The Newsletter of the Delaware African Violet and Gesneriad Society
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The Newsletter of the Delaware African Violet and Gesneriad Society Volume XV, No. 3 November 2012 Krazy about Kohlerias Little Shows Update Claudia Bradley, Barbara Borleske and Mary Schaeffer It was decided to hold Little Shows at the September, treated members to a stimulating presentation on the November, February and April meetings. Plants are genus Kohleria at the Society’s October 9, 2012 entered from 7 – 7:15 p.m. and merit judging will be meeting. In addition to Mary’s beautifully illustrated used by three judges. The forms provided by Karyn PowerPoint® presentation, members each received a Cichocki of The Frelinghuysen Chapter are used and small plant of Kohleria ‘An’s Nagging Macaws’ grown cash awards of $50 for first place, $30 for second place from tissue culture in a tube distributed at the and $20 for third place will be awarded to the growers Gesneriad Society’s Convention in Seattle last July. accumulating the most points for winning entries during the year. Our next meeting will have a Little Show and you are encouraged to bring plants. Members also are still invited to bring plants for Show and Tell at every meeting, and these will not be judged. Here are the results from the Little Show in September: Blue Ribbons: . Julia Lynch – Saintpaulia ‘Wrangler’s Cowboy Blues’ . Mary Schaeffer- Aeschynanthus ‘Tangerine’ . Quentin Schlieder- Kohleria ‘An’s Nagging Macaws’ Sinningia amambayensis The first Kohleria was described in 1801 as Gesneria . Libby Behnke- tubiflora. Kohleria did not become recognized as a Sinningia ‘Cherry Chips’ Seedling separate genus until 1847 when Edouard August von . Elizabeth Varley Regel named it as a separate genus for Michael Kohler, Petrocosmea nervosa a Swiss lecturer of natural history. Lars Peter Kvist Petrocosmea barbata and Larry Skog introduced a major revision of the . Gary Hunter genus in 1992 Nematanthus ‘Dibley’s Gold X Gloximannia ‘She’s Dancing’ These tropical herbs are native to Central and South Sinningia ‘Magic Moment’ America from Mexico to Peru and east to Surinam with Sinningia ‘Thad’s Party Dress’ the largest concentration in Columbia. Sinningia ‘Lil Georgie’ Red Ribbon Superficially Kohlerias resemble Smithianthas which . UDBG also are rhizomatous with similar upright growth, Nematanthus ‘Tropicana’ flower colors, spots and/or lines. However, while the flowers are born in a terminal raceme on which the I think everyone will agree flowers alternate in the genus Smithiantha, they are that the first Little Show borne oppositely in the leaf axils in the genus Kohleria. was a great success. Thank Another notable difference is that Kohlerias can be you to Libby Behnke, kept in almost continuous growth with good culture; Angie Celano and Terry Smithianthas complete their growth cycle and then Celano who judged the enter a period of marked dormancy. exhibits. Thank you also to the exhibitors who brought Because of their colorful patterned flowers, as well as a plants. general interest in the many tropical flowering plants, Kohlerias grew to very popular in England and Europe Gary Hunter’s entry of …continued on page 2… Sinningia ’Lil Georgie’ …Krazy about Kohlerias cont… the growing mix so they get light. They should be kept in the 19th Century. Many species and hybrids were moist, but again, not wet. Enclose them in a plastic lavishly illustrated in horticultural magazines such as bag humidity dome or sweater box to keep the Curtis's Botanical Magazine as Achimenes, Gesneria, humidity elevated and to avoid them drying out. In Isoloma, Sciadocalyx, and Tydaea. Many of these several weeks, small roots and leaves will form and th disappeared from cultivation early in the 20 Century, they can be transplanted like seedlings when large Kohleria “Longwood’ a selection discovered growing enough to handle them without damaging them. in a Botanical Garden and reintroduced by Longwood Gardens is believed to be a relic of these old hybrids. Kohlerias bloom on their crowns, and often a grower is confronted with the problem of dealing with a mature In the latter half of the 20th Century there was renewed plant which is becoming leggy. There are two ways to interest in hybridizing Kohlerias which resulted in the handle this challenge. The first is to decapitate the introduction of cultivars like “Connecticut Belle’ by plants and treat the crown as a large cutting. It should Dr. Carl Clayberg as well as others by Frances continue to bloom even during the rooting process if Batcheller and Patrick Worley. Currently, Ian James kept enclosed to provide sufficient humidity. of Canada who has developed the Peridots series, Ralph and Ma Robinson of New York who have The second method is to allow the plant to dry out developed the Bristol series, as well as John Boggan slightly and to roll the stem. Wind the bare portion of and Betty Cessna have been making crosses and the stem around the root ball (as you would wind introducing new hybrids. Internationally, HCY’s, Ans, string) until you reach 1 inch below the top leaves. If Designer series have been introduced by Dolly Yeh the plant appears off-center, poke your thumb into the and Vivian Liu from Taiwan. Still other new root ball and wiggle it around to adjust the roots so that introductions like ‘Ingrid,‘ ‘Borka’ and 'Lilla Gubben' the Kohleria is centered in the middle of the root ball. are coming from Swedish hybridizers. Place the stem-wrapped root ball on the soil in the new pot. Add or remove soil so that the Kohleria will be Barb Borleske discussed growing Kohlerias noting planted at the same depth as it has been growing. they will do well in just about any bright light. They Finish filling the pot with soil, to within 1/2 inch of the can be grown successfully under either T – 12 or T – 8 rim. Water the plant slowly, until water drains from fluorescent lights and seem to want more light than the bottom. Allow it to drain completely and then place African Violets. They also can be grown in natural the Kohleria in a well-lit area, out of direct sunlight. A light. She noted that some cultivars stay compact, even good tutorial on rolling can be found at under T12’s, but others get leggy unless given extra http://www.robsviolet.com/lessons/propagating_kohler light. She emphasized that there is a great variation ia.htm among the species and hybrids. Some, like ‘Manchu,’ will bloom under lights year round while ‘Red Ryder’ seems to bloom only in spring-summer. Barb noted that Kohlerias like the same kind of soilless mix as African Violets. She recommended a peatlite mix like ProMix. She emphasized that they grow best in moist, not wet, growing mix which should not be allowed to dry out to the point the plant wilts. Kohlerias root very quickly from stem cuttings with about three sets of leaves. She noted that nodes under the growing mix should be stripped of leaves. The growing mix should be barely moist, but never wet. Use a small pot for the cutting and enclose it in a plastic bag or put under humidity dome or clear sweater box. Return the covered cutting to the light stand. The cutting will be rooted within 2 weeks. Another effective way to produce many young Kohleria plants identical to the parent is by removing the individual sales form the rhizome and sowing them like seed. The scales are actually modified leaves and Kohleria ‘Manchu’ is one of the best Kohlerias for show. will root. Make certain they are sown on the surface of Claudia brought a plant and discussed her experiences 4. Gradually pour egg yolk mixture over beaten egg growing her Kohlerias outdoors in the summer. She whites, gently folding until no streaks of white remain. noted that she had some damaged leaves, but overall Pour into ungreased 10 x 4-inch angel cake tube pan. her plants looked pretty good. 5. Bake in a slow oven (325º) for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until top of cake springs back when lightly The presentation concluded with Mary continuing her pressed with fingertip. PowerPoint® presentation with photographs of the 6. Invert pan, placing tube over funnel or quart-size many Kohlerias that she and the others were growing. bottle; let cake cool completely. When cool, loosen She included interesting anecdotes about how they cake around outside edge and tube and down sides with performed. a spatula. Remove from pan. Garnish with strawberries and/or grapes. Kohlerias are very easy to grow and will reward you with beautiful velvety foliage and colorful flowers if given consistent care. Look for many of the varieties Plant Supplies Available featured in the presentation on the Sales Table at November will be the last opportunity this year to monthly meetings, or if you’re looking for a specific purchase plant supplies at our meetings since variety, let us know. December will be our Holiday Party. Barb Borleske who Chairs the Supply Sales notes that she has have Ruth Seidel’s Poppy Seed plenty of Plant Marvel, Physan, Marathon, and pots (we are low on 3" and 31/2" but she plans on ordering Chiffon Cake more soon). Plan ahead and contact Barb by email at Delia Schwartz provided the most delicious and [email protected] or by telephone at (302) 691- tempting snacks at the September meeting, but one 8487 if you would like to purchase supplies or have stood out from the others, her Poppy Seed Chiffon requests for items you would like to order. Also Cake. She is pretty sure the recipe is from an old remember that you can greatly reduce your shipping Woman’s Day Magazine featuring Ruth Seidel of cost on items from Cape Cod Violetry if you place South Dakota.