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| Primulina 'Loki' (Shalit) |
Story # 143,
The Mid-Atlantic African Violet
Society (MAAVS) convention and sale brought together many advanced hobbyists
devoted to African Violets and other Gesneriads and several specialized plant
vendors.
Primulinas were exhibited in the
judged show and many varieties were sold by the vendors. The experts were there. I asked these knowledgeable growers what they think about the
prospect of Primulinas becoming more popular.
1. Primulinas are a very
minor category with mail order sales either steady or going down.
2. Flowering takes a long time and then the
individual flowers are short-lived.
3. For a young plant
to set buds, the plantlet should be kept in a small pot (2” - 2 ½”). Repotting too soon may prevent buds and delay
the buds from progressing to come up and flower.
4. Propagation by
leaves is variable in the number of plantlets that you get. Multiple ways to cut the leaves are possible
and trials are needed to discover which way works best.
5. The descriptive
term: ‘Patterned leaves’ may be more accurate than ‘Variegated leaves’. ‘Patterned’ is stable and ‘variegated’ is variable.
6. There are many species
in cultivation and many named hybrids that are interesting enough to test the
commercial market as foliage plants.
7. Primulinas are very
durable and tolerant of drought and neglect, making them acceptable
houseplants
.
8. Very few
hybridizers are working with Primulinas.
Tremendous patience is needed to tolerate the long flowering delays.
9. It is unlikely the
Primulina will be sold in flower as a commercial plant. Small foliage plants are its only
chance. The yellow flowered--- P. ‘Aiko’
may be an exception.
10. Whether Primulina can grow into the common name ---‘Asian Violet’ is uncertain. The
purists among hobbyists want the common name to be ‘Primulina’.
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