The Columneas are coming!

Columnea 'Jude' grown by Ron

 

The Columneas are coming!

 

            Soon there will be some of the old Columnea hybrids showing up.  Columneas, one of those great Gesneriads that no commercial grower deals with, are worth having in small hanging baskets.

 

            There is no breakthrough, nothing new.  But we can grow the old hybrids which nobody knows about --- they’ll look new.

 

            A lot of common names add to the confusion.  Some are called ‘Goldfish Plant’, but that applies more to Nematanthus.  I like ‘Flying Dolphin’ better.

 

            There are a few variegated leaf varieties that are interesting to have even without flowers.

 

            I like ‘Aladdin’s Lamp’ with black foliage and red flowers.  Also, ‘Inferno’ with burnt orange flowers.  These would be considered everblooming which means they can flower anytime with age.

 

            Columneas are vegetatively propagated with tip and stem cuttings.  To get a flower on a small pot you must maintain stock baskets to get budded tips.  By the time the cutting is rooted the buds start to open.  Time to sell.

 

There is no fast way to grow Columneas, so there will not be a lot available.  Because they are arching, trailing plants, small hanging baskets are ideal.

 

            That’s what we have.

Columnea 'Frosty Hills'