Will flowers be the surprise inside?

Primulina 'Loki' flowering at the West window.

Story # 150,

            Seth Godin likes the idea that marketing your product with something extra will get people talking about it.

"The thing that makes something remarkable isn’t usually directly related to the original purpose of the product or service. It’s the FREE PRIZE INSIDE, the extra stuff, the stylish bonus, the design or the remarkable service or pricing that makes people talk about it and spread the word." 

– Seth Godin

            Will the long term success of Primulinas be the surprise flowers that eventually show up on the decorative foliage plant you bought?

            Maybe the quotes from gardeners will be:

            “My Asian Violet was thriving on neglect when it decided to flower. I never expected that.  I didn’t even know that they flowered”

How to get the Red to come out?

Primulina 'Loki' grown by Paul Susi with Red showing.

Story # 148,

            Primulina ‘Loki’ is a plant collector’s delight and many growers are watching it.

            This reddish/purple coloration is showing up as a mystery.  Where is it coming from and what causes it?   --- Light, fertilizer, age, temperature? 

            Nobody knows.

            If it can be consistently duplicated, we can make 'Loki', the best compact Primulina, even more interesting.

Streptocarpella 'Dancing Doves' --- For the record.

Streptocarpella 'Dancing Doves'

Story # 147,

            Streptocarpella ‘Dancing Doves’ deserves its own story.  This white flowered clone has an uncertain origin and an unstable name, until now.

            The plant was exhibited by Dale Martens at the 2014 Nashville Gesneriad Convention.  I was happy to find this white form to go with Streptocarpella ‘Concord Blue’, a Spring annual, often grown as a hanging basket.

            When I asked Dale for a cutting, she offered me her show plant for stock.

            Now the name.  After getting home from the show, I emailed Dale to get the name settled.  I yielded to her to name it, but she proposed several possibilities and yielded back to me.  From her list I liked ‘Dancing Doves’, since most doves are white and Streptocarpella flowers on wiry stems are always bouncing around.  She agreed that she liked ‘Dancing Doves’ as the best name.

            My production of Streptocarpella ‘Dancing Doves’ will be released though Longwood Gardens Plant Shop and other upscale Garden Centers.  It is the perfect companion to ‘Concord Blue’.

Overheard about Primulina

           

 Story # 146,

            These are some comments that I've captured from Gesneriphiles, a message board that I follow off and on.  Often the threads are disjointed and fleeting.  I've gathered a few pictures and words from advanced hobbyist about Primulina ---- Asian Violets, like an African Violet, but better!

            “Primulina ‘Loki’ is one of my favorite Peter Shalit hybrids.  I love the foliage shape and markings.  I’m growing this in part soil mix and part hydroponic rocks.”

Karyn Cichocki

Primulina 'Loki' Grown by Karyn Cichocki

Primulina 'Loki' grown by Karyn Cichocki

Primulina 'Rachel' grown by Karyn Cichocki

                                "Another of my favorite Primulina hybrids".

Primulina liboensis White Veined grown by Jim Roberts

       "Agree that Loki is at the peak of the hybrid list. But Primulina liboensis White Veined is at the top of the species list. The peduncle's haven't elongated yet, but the first flower of this cycle is poking out. Foliage is wonderful. "   

                                                                                      Jim Roberts

Primulina 'Loki' grown by Paul Susi

            “It's mine and has striking red/purple markings on the leaves. It is about 12" from two t8 tubes.

                                                                                  Paul Susi