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

Achimenes 'DOT' - Hybrid from Romania

Achimenes --- The beginning of the campaign.  Part I

 

            Will Achimenes (Ah-KIM-en-eez) become a major new commercial crop?

 

            No one knows anything about this flowering houseplant that can go out into your shady patio planters.

 

            When these flowering shade plants start showing up in your garden center, will you buy one?

 

            They will be premium priced like other new products.  But new is fun, so try one.

 

            So where to put it?

 

            Achimenes can be grown as houseplants at bright windows or under fluorescent lights.  Hobby growers start their Achimenes by planting their rhizomes, harvested from last year’s pot.  Rhizomes can be planted 1” -2” from the surface, watered, grown in warm, high light.  When you have 2-3 pair of leaves, pinch (cut the top off) to cause branching.  Continue high light until buds and flowers.

 

            But if you buy a finished pot at the garden center, this has already been done for you.

 

            Your flowering pot can be inside for decoration until warm weather of Spring and then moved out into your patio planters.

 

            Achimenes prefer morning sun and afternoon shade.  The leaves will burn if put in full sun.  It’s not like a Geranium, it’s more like an Impatiens.

 

The ending first

Achimenes 'Petite Fadette'

 

The ending first.

 

            Some authors argue that you should write the ending of the story first.  Then the beginning.  It makes it easier to fill in the middle.

 

            How should the Achimenes project end?  The goal is to create a new commercial flowering plant for the shady patio.  What would that look like?

 

            Major crops dominate international horticultural businesses.  They advertise continuously, they have big displays at trade shows, they have research stations introducing new varieties yearly.  But their categories are already established --- Geraniums, Poinsettias, Chrysanthemum.  Gerberas, New Guinea Impatiens, Roses.  The new ones --- Angelonia, Calibrachoa, Bacopa.

 

            Achimenes must start a new category.  Why have a big trade show exhibit if there is no supply?

 

            I see the end game as a regional introduction to a new flowering plant.  Achimenes in flower will be commonly available at Independent Garden Centers on the East coast.  Home gardeners will learn to love their cheery display of colors in the shade.  Achimenes rhizomes will be available nationally from retail eCommerce sellers.  The best Achimenes varieties from the World-class hybridizer, Serge Saliba, will be introduced every year.

 

            There will be one source of supply from the developer of the Achimenes crop --- Gary’s Gesneriad Farm LLC.

 

            After several years of regional success, then it will go bigger or stabilize.

 

            To go bigger requires a lot of muscle.  Competitors will take up Achimenes or the project will be taken over by big players.

 

            Only then, will Achimenes be shown at the big trade shows and gardeners will find their new flowering shade plant everywhere.