Inconsistent soil moisture will result in an unhappy Streptocarpus. We recommend introducing an watering schedule to prevent droughts and prolonged soil moisture, as both will have detrimental effects on the specimen. Once the soil's top third dry out, give the plant a thorough soak, allowing the excess moisture to drain from its base freely. Reduce this slightly further during the autumn and winter to downplay the risk of over-watering and to reinforce the crucial dormancy period. Remove several tiny yellow pollen sacs from the centre of an older flower that is just starting to fade As a consequence they are so widely available that you should be able to find several varieties at your local garden centre or nursery. ‘Purple Panda’ Lawrence had named his new Streptocarpus to signify its most valuable characteristic – its long flowering period – but the name would also have been familiar to Lawrence’s contemporaries as a reference to the best-selling ‘Bohemian’ novel by English author Margaret Kennedy (‘The Constant Nymph’) which was published in 1924. The book was adapted into a stage play and afterwards made into four films. The last film version, starring Joan Fontaine as the main character, was released in 1943 shortly before Lawrence produced his stunning variety.

Feed fortnightly in the growing period and monthly for the rest of the year, using a houseplant-labelled fertiliser . Never over-fertilise the plant as a build-up of salts and chemicals can burn the roots, causing stunted growth and yellow leaves over time. If possible, reduce the ambient temperature to around 12°C (54°F) over the autumn and winter to provide a proper dormancy. Introduce around two hours of off-peak sunshine thorough this period to avert the heightened chance of root rot and over-watering. This period of rest will allow more efficient foliar growth in the spring and summer, along with the heightened probability of generating blooms in the late spring. Put in a propagator or cover with cling film, a clear plastic bag or sheet of glass, to hold in moistureBook a 1-to-1 video call with Joe Bagley if you'd like a personal guide to repotting your houseplant. This will include recommending the right branded-compost and pot size, followed by a live video call whilst you transplant the specimen for step-by-step guidance and answer any further questions! Though this plant is intolerant of cold and also succumbs to its fair share of pests, it has a singular strength: this delightful wildflower is a regular homebody!

Place pots in a propagator or cover with a clear plastic bag, and provide bright but not direct light. Keep at 18°C (65°F) I grow them as ground covers in large terracotta pots of Camellia azalea at the entrance to our garden room where they charm me every time I walk in. They can take lots and lots of water and rain in summer but prefer to be a little on the dry side through winter. New plants should form at the base of the leaf in four to five weeks. At this point, remove the lid or plastic bag and allow them to grow on. Pot up individually once they have several leaves Create a humidity tray to provide a moist and stable environment for your plant. If the surrounding saturation is too low or the heat too high, its leaf-tips may start to brown over and curl, especially in direct sunlight. Hose the foliage down from time to time to hydrate the leaves and keep the dust levels down. Constant atmospheric saturation will provide longer-lasting flowers by up to two weeks. The names Streptocarpus and Cape Primrose are often used synonymously, though not by botanists. ‘Lola’

Advice on buying streptocarpus

In 1972 John Innes released its first batch of seven new varieties of Streptocarpus named; Diana, Fiona, Karen, Louise, Marie, Paula and Tina through the National Seed Development Organisation (NSDO). Later Brown developed further varieties, both by traditional breeding methods and by X-ray and chemical-induced mutation. When re-potting choose a pot only slightly bigger than the current one, about a thumb's width wider in diameter, or one 'pot size' larger if using old-fashioned clay pots. A wide shallow pot or half-pot is more suitable than a deep pot.

A decade on, the variety was also named the ‘People’s Choice’ for ‘Plant of the Decade’ in this year’s virtual Chelsea awards. Other Species: There are 155 recognised species of Streptocarpus, with the first that was sent to Kew Gardens from South Africa being Streptocarpus rexii. These temperature-sensitive plants will do best at daytime temperatures hovering around 21°C and nighttime ones of around 15°C. In the autumn reduce the amount you water and when the plant stops flowering stop feeding. Keep plants at a minimum of 10C. In March/April gradually start watering more often and commence feeding. Plants should be potted into a slightly larger pot each spring; if possible, use ½ or ¾ depth pots.I thought all Streptocarpus required mollycoddling until I stumbled upon Streptocarpus saxorum. In truth I didn’t know what I had stumbled upon for about three years as I couldn’t identify it at first. Every summer I would stay in a German castle on a business trip, and there the window boxes in the courtyard would be filled with a plant possessed of soft, felted, green leaves, bearing lilac flowers on long wiry stems. They had the appearance of little butterflies fluttering in a breeze. With only some effort conditions inside the house can even be made to mimic those native-region climates. Water regularly from March onwards. Plants can be watered from above or below, but don’t allow the pot to sit in water Next, dip the wounds in a water/bleach solution (9 parts water, 1 part household bleach) to promote sterility. (Only use if you're an adult, following safety recommendations of the manufacturer). While using a seed tray or Bonsai dish and 'Houseplant' labelled potting mix, place the leaf sections wound-down in around 1.5cm (0.6 inches) into the soil. Apply slight pressure around the base of the leaf for extra stability with the sounding soil. Provide a bright, indirect setting with temperatures above 18℃ (64℉) and keep the pot in a sealed transparent bag with multiple small holes to maintain high humidity. Open the bag every couple of days to monitor how the cuttings are performing and to allow fresh air to circulate. Remove any rotten or yellowing material as it can spread onto neighbouring leaves. If propagation is successful, you should start to see new shoots surfacing the soil line after six to eight weeks. Keep the growing conditions the same, and once the shoots are big enough to pot on (four leaves on each growth), they can be potted up in 'Houseplant' Compost with 7cm (3 inch) pots. Repot as necessary and care in the same way as adult specimens with the care tips written at the top. My experience is that streptocarpus will let you know when they are happy. My finest specimen, a hybrid called ‘Albatross’, lives on the sill of a north-facing window in a spare bedroom. I visit it to water and deadhead once a week and in return I get a long succession of white flowers with acid-yellow throats. The leaves occasionally grow so long that they hang half way down to the floor. I dare not move it as even the slightest change of environment has put paid to other cherished plants.

When Lawrence was 16 years old, Bateson surprised him in the corridor with a gift of two volumes of Darwin’s book Variation in Animals and Plants under Domestication, and with this encouragement Lawrence began his self-education in genetics, then a new science in Britain of which Bateson was the leader.Lawrence’s studies also suffered from the extra workload imposed on him by the reduction in staff as more and more of his gardeners were called up for war duties. Fortunately, the John Innes Horticultural Institution was just half a mile away from Lawrence’s home and the Director, William Bateson, was persuaded to take him on as a ‘garden boy’ in 1913 after learning of his predicament. Please remember every plant is a separate individual and should be treated as such. Within 6 - 8 weeks of potting the plants will begin flowering. Then cut it crosswise into four sections or lengthwise on each side of the midrib into two. ‘Texas Hot Chili’