Sinningia Seed Surprise

It may sound like a new "hot dish" (as opposed to casserole, for us Minnesotans) but it is what happens when you go to clean your plant shelves. You find that your inattentiveness has made the Sinningia flowers you hand-pollinated form seed, ripen and then spill out from the pod and land on the Sinningia's leaf. All this without the benefit of even an email to let you know it's happening. Surprise!

The photos show the pods, the fact that the pods sprung open and let the seed fall, the leaf that the seed dropped onto and the actual seed itself.
I wish I had the proper equipment to take the photos correctly with the use of the microscope. As it is, this is an attempt at a little more magnification. Gesneriad seeds are supposed to be tiny; smaller than a fleck of pepper. I've always been trying to see just what the seeds look like though. What color are they, what shape are they.... Well, in this case, this Sinningia's seed is orange and long and sort of shaped like a narrowed Christmas bulb.  I'm going to see if some of them will germinate after taking them to the Twin Cities Gesneriad Society's meeting next Tuesday. Guests are always welcome to come to a gesneriad club meeting and join in.

A Closer Look

Isn't this a lovely flower? Sinningia eumorpha....

Easy Growers!

Here's something to try when you want interesting plants with plenty of flowers. The gesneriad list frequently has members give knowledgeable replies to inquiries, one of which asked which Sinningias were good for growing in average home conditions. I copied the reply so that I can share it in the blog:

Sinningias are a good choice for a beginner with warm conditions. Mini
Sinningia hybrids are good for growing under lights, since they can
thrive and bloom with less intense light. Most will flower when they're young
plants. The micro mini species, such as Sinningia pusilla, S. pusilla
'White Sprite', and S. sp. "Rio das Pedras" should be grown in a terrarium
under lights to maintain the higher humidity levels they need.

Many of the larger species Sinningias will be happy growing on a warm
sunny windowsill or under fluorescent lights. I would recommend S. cardinalis,
S. iarae, S. eumorpha varieties, S. lineata, or S. leucotricha as easy long
lived plants for a beginner. These species may not flower as immature
seedlings, but will produce blooms easily after a couple of growth cycles or
when they have developed a good tuber.

Please consider being a member of the gesneriad society. Membership has many benefits, one of which is access to the seed fund where very wonderful and rare seed can be attained for next to nothing.

Charles Lawn Hybrid

This is a new hybrid Sinningia by Charles Lawn and grown by Dale Martens. She says that it only takes approximately four months to go from seed to flower! Part of the secret to this incredibly fast growth and flowering is to "disturb" or "wiggle" the young seedling in it's pot every week or two. The stress to the small plant seems to stimulate faster and more viperous growth!

Thanks to Dale for allowing me to post these new and exciting flowers. I'm a fan of the new and different and she certainly has some excellent plants that she's willing to share, again.. thanks!