as 57 buds on each inflorescence!!! Yes, that's correct...I removed one, pictured below, so that I could count the buds and also to preserve it in my private little "Petrocosmea herbarium" where I press and dry the various structures of each species Petrocosmea in my collection. SO, at around 50 buds each...I estimate that this plant has now produced around 500 flowers in one flowering season!!!! I've been amazed at this plant!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpKa_QmR8L5p3uafGmX1HMl8TLh9qMphGkP_KruOAXWzrcHIT6wD_reQjiGFvcYxLJDiCUv5UlF2038wnPqKCxX1LY0SF-H3z5whW6Z47wZ2OMk6ehCxep3gtN2E8p5IMKAHINkciG1I/s1600/DSCF3504.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534724789225302370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpKa_QmR8L5p3uafGmX1HMl8TLh9qMphGkP_KruOAXWzrcHIT6wD_reQjiGFvcYxLJDiCUv5UlF2038wnPqKCxX1LY0SF-H3z5whW6Z47wZ2OMk6ehCxep3gtN2E8p5IMKAHINkciG1I/s320/DSCF3504.JPG" /></a>A dried Petrocosmea parryorum inflorescence. Some of the buds in this photo are underneath other buds, and a couple accidentally broke off, as can be seen on the left of the photo...but this one, and one other that I removed, each sported over 50 buds...the one above had 57, the other 54. I would surely love to get this influence incorporated into some Petrocosmea hybrids, but alas, I have not yet found a single flower on the plant that had pollen!! Attemps to pollinate it's flowers with other Petrocosmeas has resulted in no success. I have to wonder if the fact that it flowered during the late summer, when we were quite warm, might have affected the pollen production. I've consistently had better pollen production and better success with hybridizing in the middle of winter when temperatures were quite cold.... The flowering of this plant last January did produce pollen in the flowers.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWKmMzIQ7c3ld3i_z4UZ-_ibNYKeFY_nThc4QFugoxDNY9SyvmqGqurKtd51lYsC9mShI9QV64XevcuREsPehrNJqqt4rWN0jKN0Z-O9tT9focPDALHZDGi9WQ8qjGqqK9f4M3ujy65s/s1600/DSCF3570.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534724786621796914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWKmMzIQ7c3ld3i_z4UZ-_ibNYKeFY_nThc4QFugoxDNY9SyvmqGqurKtd51lYsC9mShI9QV64XevcuREsPehrNJqqt4rWN0jKN0Z-O9tT9focPDALHZDGi9WQ8qjGqqK9f4M3ujy65s/s320/DSCF3570.JPG" /></a> A close up of a few of the current inflorescences on the plant above...showing a mix of spent flowers, open flowers, and a last few remaining buds. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div>I wonder what next year will reveal about P. parryorum...the Petrocosmea from India.</div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-26153735523902768432010-10-31T18:22:00.002-04:002010-10-31T18:47:50.816-04:00Autumn, and Petrocosmea season begins!"<em>My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plants' point of view"</em> H. Fred Ale<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWOttLvifLO7Floug6o1R_kjFSHRpdwCq46U6KEx_BtQ52nXNOf066D7gO_jM3T-ZhSRfGWse6mR4G1alG4PRNITrveorudAIsLsxB6OopLQNmcDJjObml1WJVcak0LylyQCwiGJ01UQ/s1600/DSCF3373.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534340872343051522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWOttLvifLO7Floug6o1R_kjFSHRpdwCq46U6KEx_BtQ52nXNOf066D7gO_jM3T-ZhSRfGWse6mR4G1alG4PRNITrveorudAIsLsxB6OopLQNmcDJjObml1WJVcak0LylyQCwiGJ01UQ/s320/DSCF3373.JPG" /></a> Petrocosmea flaccida 'ABG 1998-5551' a new clone of this old, dependable species.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Petrocosmea season always really gears up into full swing for me in the autumn. Those cool, damp nights make the cool-loving Petrocosmeas very happy. It always amazes me that even though they are growing indoors, under lights on timers, and all of this is done independent of the weather outdoors, the plants always "know"...they know what the climate outdoors is doing. <br /><br />This year, I'm especially enjoying a darling little plant that I acquired about three years ago as a gift from a friend at the Atlanta Botanic Garden in Atlanta, Georgia.... A new collection of Petrocosmea flaccida. This clone was collected in 1998. I was delighted to get some "new blood" in the form of a new collection of Petrocosmea flaccida. I am growing, and have distributed this plant under the clonal designation 'ABG 1998-5551', which is the ABG's accession number. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpQ87I8OypHunYY48sjX824dBXgBhS4ESGFP4hXExsYm78CoJZkvvcyo4h3pD9gWouqBk8l41YxeXcY2dNcm_SNTK30K4LYzNV3mPnuOgdlA2CwCXyYNy_Jwb4AEQeZNHeo3wLOb1dPc/s1600/DSCF3370.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534340855582848914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpQ87I8OypHunYY48sjX824dBXgBhS4ESGFP4hXExsYm78CoJZkvvcyo4h3pD9gWouqBk8l41YxeXcY2dNcm_SNTK30K4LYzNV3mPnuOgdlA2CwCXyYNy_Jwb4AEQeZNHeo3wLOb1dPc/s320/DSCF3370.JPG" /></a>I first wrote about this clone on this blog last year, when it flowered for me for the first time. Now, with another year of maturity, I've had the chance to watch how it performs when grown under identical conditions to my original P. flaccida, which I've had for years. I find this clone superior for a couple of reasons. First, it does not sucker nearly as much as the original clone. Those of you who follow my blog know how I dislike this pesky trait of some Pet species...so finding a clone which has less of a tendency to sucker is a positive characteristic in my opinion. Secondly, it shapes nicely and remains quite small....about half the size of it's larger sister, my original clone of P. flaccida. Leaves are quite small...more like the size of P. forrestii leaves. I would love to hybidize with this clone to see if it contributes to smaller Pet hybrids. I've tried several times to cross it with the original P. flaccida and to self it...without success. I think this may be due to the fact that both forms bloom early in the season...when it is still pretty warm...and I have much greater success with setting seedpods with the temperatures are much colder. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3-v-6A4mLY2LWVDVDKer739IHiV8jXFSLYinojMM_HmbprgKDPZgboTWVXIorVZmJyYmPPc8MHXTwvIsz9luKGIXZ2AYXICAzMu5Ct78Pugbs89GALP81a5p-7IzA1qjPPMMznzcxoo/s1600/DSCF3382.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534340844220359954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3-v-6A4mLY2LWVDVDKer739IHiV8jXFSLYinojMM_HmbprgKDPZgboTWVXIorVZmJyYmPPc8MHXTwvIsz9luKGIXZ2AYXICAzMu5Ct78Pugbs89GALP81a5p-7IzA1qjPPMMznzcxoo/s320/DSCF3382.JPG" /></a> An overhead shot of P. flaccida 'ABG 1998-5551' shows what a lovely habit this form has. I have not trained it or removed suckers...and this is what it has done in it's second year of bloom from leaf cuttings. The diameter of the plant shown above is just under 4 inches diameter. This plant is potted in a three ounce shallow condiment cup where it has now remained for two years. <br /></div><div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-91026636538402799072010-09-01T18:25:00.003-04:002010-09-01T18:50:42.566-04:00Petrocosmea parryorum....blooming NOW?!!??"<em>I look upon the pleasure we take from gardening as one of the most innocent delights of human life" </em>Cicero........<br /><br /><br />One of the delights of working with plants is that one never knows what they will do..how they will perform. Just when we think we've figured out what triggers them to bloom or what they need to grow well, they fool us. I think this is my favorite trait of plants....they remain creations of nature and they remain governed by it, no matter what we as humans attempt to impose upon them. <br /><br />And so it is also with Petrocosmeas and my love affair with them. Having proven and tested the hypothesis that they need cool and dry conditions to trigger bloom....my Petrocosmea parryorum has shown me clearly that I don't know anything....it is blooming for the second time in nine months and is putting up bloom at an amazingly profuse rate...at least for me. <br /><br />Having grown P. parryorum for around ten years now, with no hint of bloom until three years ago, it is now blooming. The bloom is on my most mature plant..."the grandmother" of all my Pets....a plant that is at least 8 years old. We've had a hotter than normal summer here in southwestern Pennsylvania....with many days in the low 90's F. My basement has therefore also been warmer than usual. During my illness and hospitalizations back in May, the plant got quite dry, even wilted several times...once to the point that I feared I had lost it. You will note the browning on the older, larger leaves, and the "culture break" in the center leaves, which are noticeably smaller than the others. So perhaps that is what triggered this happy surprise of bloom?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpMrL-D1VZSBhN-CbK42uuD9Obcy1b-Qr-e-GejkiaXZc5ZZbwtiIWLmAOCMDvfzLVKudKECLIF3EaOYFPY53ryX9mFbgVNR8oT70c0In0L4-6EWN_OZTumN-eUg7A6nskUaC2n2_Oqg/s1600/DSCF3286.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512075675555058370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpMrL-D1VZSBhN-CbK42uuD9Obcy1b-Qr-e-GejkiaXZc5ZZbwtiIWLmAOCMDvfzLVKudKECLIF3EaOYFPY53ryX9mFbgVNR8oT70c0In0L4-6EWN_OZTumN-eUg7A6nskUaC2n2_Oqg/s320/DSCF3286.JPG" /></a> Blooms on my 8 year old Petrocosmea parryorum, coming along in the heat of summer, and for the second bloom sequence in less than nine months....a happy, if not puzzling, surprise. The blooms on P. parryorum are clustered on a multi-branched pedicel...certainly one of the most "multifloral" of all Petrocosmea species..... Most produce one to five flowers per pedicel. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVB7GYw0ZUt22ANLzxdW-WCqIQ-X0Ds7n24lj-KLTdqVygNmw42SZRlKcVYWtk7V0W4xCuFqeeUNemY08shhD0RJgJfK_c6KuW1pntdbkqyX15uA7AjGZW082aroBkN4Af7r78dFFJ_Q/s1600/DSCF3296.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512075671396131362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVB7GYw0ZUt22ANLzxdW-WCqIQ-X0Ds7n24lj-KLTdqVygNmw42SZRlKcVYWtk7V0W4xCuFqeeUNemY08shhD0RJgJfK_c6KuW1pntdbkqyX15uA7AjGZW082aroBkN4Af7r78dFFJ_Q/s320/DSCF3296.JPG" /></a> The multiflowered, silvery-haired, bud-packed pedicels of P. parryorum have a tight curl to them as they emerge from underneath the large leaves. I have counted 17 pedicels in total so far in this bloom cycle. </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHA-TLwUgKNDWgEQu7n52uQKoUPbirHYTdMlfOrWzy35Zvxd-jW_bFPTcsGQeVtHH3gw21jV9tchDN01ATy_EdlVwZ9x1OIJx8HsE-c-f65u2Ze5n8Dar2a6QDCYlmXr20B3j-YrHp5YM/s1600/DSCF3282.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512075661112648866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHA-TLwUgKNDWgEQu7n52uQKoUPbirHYTdMlfOrWzy35Zvxd-jW_bFPTcsGQeVtHH3gw21jV9tchDN01ATy_EdlVwZ9x1OIJx8HsE-c-f65u2Ze5n8Dar2a6QDCYlmXr20B3j-YrHp5YM/s320/DSCF3282.JPG" /></a> The "Grandmother" of my Petrocosmea collection, growing in the same five inch pan pot for many years now. I repot the plant every couple of years, removing some of the outer soil. replace it with fresh potting medium and reinsert it into the same pot. Here, you can see evidence of a "culture break" that occured last spring while I was ill. The plant wilted severely several times and with the resumption of good culture, has now produced a large, floriferous plant. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEf3nl7eNRor2Hzv6oxZpulSTPszM82GwNkCtiH8gppFsKogGjgv8IUA70Q6lilNrJ9MPgGwuuNH0RaBWf0eaplGC2lQSAeg6wmVBxTPGmvPKq8bsQhFJsT5tX-FpadyQoZSqaqjvqK8/s1600/DSCF3299.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512075656702546578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEf3nl7eNRor2Hzv6oxZpulSTPszM82GwNkCtiH8gppFsKogGjgv8IUA70Q6lilNrJ9MPgGwuuNH0RaBWf0eaplGC2lQSAeg6wmVBxTPGmvPKq8bsQhFJsT5tX-FpadyQoZSqaqjvqK8/s320/DSCF3299.JPG" /></a> The same plant, pictured from above...note the younger pedicels underneath the leaves, still yet to emerge. This promises to produce a long and memorable bloom cycle for me to enjoy. </div><div> </div><div>So this happy event proves that the more I learn, the less I know about Petrocosmea. Most species have only flowered once annually for me....which until now, I would have assumed P. parryorum to do also. P. parryorum has also only bloomed in winter for me previously...making this summer bloom cycle a bit puzzling. Was it the dry periods that triggered the bloom more than the cold? Is it related to the age of the plant in any way? Was it influenced by the size of the plant, and the mass of foliage, needed to support strong bloom??? Whatever the answer to the riddle, it now offers more questions for study..... but beyond all of that, it gives me pause to marvel and wonder, and thrill at Petrocosmea and Nature....... and isn't that really one of the reasons we garden anyway? <br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-82757583110409392012010-08-23T08:04:00.001-04:002010-11-23T08:31:01.667-05:00Happy Surprises... Petrocosmea 'Keystone's Whipporwill'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tgdT9kMZ9my9RGvJaSI6ukFmBiJjjJ0Ko2ZI0eTN6bbvdv5MyW_OFYJqblMcIccnFKCyaDKVw0KvdVY-5hlngSR7urO5G6sdP67l-JZ19KfSRrpUN5KYXpcU2UN6XazwKZVcSgeWuMg/s1600/DSCF3223.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508576103592935634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tgdT9kMZ9my9RGvJaSI6ukFmBiJjjJ0Ko2ZI0eTN6bbvdv5MyW_OFYJqblMcIccnFKCyaDKVw0KvdVY-5hlngSR7urO5G6sdP67l-JZ19KfSRrpUN5KYXpcU2UN6XazwKZVcSgeWuMg/s320/DSCF3223.JPG" /></a> Every day brings a surprise for the grower and hybridizer of plants. Since the cultivation and hybridization of Petrocosmea is still in it's infancy, I'm finding this genus, my favorite gesneriad genus, especially thrilling. If you have never tried hybridizing, you really must. I promise you that if I can figure it out, anyone can. I have no training in this stuff....I just started with an interest, then a fascination, then, some might argue, an obsession. I read everything I could find on the genus, (and I could find very little to read, let me assure you.) But, mostly, I observed my plants, and tried, and failed, and tried again, and failed again (repeat this ten more times....). Then finally one day, it worked! So, pick a favorite gesneriad or two (I guess to hybridize one would need at least two...)...and try it! You'll be in for an incredible journey!<br /><br />So, what was today's surprise? Well, my hybrid from last year, is flowering again, only five months after it's first flowering...and it is flowering in the summer! Why am I excited about this? Well, for one thing, it shows great promise of having a Petrocosmea that will flower more than once annually....it extends the number of days in a year when the plant will be in flower! And, it extends the flowering season into the summer months...a time when, for most of us, our Petrocosmea plants are not in flower. The hybrid, pictured above, is P. 'Keystone's Whipporwill'. The parentage is P.' Asa Blue' x begoniifolia.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzeVkx-r6yqwEhI4XlhUOUFtDiFix6dlxBqL_2Nluw-S1S_Kf18u-DcybdgO5GGEoO9tyK6T05qZsLJOtyITGLkXCCNsqTbOWj2cAsh-tLmhEeoQH1AHtzy-u1TcPaq2uUjm7w1k6ZQc/s1600/DSCF3220.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508576097009013266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzeVkx-r6yqwEhI4XlhUOUFtDiFix6dlxBqL_2Nluw-S1S_Kf18u-DcybdgO5GGEoO9tyK6T05qZsLJOtyITGLkXCCNsqTbOWj2cAsh-tLmhEeoQH1AHtzy-u1TcPaq2uUjm7w1k6ZQc/s320/DSCF3220.JPG" /></a> P. 'Keystone's Whipporwill' in its second bloom.... gets better with age. The original plant, pictured above, is growing in a three inch diameter, one inch deep condiment cup...the type used in restaurants to serve sauces, etc. The center leaves are tight and puckered due to my choice to switch my fluorescent lights to T8 bulbs about three months ago...resulting in a great deal more light...many of the Pets don't care for it. I will be reducing the hours/day that the lights are on to make the plants happier. But, other than that, the plant has performed well. It grows easily, has not suckered, so far, and has attractive deep green foliage with a bronzy/purple cast and underside. Foliage is reminiscent of the P. begoniifolia parent, but more heart shaped, and a bit softer, like the P. 'Asa Blue' parent. P. 'Asa Blue' is a remake of the cross which produced 'Momo'...P. nervosa x flaccida. It flowers several times a year, and has a high flower count. This cross marked the first success at using a Petrocosmea hybrid as a parent. So these hybrids have three species in the background. </div><div></div><div>With maturity, the pedicels are producing three to five flowers each, on the average. Prior to taking the photo, I removed six spent blossoms. There are still lots of buds coming underneath the leaves. This promises to increase the bloom count and extend the flowering season.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xhYL52KalDY2xZ3xtoMVHlNjZ0uj6j0fGa9mXLttsYcZJGE1V8ACVVw0iYTB1hhAP8tp3rtZ6-LK2R5G8l_uBp2BP-Vni2AkLaVy3jwO5FrxoVAdbPapH8q5oyqrmz_Yf6wwM1eV2SE/s1600/P.+%27Keystone%27s+Whipporwill%27.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 315px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508576092243898466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xhYL52KalDY2xZ3xtoMVHlNjZ0uj6j0fGa9mXLttsYcZJGE1V8ACVVw0iYTB1hhAP8tp3rtZ6-LK2R5G8l_uBp2BP-Vni2AkLaVy3jwO5FrxoVAdbPapH8q5oyqrmz_Yf6wwM1eV2SE/s320/P.+%27Keystone%27s+Whipporwill%27.JPG" /></a> The lighting in the photo doesn't clearly show the attractive bright yellow stripes in the throat of the flowers...but they are there. The blue in the photo is pretty accurate. Flowers have the shape of the begoniifolia parent, and this is also where the yellow comes from. Flowers are larger than either parent too. Plant size seems compact so far.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyXECKj-_IHeRCVQYMi6S7KWIZXEw8o-JxN3nFKGeJBt7aDVpv1O0ai7Q9PlrZeE5p1TTZ0SIyG983X3rmW5YztgudX1UY3_TPqEd4LR6fBofJOzmwLLGtJUqkCzFYSXK5KI-5t9_WZ4/s1600/P.'Keystone's+Whipporwill2%27.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508576090974897378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyXECKj-_IHeRCVQYMi6S7KWIZXEw8o-JxN3nFKGeJBt7aDVpv1O0ai7Q9PlrZeE5p1TTZ0SIyG983X3rmW5YztgudX1UY3_TPqEd4LR6fBofJOzmwLLGtJUqkCzFYSXK5KI-5t9_WZ4/s320/P.'Keystone's+Whipporwill2%27.JPG" /></a> Another characteristic that I selected P. 'Keystone's Whipporwill' for was the attractive purple flower stems and calyces. I felt that since most Petrocosmea stems and calyces are green, this added another pleasing characteristic to the hybrid. I have distributed a few leaves to close friends for testing. Now, with further evaluation, I will begin to distribute the plant more widely...guess I'd better put some leaves down for myself too...for insurance. More than two years in the works, I'm happy with the result and consider the effort well worth it!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-15657658409918853722010-08-22T17:42:00.002-04:002010-08-22T18:06:47.392-04:00Bigfoot....Story of a Big and Furry seedling!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucM7X12Ng5OZWZqaY062Z0ARnX4AKFyAvEiargicbUxNfGwJr7Hh2_tvw5yMsTGljhyphenhyphenKNYQ_u415OtDRzvyLoBPCRXr4sfZij07v5O-rih0nxbAGLIYUBp68Kr-2-aPi42DrEeDhWpdA/s1600/DSCF3182.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508353768359284130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucM7X12Ng5OZWZqaY062Z0ARnX4AKFyAvEiargicbUxNfGwJr7Hh2_tvw5yMsTGljhyphenhyphenKNYQ_u415OtDRzvyLoBPCRXr4sfZij07v5O-rih0nxbAGLIYUBp68Kr-2-aPi42DrEeDhWpdA/s320/DSCF3182.JPG" /></a>I have trouble even calling this baby a seedling...it's so big! The picture above shows a great example of the agonies of hybridizing....waiting to see a new seedlings full potential before deciding to keep it or cull it. Sure it's a nice plant...even a nice Petrocosmea...but I'm trying to hybridize for more than a "nice" Petrocosmea...we already have plenty of those designed by Mother Nature in the form of the various species.... At around nine inches in diameter...yes nine inches in diameter, its an impressive green plant. The result of a cross between the compact and happy little species P. forrestii, which was it's mother, and the much larger and bolder P. duclouxii (or grandiflora, depending on whose opinion you favor). It gets it's form from its mom. To look at the photo and not know the plant size, one could easily assume it was a photo of a non-flowering P. forrestii...but this guy is BIG!!! Larger, even, than it's father..P. duclouxii.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYkHfr4_gRaXFkicj-xN-GzftWjumN5V7w7vq21MIUDGdON1UZdrLkfoWRgdrIctazAPecfqmEqp6yRfvZXFMpDBwfAfamymhgsAOk1-sSQvqbOgAX_6mFc6-sSjmdBfw05aOkRjvKA8/s1600/DSCF3188.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508353759764659218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYkHfr4_gRaXFkicj-xN-GzftWjumN5V7w7vq21MIUDGdON1UZdrLkfoWRgdrIctazAPecfqmEqp6yRfvZXFMpDBwfAfamymhgsAOk1-sSQvqbOgAX_6mFc6-sSjmdBfw05aOkRjvKA8/s320/DSCF3188.JPG" /></a> Note the furry leaves...the long silvery hairs on this plant clearly came from P. duclouxii. They are soft and silky and enhance the plant's appearance and appeal. This seedling has two named siblings...P. 'Keystone's Little Rascal' and P. 'Keystone's Angora'. ..(both of which are pictured in previous posts on the blog). It did bloom, last year. Flowers were very similar in color and size to it's P. duclouxii parent. The flower count for a first bloom seedling was very good. My records show that it produced 22 flowers over the first bloom season. The bloom season was from late January through the end of March...so it had an acceptable flowering period. </div><div> </div><div>So why am I hesitant to name it? My hesitation is from two concerns....1) was it different enough from P. 'Keystone's Angora' and 2) the flower pedicels were long...much like P. forrestii. The pedicels appeared wiry and didn't hold the flowers upright at the best attitude. They did support the flowers..they didn't flop, it was just that when I looked at them...they didn't look back at me as nicely as I would have hoped. The flowers were quite large...larger than either of it's two siblings, which was a plus. The lobes, however, were sort of pointed more like the forrestii parent and I felt the rounder lobes of 'Keystone's Angora' were more attractive. The flowers on this one were more "star-like" and pointier in appearance. </div><div> </div><div>So, another year of growth has shown that this seedling is different in several promising ways, and it is surely larger than it's two siblings. It shapes up nicely, and makes an attractive rosette. Lets just see what the next flowering season produces. And, of course, we'll see if it produces suckers...so far, none of the selections in this cross have done so. (I select against offset or sucker production in my hybrids, as I feel it detracts from the nice, smooth, flat rosette. The plants root easily from leaf cuttings, so I feel the suckers are not needed.)<br /><br /><div></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-6435199657838418262010-08-14T20:06:00.001-04:002010-08-14T20:26:37.398-04:00"The Wait..." New Petrocosmea Hybrid SeedlingsThe miserably hot weather we've been having is not "a favorite" with my Petrocosmeas. While they much prefer the cooler temperatures of autumn and winter, the humidity that comes along with the warm temperatures does provide some comfort. As the days get hotter, I lower the number of hours that my lights are on and increase the air movement in the basement growing area. The mature plants seem to just stand still, in suspended animation, while the little seedlings actually chug along, growing at quite a rapid pace. <br /><br />A few species are in bloom....P. barbata, P. begoniifolia, and even P. nervosa and P. sp. 'vittatae' are blooming. The hybrids, P. 'Asa Blue' and 'Short'nin' Bread' are also in flower now. To test my theory that successful seed set only occurs in cold temperatures, I tried to self all of the above and got nothing. I tried crossing several of them also...and got one enlarging seedpod on nervosa, for a month, then it died. They just seemed to laugh at me and my folly of asking them to do something that I was pretty sure they were not about to do....and they didn't! I have tested pollination in warmer temperatures for two summers now without success. Last year I did get three mature seedpods on P. begoniifolia, but when I opened the dried seedpods, there was not a single seed to be found. I even examined them under a microscope...no seeds. In winter, with cold temperatures, I have much greater success with seed formation. <br /><br />I mentioned the hybrid seedlings. This summer I am watching a number of exciting new crosses coming along. My favorite, so far, this year, is a cross between P. forrestii and P. minor smooth leaf form. This is only the third hybrid that I have been able to produce from P. minor. The plants are making lovely deep green rosettes, similar in size and appearance to P. forrestii, but with a deep green glossiness to the leaves that is definitely P. minor!!! One seedling in particular has leaves that are very glossy. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoz3QctznkcTWPd1CHYk-C71Dufw69Jfq0tOPQ5dgdrX2NRKxgNkdf59964KlS3jZwVf-B-cuomGowHDA_1edwNllqj7d-kbPCwej-A_kIZ0ee7kauqkTdj7SMk_qOhp3wpileKtE9co/s1600/DSCF3180.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505421654882170338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoz3QctznkcTWPd1CHYk-C71Dufw69Jfq0tOPQ5dgdrX2NRKxgNkdf59964KlS3jZwVf-B-cuomGowHDA_1edwNllqj7d-kbPCwej-A_kIZ0ee7kauqkTdj7SMk_qOhp3wpileKtE9co/s320/DSCF3180.JPG" /></a> A trio of seedlings from a cross between P. forrestii and the smooth leaf form of P. minor. The seedling in the lower portion of the photo is much glossier than it's siblings and a bit deeper green in color. From among a tray of a dozen seedlings, this one has stood out from the very early stages for the glossiness of the leaves. Note the slightly different leaf shapes and the differences in the leaf veining. The seedling in the upper right has leaves that are nearly perfectly round, like minor..... while the other two seedlings have a bit more of a point at the tip of the leaf...more like forrestii.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyKV4Gqu2AC4zD1esjJWad6VtcC9-qwqcUWQKIuQn-hg1c-TpAPoKgwEmuBOC0YoCHIQkWFPrXfAMO7QBPL-tair-tekW5ObUS03qq_F5l7p96ZMd_635IbZ5lQS21Xf8iMGjU8ichB0/s1600/DSCF3177.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505421648394546082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyKV4Gqu2AC4zD1esjJWad6VtcC9-qwqcUWQKIuQn-hg1c-TpAPoKgwEmuBOC0YoCHIQkWFPrXfAMO7QBPL-tair-tekW5ObUS03qq_F5l7p96ZMd_635IbZ5lQS21Xf8iMGjU8ichB0/s320/DSCF3177.JPG" /></a> "The One To Watch" at least from the standpoint of foliage. This seedling of P. forrestii x P. minor smooth leaf form has leaves that are significantly glossier and shinier than it's siblings. I'm talking to this little guy every day now! The seedling in the photo is now four inches in diameter. <br /><br /><div></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183611745867623262.post-77412005198751951002010-07-07T20:16:00.000-04:002010-07-07T20:46:54.017-04:00Back at work.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3T30sshbLOZgxEDmlymO0Olg5i6tpcSy0mwcgzR1di2_fthyF-h0Vq1RNS8HoUMLsArcltUgh3OAS32vQGcIFXRMDfXrCyDxAVcppM2qtlvZNTyXs8ewUfHfYwqReALcvh8gjFSbZgko/s1600/DSCF2929.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491324375767522226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3T30sshbLOZgxEDmlymO0Olg5i6tpcSy0mwcgzR1di2_fthyF-h0Vq1RNS8HoUMLsArcltUgh3OAS32vQGcIFXRMDfXrCyDxAVcppM2qtlvZNTyXs8ewUfHfYwqReALcvh8gjFSbZgko/s320/DSCF2929.JPG" /></a> Greetings! One never knows what life is going to toss at us. The last couple of months have been a bit tough with an unexpected illness and surgery. Three hospital stays and a few weeks to recover and everything is fine now...things seem back on track. The past couple of weeks have seen me able to get back among the beloved Petrocosmeas....I've missed them~! But, as they always do, they banished my duldrums with the annual start of the flowering season. The earliest to bloom for me, P. formosa, was in all of her glory when I made my first visit back to the basement plantroom. What a welcome! <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmGOoC0j3vwb4ID_HIGlDGV-UO3Lh6-zSmSr0VIgBLW8YMe-VAtfM-4r0SBuoSH47bC6NwdhFoMFY6PHwHZbIxCva4LcxY5mdUffiHQcBXmawOm8lu_xlbFSDnErEp3AbfKpsdN7NZZM/s1600/DSCF2730.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491324370648572818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmGOoC0j3vwb4ID_HIGlDGV-UO3Lh6-zSmSr0VIgBLW8YMe-VAtfM-4r0SBuoSH47bC6NwdhFoMFY6PHwHZbIxCva4LcxY5mdUffiHQcBXmawOm8lu_xlbFSDnErEp3AbfKpsdN7NZZM/s320/DSCF2730.JPG" /></a>While P. formosa most typically blooms in pale orchid purple, a fellow Petrocosmea enthusiast in New York gave me a peek at his white P. formosa. Not sure where he acquired the plant, he did not recall it being given to him as a white form...however, that's what it has produced for the past couple of seasons now. He observes that the flowers remain pure white with the typical yellow base to the upper corolla lobes. I did note, that the yellow blotch in this form is more lemon yellow whereas the yellow blotch in the typical purple form that I grow is more orange-yellow. I have a large leaf form and a small leaf form and both produce purple flowers with orange-yellow blotches. I'm hoping this one remains white.... a lovely flower it was indeed!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNCfIwFSp6ZUZSjwNpuIoFd-NV-EUH2xfQWT-QmMpCLaeKbMTjwDB5kRfgpUGnvhdbQMfhZSM3JPKKFvk3PQF8oj-CY13InLqMEh8MNPaiv4sQguIAmbfTaKQSBI_kC40s2nGyXTQjyc/s1600/DSCF3007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491324360145649170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNCfIwFSp6ZUZSjwNpuIoFd-NV-EUH2xfQWT-QmMpCLaeKbMTjwDB5kRfgpUGnvhdbQMfhZSM3JPKKFvk3PQF8oj-CY13InLqMEh8MNPaiv4sQguIAmbfTaKQSBI_kC40s2nGyXTQjyc/s320/DSCF3007.JPG" /></a> Getting back to the Petrocosmeas just as they are producing this years flush of growth made me restless to get things groomed, repotted and "back in order". This photo shows an assortment of species Petrocosmeas in the matt-lined trays in which I grow them. The larger plants in the foreground are in 5 inch pan pots and are a couple of years old now. They were groomed of old outer leaves, the top quarter inch or so of soil was gently washed away and they were top dressed with systemic insecticide granules and fresh soil mix. The mats were washed in hot water, detergent and bleach and repositioned in the bottom of the trays, where they were dampened to provide humidity. These mats are cheap acrylic blankets cut into 22x22" sections, folded once to make a double thickness to line the 11x22" nursery trays. As the plants come into bud in the fall, the trays are covered with a plastic humidity dome to increase the humidity for the flowers....which aids is successfull pollination when I hybridize them. Last the plants were watered in with dilute fertilize water. And, for good measure, I told them how beautiful they were and encouraged them to grow up to be big and strong.... <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguX5WxuaAUDG_G_7FoQ_cDvvQWPQhGmGH6RMWWoaATiQmacWtHHUYYBVwb2QwHscPsl-LJsRg2FSbTxk_AL7Kf6c2SHCWz60aZr3zwx8T9oFEGAlaHcfMWs6Se9xWGHa2WIKLisTtAU4/s1600/DSCF2757.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491324353475175122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguX5WxuaAUDG_G_7FoQ_cDvvQWPQhGmGH6RMWWoaATiQmacWtHHUYYBVwb2QwHscPsl-LJsRg2FSbTxk_AL7Kf6c2SHCWz60aZr3zwx8T9oFEGAlaHcfMWs6Se9xWGHa2WIKLisTtAU4/s320/DSCF2757.JPG" /></a> I've often been asked "How do you find new Petrocosmeas?" Admittedly, they can be a challenge to find. I am very fortunate to have great plant friends who know my love for the genus, and when the acquire new selections, the share them with me. The box above was a generous gift from a dear Canadian friend who brought them across the border to me last March when I attended the Buffalo, New York gesneriad and violet show. The included a new unidentified species labeled P. sp. 'Chinese #3' and a new form of P. rosettifolia with nice bluish lavendar flowers...(this made my fifth form of P. rosettifolia...all distinctly different from each other, but all clearly, the same species.....of course DNA analysis helped me to prove that!) How exciting to have five forms of the same Petrocosmea species! So, my advice to those wanting to build a collection is to get the word out to all of your plant friends......Gesneriad lovers are among the most generous people in the world!</div><div> </div><div>Once home, I dutifully put down leaves from each of the new Petrocosmeas in the box above, partly as insurance again loss, and partly to be able to distribute them to others. That is one of the best nuggets of advice I ever got from a wise gesneriad grower.....Whenver acquiring a new gesneriad...PROPAGATE IT!!! That has saved me from losing a precious new acquisition so many times! </div><div> </div><div>It feels good to be back. I'll do my best to post to the blog more often now!<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12100342469389913758noreply@blogger.com