Seedling worth watching

Tolumnia with large flower

Seedling worth watching

 

          This Tolumnia flower is bigger than others, so far.  It’s from the hybrid seedlings group imported in September 2024.  There is the chance that it is bigger due to culture as opposed to genetic.

 

          It also happens to be the ‘Double-spike’ plant.

 

          Is this how award-winning Orchids are discovered?  I don’t have any reference as to how this compares to other Tolumnia in the Orchid world.

 

          The plan is to grow for several years and see if it is truly exceptional.

 

          Hide and watch!

 

Imagine if it were true

Tolumnia one fan, two spikes

     Imagine if it were true.

           

If Tolumnia Orchids produced two flowering spikes per fan growth, it would revolutionize small Orchids.

 

            The last story showed that it happened once.

 

            I’ve found another one in the picture… one fan, two spikes.

 

If the ‘Double-spike’ trait is real and can be crossed into the highest awarded hybrids, the plant world will be a better place.

This never happens!

 

Tolumnia with two spikes on one fan

              I’m learning how Tolumnia Orchids flower.

 

Flowering is the only thing that counts in flowering houseplants.

 

A single fan only flowers once, then a side fan must grow to give the next flower.

 

              What if we could get each fan to have two flower spikes?  These pictures show that it can happen --- Two spikes per growth.

 

                  This is a hybrid seedling; therefore, a unique combination of characteristics can occur.  Could it be that this plant has a gene that causes it to have two flower spikes per fan growth?

 

              It will take years of observation to see if this rare flowering ever repeats as a stable characteristic.

When Should a Clone be Singled Out?

A New Clone of Bridal Veil

 

                     When should a clone be singled out?

 

Tahitian Bridal Veil has been around forever as an easy houseplant.  It has narrow, pointy leaves that are dull green and gives small white flowers when mature.

 

            My friend Bob found a plant with very purple leaves.  He had never seen this purple color on Bridal Veil and bought me one.

 

            The definition of a rare plant is one that you’ve never seen before.  This purple color is unique and is distinctively different from the normal green leaves.

 

            Looking around on the internet, you can find this version of an easy houseplant.  So, it’s not rare for those who grow it.  But it is worth noting.

 

            A plant can be singled out for naming if it is distinctive and can be vegetatively propagated.  But who decides?

 

            The botanical name is Gibasis pellucida everywhere in the world.  Cultivated varieties (cv.) are permissible if distinctive.  I say this plant deserves recognition with its own clone name.

 

            Gibasis pellucida cv. ‘Very Purple’

 

            The common name will be Very Purple Tahitian Bridal Veil.  I’ll need to shop this around to see if appropriate.

 

            Will this name catch on?  Only if a grower champions the idea and produces thousands of them.

What to call a plant that is Indestructible?

Peperomia cv.

                              What to call a plant that is indestructible?

 

Peperomia are very easy houseplants that have many colors and forms.  In 2022, the National Garden Bureau picked Peperomia to be the first Houseplant of the Year.

 

            We grow many Peperomia species and sell hundreds every week.  Is there one better than another?

 

            Yogi Berra told us that “You can observe a lot just by watching”.  I had several flats of a trailing, dark leaf, stripped Peperomia that was seriously neglected and underwatered.  It just sat back there on the bench and lived.  This is an extreme trial worth noticing.

 

            Garden center customers often just want a ‘plant I can’t kill’.  I have it.

 

            This durable Peperomia has been hard to identify.  We have several similar clones with uncertain species names ---- quadrangularis, angulata, beetle.

 

            My plant is different from others.  Its leaves are wider than the ones we normally sell.

 

            So, I have a distinctive variety and it’s indestructible.  What should I call it?  I’ve looked for words meaning indestructible without success.

           

            So, for now, I’m calling it Peperomia quadranularis cv. ‘Indestructible’.

 

            cv. = cultivated variety, selected for desirable traits and vegetatively propagated.

 

            This is a legitimate botanical name and can be used for the vegetative propagated pots from the original stock.

 

            Plants need a name and a use to sell.  Being on the list of plants -- ‘I can’t easily kill’ is very valuable.

 

            Peperomia quadrangularis cv. ‘Indestructible’ is worth promoting.

 

What Problem are you Solving?

Tolumnia Orchids

 

                                    What problem are you solving?

 

Business theory tells you that successful enterprises only exist if they solve a problem.

 

Commercial horticulture produces flowers that gardeners want to buy.  What is the problem that is being solved?  Homeowners want colorful plants to add to their landscape.  Home decorators want colorful houseplants to soften the room.  Weddings overflow with cut flower arrangements.  Traditional funerals have flower arrangements in memory of a good life.

 

We are in the business of growing unique houseplants in small pots.  The trend is graduating from green foliage to small flowering houseplants.

 

Small and flowering is a very difficult category.  Leading the list are Mini Violets or mini-Cyclamen or dwarf Crown of Thorns.

 

Orchids are now common at grocery stores.  Phalaenopsis are spectacular with long lasting flowers at affordable prices.  A worldwide supply line evolved to bring Orchids out of the exotic hobby/collector world and into the home market.  For twenty dollars or less than a large pizza, you can get a Phalaenopsis Orchid for everyday enjoyment.  Treat yourself, please buy one often.

Hiding in plain sight is a very miniature Orchid called Tolumnia.  This durable plant grows and flowers in 2”-3” pots.  I had a few 50 years ago and was fascinated by their wiry flower spikes that open with colorful, cute little flowers.

 

They are hidden in the Orchid hobby world due to limited supply.  But I’ve found a quantity to import and offer for sale to our Independent Garden Centers.

 

The problem is:  I need a small flowering houseplant.

 

The answer is:  Tolumnia.  It is a long-lasting flowering houseplant which happens to be an Orchid.

Anticipation for Orchid Flowering ...

Tolumnia in Spike on Windowsill

 

          Orchids are very exotic.  They are big and flashy or small and cute.

           Orchids take a long time to grow and flower. 

             Tolumnia were formerly a part of the more common genus, Oncidium, and now have their own Genus.

              This one on my windowsill has a spike moving toward opening colorful flowers.

                This wonder of nature requires a lot of waiting.

                Anticipation.