Lipstick plants that flower --- A New Concept

Aeschynanthus with many flowers and buds

Lipstick plants that flower --- A New concept.

 

            The lipstick plant is the best example of a common name put to good use.  Nobody can say or spell Aeschynanthus --- the Genus name.

 

            Everyone would buy a lipstick plant if they could see it in flower.  Thousands could be sold.  The problem is we don’t know how to make that happen.

 

            The flowering response --- what triggers flowering is elusive.  Is it the day length, the temperature or age.  If you know, tell me.

 

            Major commercial crops must perform on schedule.  Waiting for the lipsticks to flower, soon eliminates them from production.

 

            This pictured plant has flowers up and down the stems, We don’t know why?

 

            I had collected many Aeschynanthus varieties but this one just decided to flower.  Why?

 

            We will propagate it to see if flowering can be duplicated on a branched plant.

  

You Need a Little Spot Of Color!

A Little Spot of Color!

Your need a Little Spot of Color

 

            Color is a major contributor to life.  Have you bought a new car lately?  With all the options built in, the only decision is:  What color do you want?  It they don’t have your color , it’s usually a deal breaker.  My color is blue, but I got red.  The pandemic had crippled the supply at the time.

 

            A national brand selling plants, The Sill, has a great saying:  ‘Plants make people happy!’

 

            Just as universal is: ‘Color makes people happy!’ 

 

            Our Miniature Achimenes need a brand name to capture our new category of houseplant.

 

            ‘A Little Spot of Color’ is being considered.

 

            It describes our small Achimenes exactly.  Flowering plants in a 2.5” pot are little spots of color.

 

            Why would you want one and what would you do with it?

 

            Your desk is crowded.  Get a pretty ceramic container that you can just pop in a little flowering plant.  Replace it as needed.  Always have a little spot of color on your desk.

 

            Place settings at a party, especially bridal parties need a little spot of color at each setting.  We get requests all the time for a small plant that is the bridal shower gift --- a little spot of color like a mini-Violet, Mini succulent or now a Miniature Achimenes.

 

            This morning the internet told me people want simple.

 

            Sometimes you just want a little spot of color.

 

Primulina - The Red Leaves Mystery

Primulina 'Loki' By Paul -- Red leaves

 

            The mystery of Red leaves in the center of Primulina continues.  There has been speculation about this for 10 years.

             The working theory is that it is the light spectrum.

            Or a combination of various environmental factors, like cold.

            If I find out and can duplicate it, I will not tell you.  It will be a proprietary trade secret.

            It remains to be seen if the market will care.  Will you buy a red center Primulina ahead of a green center Primulina? 

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette' - The best Miniature Achimenes

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette'

                     Here is Achimenes 'Petite Fadette' on July 5, 2023 in preparation to go to the Gesneriad Convention in Richmond VA.

                      So what happens to the plants after the rough handling of the show tear-down and the travel home when it no longer matters if the plant is perfect?

                      Here it is,  four weeks later.

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette' - Four weeks later

Landisville Flower Trials --- My Groupies

Interns at Landisville Flower Trials

 

Here are my Groupies at the Landisville Flower Trials Field Day.

 

Penn State University Extension has its annual flower trials at the farm in Landisville PA.  National seed companies and propagators of vegetative annuals enter their best and newest varieties to be grown in big pots in the field for comparison.

 

This event is held for commercial growers and garden center managers to meet to evaluate new varieties for next Spring sales.

 

I was there as a vender looking for new customers for our Mini Houseplants.

 

I was giving out pots of Vietnamese Violets and these Trial Garden Interns stopped by.  They are to report back to me of their success with my new category of plants.

Where are your Vietnamese Violets?

Metapetrocosmea tamiana - Gesneriad Convention 2023

 

Where are your Vietnamese Violets?

 

Vietnamese Violets are new and a different category of houseplants.

 

Metapetrocosmea tamiana is the first and only member of the group.

 

When and where will there be more?

 

There are two possibilities.

 

First, there are descriptions of 5 species in the genius Metapetrocosmea.  M. tamiana is the only one in cultivation in the United States.  Attempts are being made to establish the other rare species.  Hybrids among these species are unknown, but the potential is there.

 

Second, a newly introduced plant, Michaelmoelleria vietnamensis qualifies as a Vietnamese Violet.  The plant grows like an African Violet and is native to South Vietnam.  The leaf markings are variable so different clones can be named.  A project has been started to select and purify distinctive clones.  There is potential for hybrids between Metapetrocosmea and Primulina.  If that is successful, many interesting plants will join as Vietnamese Violets.

 

Vietnamese Violets are coming.

The case for only one Achimenes

Achimenes 'Blue Swan' grown outside by Barb, July 2023

 

The case for promoting only one Achimenes for commercial production.

 

Achimenes is a new, different category of flowering houseplant that can go outside.

 

Can it have any chance of success if there is only one variety to pick from?

 

Most plant introductions have a series of colors to choose from.

 

If ‘Blue Swan’ is judged to be the best variety due to the most important characteristic:  Heat Tolerance, will it be enough to establish Achimenes?

 

It has a sturdy upright habit with large blue flowers.

 

Production schedules are still being worked out.  By starting plants in the Winter, flowering can begin mid-May in time for Spring/Summer growing.  If ‘Blue Swan’ can be grown well, then other colors can be added in 2-3 years.

 

Marketing is often winner-take-all, so start with the very best variety, brought to you by the leading Achimenes developer, Gary’s Gesneriad Farm LLC,

 

Selected 10 years ago, ‘Blue Swan’ has proven itself in practical testing.

 

‘Blue Swan’ --- The one to have, if you’re only having one.

Streptocarpus 'Jealous Heart' -- More Clues

 

Streptocarpus 'Jealous Heart' - 2013

I’m searching for the most heat tolerant Streptocarpus, which, in my judgement, is ‘Jealous Heart’.

 

I’ve found a reference to this plant in Gesneriads, vol 63, number 3, Third Quarter 2013.  Mary Schaeffer reported that ‘Jealous Heart’ was picked for the Challenge Class at the Philadelphia Flower Show – 2013.

 

I had forgotten that I was involved with that pick and grew the starter plants that were distributed to the growers who entered to show that they were the best home growers. 

 

The significance of this history is that we know that the pool of people who know this variety is bigger than expected.

 

Does anyone still have it?

One Hundred Dollar Reward

Streptocarpus 'Jealous Heart' - Heat tolerant

Houseplants have multiple variable genetic characteristics.  Flower color is the one we observe and manipulate the most.

 

Now, heat tolerance is becoming more important.  Your favorite houseplant may thrive in your air-conditioned kitchen, but you may have never bought it if it was wilted down in the heat of your Garden Center.

 

Streptocarpus is famous for wilting when growing in temperatures above 85 degrees.  They recover when given cool, but it is an annoying trait.

 

Ten years ago, I had identified a variety that never wilted in the summer heat --- ‘Jealous Heart’ --- a pretty pink.

 

If I had it, I would cross it onto many other pretty hybrids to see if we can transfer heat tolerance into all Streptocarpus.

 

I would like to have it back again.  There is a one-hundred-dollar reward for its return.

 

Please email if you have one to share.

 

Vietnamese Violets are Coming Soon

Vietnamese Violet - Perfectly grown

 

If you study entrepreneurship, the ultimate strategy is to find a product that has no competition in a new category.  You perfect production at a low cost, introduce it to the market and dominate as the category King.

 

This picture shows what a perfectly grown Vietnamese Violet can look like.  If my crop has half as many flowers, I will call it a success.

 

How did they do this?

 

I know how to grow Vietnamese violets.  But every successful business has a secret --- we see something that others don’t.

 

If I tell you how, then as they say: ‘The cat’s out of the bag’.

Sinningia 'Arkansas Empress'

Sinningia 'Arkansas Empress' - May 2022

 

Is there a place for this flowering houseplant?

 

            Sinningia ‘Arkansas Empress’ is a hybrid made by Dr Jon Lindstrom, University of Arkansas.  Jon made many spectacular hybrids before his tragic death to cancer.

 

            ‘Arkansas Empress’ is a cross of insularis X conspicua and from Jon’s notes on Flickr in 2010, it was his selection. Apparently the F1 seedlings were variable.

 

            The plant gets big. You need a 6” pot to hold it up and it takes time to flower.  The clusters of salmon tubular flowers make it worth the wait.

 

            Sinningias form tubers as a method of survival so they have extra value.  The tuber can be kept from year to year to regrow and flower.

 

            It is a great ‘Inside Out’ houseplant.  It can be started inside and then put out in your patio planter.

 

            If the plant can be tied to Spring flower sales, you will need a lot. The only practical method of massive propagation is tissue culture. 

 

It has been hidden out there in the hobby world in personal collections.  This plant should be seen, but it would not be a casual project.

 

            New and pretty is good.  Big and unknown is risky.  It would be in the category of One.

 

            Should this be done?

Sinningia 'Arkansas Empress' - April 2023

Show off

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette' - 9 Flowers Open

 

Now you’re just showing off with 9 flowers open.

 

            This trial of a miniature Achimenes has had amazing results.  This plant grown from a scale from a rhizome under long-day, LED lights has 9 flowers open.

 

            What do we know now?  If you start with a miniature variety and grow it in a 2.5” pot {the size we need} with high light, long-days, and enough fertilizer, it is possible to have a commercially saleable houseplant.

 

            What is the end of the story?

 

            The goal is to find more varieties/colors where this can be duplicated and produced year around by the thousands.

 

            If we can do it consistently, it will look like it was obvious and easy.  It was not.  We pivoted away from 4” pots and 6” hanging baskets.  They will come later.

 

            What a treat it will be to see Miniature Achimenes in your Independent Garden Center.

Give me a sign

 

Achimenes 'Yellow English Rose'

            The Achimenes project has been progressing for over a year.  Most small production greenhouses do not do any R & D.  Research and Development requires a lot of time and money with unknown financial return.

 

            Commercial production is set up to have something to sell all the time and grow it with the lowest cost and shortest time as possible.

 

            The (Development) of Achimenes will use known horticultural practices but there is a lot of trial and error (Research).  What is the schedule, the timing, the light levels, temperature, insects and diseases to fight.  How is the stock base managed?

 

            There is no mention of Achimenes in any trade magazine.  Achimenes has not shown up at any trade shows nor been featured at this Spring’s California new varieties showcase.

 

            If anybody is working on Achimenes, they are staying quiet, just like us.

 

            If there is no competition for your product, it means either it’s very different or there is no demand for it.

 

            If a viable crop can be grown, we need a sign that this work has paid off.

It gets better and better

Achimenes ' Petite Fadette'  with Six Flowers by Kerri

 

         Same plant --- Different day

        Our Achimenes 'Petite Fadette' in 2.5" pot we are watching continues to impress.

        It started here, move to here and now shows six flowers in prime condition.

         We will call this a success story.

         

It gets better

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette' - Four Flowers Open 

 

         Achimenes grown in a small pot (2.5") has a chance to be a commercial success.

         'Petite Fadette' looked good four days ago. 

         Will we get six flower's open?

Achimenes - The Beginning of the campaign, Part IX

 

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette' 2.5" --First
Flower by Kerri

Miniature Achimenes could be a giant category.

 

            If these little spots of color would show up in houseplant departments, they will attract attention.

 

            We have first flowers on the 2.5” pot we’ve been watching.

 

            If we were trying to get a million dollars from a venture capitalist, they would want Proof of Concept.

 

            This is it --- Proof of Concept.

 

            We know how to do this and expect it can be duplicated by the thousands.  The small pot will solve several needs.  They will fit into our small assortment as finished plants for Independent Garden Centers.  Small pots are needed for mail order shipping so  can be sold wholesale to our internet mail order customers.

 

            Grown in 2.5” pots, one plant --- No pinch necessary.  Use short varieties with proportional smaller flowers.  A plant from scales may work, as well as rooted cuttings.  There are three or more varieties that could look like the picture.

 

            The step after Proof of Concept is Execution.   Then Profit or Loss.

              Cropped High Resolution -- Which is the clearest?

Achimenes, The Beginning of the Campaign, Part VIII

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette' in small pot by Kerri

 

What if we could get Achimenes to flower short in a small pot?

 

            Our hybridizer, Serge Saliba, has varieties selected that are considered to be miniature.  The varieties, ‘Petite Fadette’, ‘Little Lulu’, and ‘Petite Marquise’ have small crisp flowers.  They appear to flower quickly so we hope we can have flowers before the plant gets too tall for a 2.5” pot.

 

            An Achimenes in a 2.5” pot is horticulturally sound when you want a cute little spot of color.  Long term as a summer plant, it can be repotted into a bigger pot so it can go longer between watering and maintain itself better.

 

            Achimenes are not known and, for sure, a miniature Achimenes has never been seen at a U. S. garden center.

 

            We know that small flowering houseplants are scooped up quickly.  Our newly added plants of Mini Cyclamen, Mini Violets and Exacum are special treats for indoor gardeners.

 

            If Mini Achimenes can be perfected, everyone will want one.

Vietnamese Violets are here !

Metapetrocosmea tamiana by Dibley's

 

Vietnamese Violets are here for the World to see.

 

It’s not often that a species can be a commercial crop without any hybridizing improvement needed.  A species is how a plant is collected in the wild.  By definition it is true from seed, as all the seedlings look like the Mother.

 

            Why it has been overlooked is baffling, because it has it all as a flowering houseplant.  It can be grown in quantity from seed, prolifically generated from self-pollination. 

 

            We have a believable common name in Vietnamese Violet.  It’s native to Vietnam and grows like an African Violet with clusters of bright white and purple flowers.  Culture is the same as African and Asian Violets – Bright window or under florescent/LED lights.

 

            The botanical Genus name keeps changing from Primulina to Deinostigma to Metapetrocosmea.  But that won’t matter with the strong category name – Vietnamese Violet.  There are other Metapetrocosmea species but it’s unknown if they are commercial.

 

            It’s a nice plant.  Pictured are multiple seedings growing at Dibley’s Greenhouse, U.K.

 

            It will be accepted as a flowering houseplant, if the supply and distribution get better.

Achimenes - The Beginning of the Campaign, Part VII

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette' - Miniature

 

The Beginning of the Campaign, Part VII

 

              The development of a new commercial crop is absolutely a ‘startup’.

 

            One of the best definitions of Entrepreneurship is creating something out of nothing.  Are we creating something out of nothing?  Yes.

 

            Some startups are criticized for getting their sales and marketing ahead of product supply.  People want it but we don’t have any.

 

            Producing an acceptable commercial crop of Achimenes is proving to be harder than it looks.  The techniques for stock build up are being learned as we go along.  There is no protocol to follow.  Hobbyists grow their prized Achimenes yearly with their own system.  They grow when they grow.  They flower when they flower.

 

            But it’s not the same as growing 1,000 4.5” pots uniformly to flower as fast as possible. They must withstand the rough treatment of delivery and retail display.

 

            We will get it right.  It’s just going to take time.  If it were easy, everyone would do it.

 

            The clock is ticking.  We need something to sell this year.

What is a new flower worth?

Achimenes 'Blue Swan'

 

What is a new flower worth?

 

            I read a lot about innovation and found this story in Inc about a product that solved a pain point.

 

            “… Fivetran, which is today a fully managed data integration provider valued at over $5 Billion.”

 

            I have no idea what this is or does.  Nor, how it can be worth five billion dollars.

 

            If I have a new flower, Achimenes, what is it worth?  Everybody can understand --- New Flower.

Achimenes --- The beginning of the campaign, Part VI

Achimenes SRG 'Limoncello'

 

Achimenes --- The beginning of the campaign, Part VI

 

            The production method for Achimenes must be perfected.

 

            Propagation is either by top cuttings or rhizomes or tissue culture.  Tip cuttings require hundreds of stock baskets.  Rhizomes are produced after a long Summer’s top growth.  Tissue culture protocols have not been worked out.

 

            All of these are very expensive and time consuming.  The breakthrough may be the technique of shelling rhizomes into scales.  Every scale has potential to grow into a plant.

 

But, if this works, large quantities can be produced the first year --- 2023.

 

            So far, I have not been able to determine all the reasons that Achimenes failed as a commercial crop the last time it was tried. Production costs to build up stock may have been the killer.

 

            We’ll see.

I need 1,000 'Pip Squeek's

'Pip Squeek' - Micro-mini Violet

I need 1,000 ‘Pip Squeek’s

 

            Since we’ve discovered that the micro-mini African Violet – ‘Pip Squeek’ is a solid plant, what to do?

 

            How do you get 1,000 ‘Pip Squeek’s fast?

 

            They propagate from a leaf, just like the big violets.  Will we get 1 or 2 plantlets per leaf or zero?  The leaves are small and there may be losses.

 

            So, if we get 100 plants from 100 leaves, grow for 4 months to get 500 leaves to make 500 plants, then grow for 4 months to get 2500 leaves, etc., etc.

 

            In less than one year, I could have 2500 plants to sell.

 

            Life’s rule: “Everything takes twice as long and costs twice as much”

 

            Watch for ‘Pip Squeek’ sold in flower next Valentine’s Day.

 

Achimenes --- The beginning of the campaign - Part V

 

                                                    Achimenes 'Yellow English Rose'

Achimenes --- The beginning of the campaign – Part V

 

            What marketing is required to promote a new flowering plant to retail garden centers?

 

            What is needed to introduce Achimenes to the gardening public?

 

            There is such a hunger for new colorful flowers they will sell themselves.  But, they say:  “Falling in love with your product is the doom of many sure things”

 

            The sequence of events is grow a crop, tell the garden center buyer you have something new, deliver to store and they immediately sell out.

 

                        But nobody knows what Achimenes are and what to do with them.  Horticulture trade magazines have no mention of Achimenes among the hundreds of color pictures showing the newest clones.

 

            Big budget brands promote what’s coming ahead of a big bang introduction.  Can a slow roll out work?  Put Achimenes in the store and hope for the best.

 

            We’ll see.