'Prudence Risley' has passed the test...

                                 Sinningia 'Prudence Risley' bought at Longwood Gardens - 2012

            Plants come and go, and some should stay.

 

            Sinningia ‘Prudence Risley’ has proven itself to be a dependable flowering houseplant and needs to be available to garden centers.  It has red tubular flowers that open in succession on a short branched green plant.

 

            Production could be speeded up with tissue culture turning out thousands, but top cuttings can work if commitment is made to enough stock plants.  Root one tip, cut its top piece for the next crop.  The two to four branches set bud quickly and will flower with a head of bright red flowers to draw attention of indoor gardeners.      ----- A side issue is that it wants to flower so much that it’s hard to keep the shoots vegetative for propagation.

 

            After a long flowering period, the top will die back and look ugly.  A tuber has been forming and will resprout for another round of top growth and flowering --- A very rewarding plant.

 

            My neighbor, Vicky, has her ‘Prudence’ in a big patio container for summer flowering.  She keeps the tuber in the planter over the winter in a cool and dry basement.

 

            ‘Prudence' can be in a small hanging basket at a window so it can get maximum light to keep it short for flowering. 

 

            Even if it must stretch for light it will flower on the trailing stems.  Some people like free form.  I like short and sturdy.

 

            Sinningia ‘Prudence Risley’ has been tested for over 10 years.  It’s pretty and red.

 

            Try one and tell your friends.

                           'Prudence Risley' grown by Jim Steurerlein -Hybridizer